BETTER GOALS GET BETTER RESULTS

Every subscriber knows the importance of setting clear
goals. We've all heard that only a very tiny percentage of
people actually set and use written goals. We've also heard
that those with written goals achieve more than everyone
else. We know this!
We also know, or think we know, all about goals and how to
use them. Most of us have taken a goal-setting workshop,
perhaps many of them. We've read about goals. We've read
newsletters like this one, encouraging us to set goals.
And the yet the statistics don't change: Only about 5% of
the population use written goals to create the life they
want.
Why do so many smart people fail to use a tool which holds
so much promise? We know about goals and goal-setting--or
think we do. Goal-setting holds incredible promise, and yet
year after year, the numbers don't change: only 4-5% have
and use written, organized goals.
My sense is that there are two powerful reasons why people
fail to take advantage of this amazing tool. And these
reasons make perfect sense, once we understand them.
First, most people do not really understand the process of
USING goals. We may understand how to SET goals without
ever learning how to USE them to transform our lives. It's
a bit like saying because someone knows how to buy
groceries, they must be a gourmet cook. I submit there is a
huge and vital difference between knowing how to shop (or
how to eat) and being a great cook--I've tasted the
difference!
Second, most people are (or think they are) allergic to
using goals and avoid running their life based on formal
goals. Most people have had terrible--frustrating,
disappointing, even painful--experiences with goals and we
tend to avoid things that cause us pain.
Let's change that!
Goals are powerful tools but they are more complex and
require more skill than is generally appreciated. "Just set
goals and change your life!" It sounds so easy! But it's
not.
Defining emotion-packed, challenging and life-changing
goals is, in most cases, hard work. It takes thought. It
challenges our values and priorities. It may disrupt our
schedule, change our behaviors, even cause conflict with
friends or family. Effective goals demand our best efforts.
And, while most people routinely achieve 99% of all the
goals they set, very few of us appreciate that. Most
"goals" are small, daily targets or objectives we set and
achieve with little or no special effort. We identify
something we want to change, we make a casual plan, take
action and achieve almost immediate success. My "goal" (or
desire) to have friends over for dinner Friday night works
out almost every time.
But that doesn't seem like a "real" goal. I only give
myself credit for a real goal if it's big and impressive,
if it increases my income by at least 25% next year. And
those are the goals that fail and frustrate me. Thus, my
(false) sense that goals "don't work" for me.
Effective goals require a rigorous, thoughtful process of
identifying four things:
1.  What do I want to do, achieve, have or become? (Be
precise!)
2.  Why do I want it? What's my motivation? What value does
it have for me?
3.  Is it a priority? What will I sacrifice, change or
trade in order to achieve my goal? How important is it,
really?
4.  What is my specific, measurable PLAN for success? Do I
have a budget and a schedule? Am I accountable for success?
Now is the time to begin planning your goals for 2015.
Don't let your 2015 goals become mere New Year's
Resolutions, chosen in the rush of the holidays and the
confusion of events. Take time to think. Take time to jot
notes. Take time to review your results for 2014, then
build on them!
And join us on the phone Monday evening to talk it over!
Goal-setting is a vital skill. To a large degree, our goals
determine our long-term results. Our goals predict the
future and describe the life we want. Let's talk about
that!