Goal Setting in the Present Tense: Nine Goal Setting Lessons
One of my top goals is to become an information marketing entrepreneur. You know the kind who sits at his kitchen table in his underwear and makes money while he sleeps? As you know, goal setting, is a necessity, especially when you want to make improvement, but how does one get good at setting and achieving goals in the first place?
I have been somewhat of an entrepreneur all of my life. When I was about 5 I decided I wanted to become a self-made-man just like my neighbors’ dad was, his name was Jim Sedar. I learned he never went to college, owned his own car dealership, rode a motorcycle and even flew his own airplane. Very cool!
One summer he took my brothers and me on a tour of Northern Michigan in his personal, six-seat airplane. WOW! After that trip, I wanted to become a private pilot too, but that’s another story!
In my quest to learn how to make money in my underwear, I’ve read many books on the subject. Including books on law of attraction including, Napoleon Hill’s classic Think and Grow Rich! I realized I must develop a very clear image of what I would like to be, do and become, and have uncompromised faith in their attainment.
The skill of clarity or definiteness of purpose is one that intrigued me most, so I decided to study becoming clear in my intentions which are very similar to goal setting.
I set out to develop my skill at both goal setting and goal achieving and started doing research and even purchased Brian Tracy’s Ultimate Goal Setting Program.
Here are the nine goal-setting lessons I’ve learned so far!
- Setting goals using the “Three P Formula.” Make your goals personal, positive and in the present tense. Instead of – “I am going to quit smoking this year” say “I am a non-smoker” or “I want to lose 10 or 15 pounds” say “I weigh 180 pounds and I feel great”
- Make your goals measurable and time-bound. Add to the above “I am a non-smoker by December 31, 2011” or “I weigh 180 pounds, eat healthy foods, and exercise 1 hour every day”
- Monitor your progress. If you can’t measure it you can’t improve it. Establish a systematic way to track the attainment of your goals.
- Re-write your Top 10 Goals Daily. I have yet to do this but, Brian Tracy says something powerful happens when you put pen to paper and write your goals down. Heck, even doing it once a year will put you in the top 1-2 percent of most people. He suggests you get a spiral notebook and re-write your top 10 goals each day! Doing so is like touching a hot wire and will propel you towards your goals faster than you ever imagined.
- Review Daily Goals twice per day, once in the morning and once before bed. If you follow the advice in lesson 3 it is very easy to do this step. Just read them again before you go to bed and your subconscious mind will go to work on determining how to accomplish your goals.
- Choose your top goals for the day and go to work on them. Each day choose your top goals to get to work on them right away. Avoid reading email, texting or checking your social media before you set your priority work for the day.
- Think big! Most people limit themselves by thinking too small. One business building guru says to simply add a zero! If you want 10 new customers this month, why not shoot for 100? If you only go 30 you would be that much further ahead!
- Determine your “Why.” What is the reason you want to have, do or become this thing? This should be something very powerful that will keep you going when the going gets tough, like your kids well-being, your relationship with your spouse or God.
- Use affirmation statements to express your goals in the present tense.
If you would like try Goal Setting in the Present, here are three ways you can put these ideas to work immediately.
- Using the Three P Formula and write (with pen and paper) your ‘Top 10’ one-year goals
- Self-reflect in a quiet or peaceful place and begin writing your #1 goal or mission to help you determine your ‘Why’
- Prioritize your goals and go to work on them each day, before you read emails or get otherwise distracted
What are your favorite goal setting methods?