Goal Setting Store Motivation
“Are you equating dreams with goals or do you set goals to get to your dream?” A friend asked me this question recently.
That is a good question. I have known some dynamic clients who are stubborn and never give up. They definitely dream and have a vision. In order to help you identify the difference between a dream, vision, and a goal, listed below are 8 steps to take to achieve your goals.
1. Dream or visualize your goal.
Here are some ways dreaming and visualization work: 1) Entrepreneurs can dream and visualize their goals, 2) Corporate goals generally begin with visualization and they can see the end result of their project and know what it will look like, and 3) Personal goals can be all of the above. For example, if the individual wants a Ferrari he will begin thinking about the car, then dreaming about it such as its color, model, fun to drive, etc. If the person is asked to do a project he will visualize a plan of action to finish the project. There was no dream involved as someone else created the concept.
2. Have a solid, clear picture in your mind of your goal.
Before you can write down a plan of action you should be able to visualize the end result in your mind and then it makes it easier to set up a plan to achieve the goal. It is easier to accomplish if you have a solid picture of it in your mind.
3. Develop your goal/plan.
You nurture the dream until it has real meaning for you. For example for me I had a dream to have a Writers’ Retreat in the Sonoma County Wine Country. Up to this point there was nothing, no plan in place and no specific people in mind. Then I began dreaming. I could visualize 10 writers sitting in the conference room creating their writing plan. I SAW the redwood trees, rustic cottages, and people mingling outside in the garden. It was an awesome visualization and dream. I even created a Visualization Board.
4. Set up a date (target date) to complete your goal.
Decide on a date to achieve your goal. Give yourself as much time as you feel is needed to accomplish your goal.
5. Write down a plan of action based on your target date.
It’s the baby steps it takes to finish the goal. Identify each task needed to complete your goal. It could be phone calling, sending out notices, marketing, Teleseminars, finding a hotel for your event, research, etc. You may have to adjust the target date if the tasks involved will take more time than anticipated. If your goal will take more than six months it is recommended that you have sub-goals that you can finish every quarter so it makes is easier to finish your goal and you won’t lose interest.
6. If you missed your goal, reset the target date and continue until you reach your goal.
Most important: As long as you still believe in the goal you keep on going and never give up. You need to feel PASSION for your dream or it will be difficult to finish. One client who sets 100 goals a year and accomplishes 90% of them told me that she just couldn’t stop. She is obsessed with completing her goals, however she calls them dreams. She is driven. How about you?
7. Find a mentor or buddy that will support you.
This can give you the boost you need in the tough times and be your motivator to help keep you going. Goal setting is not for the timid. A lot of work is involved. A huge commitment is needed on your part. Ignore the naysayer and find those positive people in your life that believe in you and will help you stay focused.
8. Take action and follow your plan.
There is only one person that can complete your goal, YOU! You must take action, overcome obstacles, and follow through on all your action steps. YOU are the Action Task Achiever, only YOU can make your dreams come true. That’s what I like about my dynamic clients. I give them the information they need and they do it! They are motivated. Do you have the passion for your dream? Can you visualize your goal? Do you have a buddy? Are you ready to create a plan of action? If you answered yes, to these questions then congratulations you are ready. Have fun and enjoy the journey.
America’s Book Coach, Joan Clout-Kruse, helps entrepreneurs and business professionals write a book that will get them recognized as an expert, attract more clients and boost their income. Claim your Free audio and tips on writing your great book at http://www.writemybizbook.com/ezine.html
What is a dream?
A dream is a vision, A premonition, A worthwhile goal.
A dream is something wanted, Expected, And longed for.
Dreams are not always practical. Sometimes what you wind up with Is not what you wanted.
But look closer. A dream’s possibilities Are unlimited.
To achieve your dreams, your goal You must be objective And set your sights accordingly.
There is no magic to dreaming. You must work long and hard To realize your goals.
Don’t be discouraged by this. Have faith, and be persistent In all you do.
To sum it up then: A dream…
Is a vision of a possibility. It is being objective and working hard. It is being persistent and trying new things.
The fulfillment of a dream- Is a new beginning.
AnswerYou are coming along. A message all should heed.
When you feel you are in a slump in life and you know there is something missing and you don’t have a goal or dream set how do you go about finding one?
AnswerBeing alone, spending time alone, and thinking hard about your future, and what you want in life, and when. Plan your future, and set small goals now…to start working towards your “ultimate” goal for the future. Before I fall asleep in bed at night, I think of the things I want in life. I think long and hard about them. Then the next day, sometimes, I’ll research or learn more about them on the computer. It at least gives you perspective and ideas. But solitude/being alone, really makes my goals/dream/future plan come about and makes me driven.
I have been with my boyfriend whose never done me wrong in any way for almost 9 months. We are very serious. Both in college, have dreams, goals set, so he’s obviously a great catch, i love him with all my heart, and most of all he loves me dearly and I broke his trust by kissing my ex boyfriend at my graduation party which my boyfriend could not attend. He trusted me that nothing would happen but we shared a kiss. I waited however until now 8 months later to tell him because I was so afraid that he would leave me. He is really big on having absolutely NO secrets so it started sort of eating me up inside that I had that lie… I have never done anything else after that. We had that kiss which I allowed because I wanted my ex to think he had a chance to get back with me but I had NO intention of leaving my current bf. The thing is that when this kiss took place I had been dating my bf for about a month but another thing was that when I started dating my current bf I had just broken up with my ex the day before. So the story with that is…when i was dating my ex we dated for almost 3 years and once I was fed up with my ex i decided to break up with him but it didn’t happen until my current bf and I shared a kiss. So basically my 3 year relationship with my ex ended right after my current bf and I shared a kiss.
Going back to the current situation…I started dating my current bf immediately after my ex and I broke up. So a month later my ex and I shared that kiss but it had no emotion it was out of anger for him if that makes sense. It doesn’t’ justify it I know but it still happened and I feel horrible. He did forgive me and we are moving forward but I’m trying to figure out how to let it go. I personally can’t let it go and it’s rotting me on the inside. What do I do?
AnswerJust cause he forgave you doesn’t mean there’s work left to done. You have to forgive yourself.
I am looking for books that will motivate children to imagine what they want to do in the future – career, home, family, special dreams, etc. The more broad the book is the better.
AnswerA Dr. Suess book called “Oh The Places You’ll Go.”
It’s a great book, and my first graders love it.
As a child, I have always been taught to have great dreams. But building castles in the sky has led nowhere. Somewhere along the way, I have discovered that it is not the dream that is important but the actions you take towards a goal. But are all great dreamers destined for failure? Those with high expectations beyond their means are setting themselves up for some degree of failure, are they not? Is the ardent dreamer often too entangled in his dream to really acheive something in real life?
AnswerBy all means, dream. It was once said that if you don’t dream, you can never have. Of course by just dreaming, you can never have either. You must work towards you dreams. One step at a time.
It would be true to say that setting high expectations beyond their means is to set yourself up for some degree of failure but i would ask you this: Which successful person or dreamer has never met failure but yet succeeded?
They say success is a poor teacher and there is a chinese proverb that says failure is success‘ mother. So in order to have success, you must first have failure.
The key is to dream and to work towards it. You may fall along the way but remember to learn from your failures and continue on.
Think of it this way as someone once told me: If you want to get a rocket to the moon, you don’t just aim at it and fire away. The only way you can get to the moon is to get the rocket up and every so often make some course adjustment and you will get there. Does is mean you cannot make a mistake? No. It just means that if you make a mistake, just alter your course so that you are back on track again.
Just like your dreams, if you want to get there, start walking and remember to make course adjustment along the way.
