This step-by-step formula will help you identify your true goals and keep you motivated & confident in achieving what you want in 2011.

1. The time is now:

Successful goal achievement starts with proper planning so ensure you devote adequate time to this process.

• Start now
• Devote adequate time

2. Set clearly defined goals:

• Take time to think what you really want in each area of your life and make your goals measurable and time-bound.
• “I want to lose weight” it’s a wish, not a goal. “I want to lose 5kgs by March 1st” is a goal.

3. Make sure the goal belongs to you:

Make sure your goals are truly yours and not just society or family ‘shoulds’ you have internalized. Ask yourself:

• What will be the benefit of achieving your goal?
• Who is this goal for?
• What difference will its achievement make to your life?
• What will your life look like when you achieve this goal?
• Do you feel excited & motivated to achieve your goal? If not, then ask yourself if this goal is truly yours or imposed by your environment.

4. Audit:

Take an audit of where you are now and how far you need to go to achieve your goal. Ask yourself:

• What is happening now?
• What have you done already?
• What were the results?
• What has worked in the past? Replicate these in the options & strategy stage.
• What has stopped you before? What actions can you take to overcome this in the future?

5. Brainstorm:

Time for some fun! Think of all the different actions you could take to achieve your goal. Come up with as many options as you can. The following questions will help you. The more options you come up with the better strategy you will have.

• What could you do to move one step closer to your goal?
• What would you do if you didn’t have to explain to anyone what you are doing?
• What would you do now if you felt confident in your success?

6. Strategize:

Time to put your options into a strategic, step-by-step plan.

• Look back at your answers from step 5.
• Pick one option to put into action immediately. This could be the easiest, the fastest or the one you just prefer to start with.
• Then look at the rest of your options and chose the ones you want to implement.
• Put everything into an action list.
• Make sure each action has a deadline.

7. Action:

• Continuous & consistent action is a must for the successful achievement of your goals.
• Ongoing effort is important in maintaining momentum, a sense of purpose & a positive attitude.

8. Ask for help:

Don’t be afraid to reach out for help.

• Could anyone else be involved in this? How?
• Who could help you move forward?
• Who could be your biggest champion?

9. Continuous Self-Development:

“To have more, you must first be more” W.V.Goethe, German Philosopher

• Investing in yourself and your constant development is crucial part of moving forward in the direction of your dreams.
• Dedicate yourself to lifelong learning & development.
• Put your learning into action as quickly as you can.
• Practise a confident mindset every day.

To your Confidence & Succes,
Maria, your Confidence Coach @Confidence Inside Out

I would love to hear from you:
Please write your comments below or email me your questions and successes.

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Are you ready to take yourself to the next level of success?
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Imagine you walk up to a train station and ask the ticket officer for a ticket. She asks you for what destination and you say “I don’t know. Just give me a ticket for anywhere.” Chances are you will get a ticket to nowhere. The funny thing is that if you aim at nothing you will actually end up achieving it with great success!

Without goals you just drift with the currents of life without any direction. Goals on the other hand give you direction, acting like your lighthouse. There will be some rough waters along the way but the lighthouse will keep you afloat, focused towards what you want to achieve, constantly unlocking your potential, increasing your confidence, developing your capabilities and keeping you motivated.

When you ask successful people what they think of most of the time, their usual answer is “what they want” and “how to get it.”

Have you notice how many people talk about what they don’t want? Ask any unhappy person what they want and you will get a long list of what they don’t want or maybe some vague answer like “I want to be rich.”

But focusing on what you don’t want will only bring those things you don’t want to fruition. What do you think of, if I ask you not to think of a pink elephant right now? Yes I know, you do think of a pink elephant! That’s how the mind works.

So are goals important? If you want to just drift along in life, not really. If you want to have a fulfilling, happy & successful life, then yes.

And if you are still not convinced of the importance for goals this Harvard case study* will definitely do the trick:

The Harvard MBA graduates of 1979 were asked if they had set clear, written goals for their future and if they had made plans to accomplish them. Their answers were:

• 3% had written goals and plans
• 13% had goals, but not in writing
• 84% had no specific goals at all

Fast forward 10 years and in 1989 those same graduates were interviewed again with the following survey results:

• the 13% that had goals but not in writing where earning on average twice as much as the 84% that had no goals at all.
• the 3% that had clear, written goals were earning on average ten times as much as the rest of the 97% all together!

And for the doubters out there that might respond with “money is not my number one priority,” the answer is that this case study might be focusing on financial goals but it illustrates the power of goal setting. ie if I point to the moon will you be looking at my finger or the moon?

Moving Forward with Goal setting:

1. Notice how you talk & what you focus on: Do you know what you want? How much of your time do you spend focusing on what you want and how to get it?
2. Take time to start planning your future: Divide a piece of paper in three and write down what you want to Be, Have & Do.
3. Take immediate & continuous action: what is one thing you could do right now to move you closer to what you want to be, have & do?

*From the book “What They Don’t Teach You In The Harvard Business School” Mark McCormack