Setting Goals

Many people know the importance of setting goals, but few know how. Setting goals gives purpose to every activity in which you participate. Every area of your life can benefit from setting goals, including your career, your religion, your family life, and your personal aspirations. Without setting goals, life would be like sailing in the Pacific Ocean without a map. You drift along aimlessly without knowing where you are or where you want to go. Eventually, you will land somewhere, but is that where you wanted to land? And what kind of shape will you be in when you do?

When setting a goal, you should ask yourself one simple question: "What would I try to accomplish if I knew there would be no chance to fail trying to accomplish it?" Do not limit yourself. Allow yourself to dream. Would you try to become a millionaire? Would you try to retire at 49 years old? Would you want to raise children who could change the world? Any of these goals is possible if you had the time, passion, drive, and road map to get there.

When you settle upon a worthwhile goal, write it down. Then, refine it until you have an outline of what you are going to do. Make sure the goal is realistic. For example, if you wanted to become a millionaire by next week, nothing short of a corporate scandal or lottery win might get you there. If you had 30 years to accomplish this goal, the world begins to open up.

Set sub-goals for yourself. There is no need to try to look at the top of the stairs when you have to take the step up first. Make each step a milestone on your way to your ultimate goal. When you accomplish a goal, no matter how small, it is a victory for you and your psyche. It will give you the momentum to keep going until you reach your ultimate destination. Sub-goals also allow you to make corrections along the way. If you set a sub-goal to hit $100,000 by next year but fall short, you can make the necessary correction to reach that milestone. Then the sky is the limit.