Chapter 1
Have a Clear Goal
•What is your goal?
•Why do you want the goal?
•What steps are you willing to take to get to the goal?
What is your goal? Your goal needs to be specific enough that you can articulate it when asked. If your goal is not clear, you will have difficulty in acquiring the right resources, information, or assistance, in order to achieve it.
Why do you want this goal? If you start with your“why,” it will be the driving force to accomplishing your goal. Keep it in the front of your mind. What will it do for you? In other words, what will be the end result after you have achieved your goal? The first step after identifying your goal is to write it down. There is a saying:“A goal is not a goal if it is not written; it is only a wish.” If you have a desire to accomplish a goal, or you have a dream that you wish to fulfill, and it is only in your head, more likely than not, it will not be actualized. You think you will successfully achieve it; however, it is said that people often fail because they have no structure or clear direction for achieving their goals.
You need to lay out clear directions of where you want to go and what happens when you get there. Consequently, your written goal needs to be clear and focused. Just as it is easier to get where you are going faster with a GPS or a road map, so are your goals easier to navigate if you have clear directions. Have a blueprint—a plan of what you intend to accomplish. Steven Covey, author of the book,Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, said to develop a personal mission statement. Your mission statement makes you the leader of your life; you create your own destiny and secure the future that you envision. He said, that to accomplish or achieve what you intend, the first step is to write it down. When you write down your goals, you are making an agreement with yourself. You are committing to doing your part to fulfill this agreement. Writing down your goals helps you to clarify the vision that you have in your mind and keeps you focused. Writing down your goals also motivates you to take action. Having a written goal increases the odds of accomplishing it. There have been numerous studies done, indicating that people who write down their goals, achieve them at a much higher rate than people who do not. Results don’t lie; so, follow-through and write it down. Next, your goal must be specific. Clarify what you expect to achieve by accomplishing the goal, and why. Be sure that it is not just a fleeting thought, or a “would be nice to have,” just to appease your love ones or to impress others. Access the real reasons why you want this goal, and if it truly is your desire, then go for it.
Make a list of the most important things that you must get done, and commit to doing them by making them a priority. Be clear about what you need to be doing, and place a timeline on when you need to have it done. If you don’t, your mind will