How to Set Goals – The Key to Success

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One of the key areas that you must concentrate on to achieve success is the idea of Goal Setting. This idea if actioned will absolutely guarantee your success in any Endeavour. Goal Setting is a technique that only 3% of people do and it only takes a few minutes per day and anyone can do it. However, statistically, only 3% of people do this – and the remaining 97% work for the 3% of people that do.

Goals come in four categories:

• Think-Big goals. This is a dream that really stretches your imagination, because you have no real idea of how you are going to get there and the timeframe involved. (E.g. having that dream home you have always wanted.) This is where your goals should be.
• Reasonably achievable goals. Not dead certain, they need you to stretch a little. You can put a date on these IF you know it’s possible. Use these goals to gain confidence.
• Emergency goals. An exception to the date rule. Suppose you are in trouble and absolutely must pay a gas utility bill by a certain date, or no power. Even though you may not know how it will be done, you must put a due date on this goal: “By June 30^th, my gas bill is paid in full.”
• Certain goals. These are anything you know full well can be done; you just haven’t got off your arse and done them yet. These aren’t really goals. They are unstarted or unfinished management projects. Just give them a date and make absolutely sure you complete them in the time allotted. They are only goals in the most general sense and have little value other than to give you self-discipline. And self-discipline is good.

Your goals need to be stated in terms of the 3 P’s. Present, Private and Personal. All goals must start with “I.” For example “I earn £100,000 per year” or “I own a 40ft 5 berth sailing boat”. You must phrase it as if you already have the goal already. It is important not to phrase a negative in your goal statement e.g. “I am no longer in debt” should be rephrased as “I have paid off my credit card in full”. The subconscious mind cannot distinguish between a positive and a negative so you must think about positive goals all the time.

The best time to think about your goals is first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Goals must be written down. This is because you must reinforce them by using as many of your senses as possible. In writing them down you are using your eyes and hands. When you repeat them to yourself later, you should, wherever possible, rewrite them or at least repeat them out loud. Even if it’s impossible to read out loud you can still whisper and move your lips.  This practice will assure that your dreams will start to turn into physical reality.