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The Importance of Goal Setting

In 1953, Harvard University famously conducted a detailed survey of its graduating senior class. The questionnaire that each of the three thousand students filled out specifically asked that participants look deeply at their expectations of life!

In 1973 another questionnaire was completed by each of the two thousand remaining ex-students that were contactable. In many areas of life the results were quite predictable. In some, there were a number of surprises; however nothing had prepared the researchers for the shock they received, when appraising the respondents’ net worth.

Shock Number One arrived in the form of a 97% to 3% split. Any one of the 3% (sixty people) selected on their own, had a net worth greater than the other 97% combined. Put in everyday language, any single one of these sixty people could have bought and sold the other 1940 individuals combined.

Shock Number Two was the realization that these sixty people did not constitute the ‘cream’ of the graduating class. Their positions in their various classes at graduation turned out to bear no relation to their successes in life. It was not the geniuses whom had succeeded financially!

Shock Number Three was that the 1953 survey unknowingly predicted this 97% to 3% split. The students of 1953 had predetermined their own success levels, and the information lay dormant for twenty years.

Before any further consideration of this amazing material, let us consider the following state of affairs in Australia: six of Australia’s ten wealthiest people do not have university educations; three of the remaining four failed university at their first attempts; the last graduated having taken five years to obtain a three year degree and none of the four with degrees, actually use it directly in the production of their income. So, if you think that you aren’t academically inclined, you’re in good company!

If you could find out a secret that would guarantee your success in everything you attempted, would you treat it like a valuable tool and commit yourself to using it, even if you did not understand how it could possibly work? If it was the silliest thing you ever heard of, but you knew that it worked well for others over extended periods of time, would you stick with it anyway?

So, What Was the Secret?

What was it that these sixty people had in common in 1953 that brought them enough wealth to live on happily ever after, even if they never worked again?

‘ Each had WRITTEN DOWN their GOALS!’

For more years than I care to remember, I struggled when confronted with goal setting and my future direction.

Life’s challenges on a daily bases had been full on for years for both my children and I and looking back now I did a very good job on training my subconscious to only look to the next day and never further.

It was of no surprise that each time goal setting came up with the suggestion of having 3 golden wishes then what would they be, or to wave my magic wand and automatically know what my future vision was to be. These suggestions would draw a total blank. This type of thinking was so foreign to me as hardship and struggle had been my no.1 focus for too long.

If this wishes or wands came up in a workshop type environment, then I’d make an effort but the outcome never felt mine. I never took ownership of the goals then written, they just didn’t seem to fit!
Yes for too long my focus was on the problem and limited thinking, instead of looking for a solution and outcome.

It’s of no surprise when I found the solution that my goals just flowed.

You may not have a problem with goal setting, but if you do then by all means keep reading:

  • Each day I wrote down my 8 goals.
  • This exercise could be specific for my business or encompass my goals on health wellbeing and of course my future.
  • I wrote them in my A4 diary as that kept me accountable.
  • Writing the date that each specific goal is going to be achieved by in the context of the goal, is a must.
  • My goals must be in the ‘now’ and not in the future as if it has happened.
  • I must not at any time look back on the goals I had written the day before or prior.
  • I continued writing my goals on a daily bases with each specific date till I knew I had repetition.
  • Repetition could come in say a week or it may take a month or two -allow yourself this time if it extends over a period. If like me, my block on goal setting had been there for years and it wasn’t going to disappear in my 1st few days of starting.
  • An example of one of my goals at the end of my 3 week tasking:
    • Today is the 30th April 2010 and wow how good is it to have my very own coaching website up and running. I’ve had an overwhelming response with doors of opportunity coming from all directions and already income streams relating to $’s in my bank.

My New Awakening?

  • I struggled the 1st couple of days to even get to goal number 8 and the process was slow and difficult. Yes I had to stick with it till you reach 8 as I was playing by the rules.
  • By day 7 I felt restricted that I had to limit my goals to only 8. In such a short time my thinking had done the full circle.
  • I then gave myself permission to write as many goals daily that came to mind. Yes I came up with 18 – 19 each day.
  • I was also finding that I was being more specific as to what I was looking to achieve whilst looking at my dates, making sure that I had realistic time frames in place.
  • This was how my ‘website’ goal started off as:
    • Today is the 30th April 2010 and I’ve started on my coaching website
    • Today is the 30th April 2010 and I’ve launched my coaching website
    • Today is the 30th April 2010 and I’m so excited with the outcome of my launched coaching website.
    • Today is the 30th April 2010 and I am blown away with my new coaching website that is up and running. I’ve already had a massive response with doors of opportunity opening daily.
    • Today is the 30th April 2010 and wow how good is it to have my very own coaching website up and running. I’ve had an overwhelming response with doors of opportunity coming from all directions and already income streams relating to $’s in my bank.
  • Also as each day unfolded, I found that my pen couldn’t get my goals down quickly enough. I was excited with clarity and clear direction at to what was coming from this exercise.
  • As each week moved on, I was also coming up with new goals that I never thought possible. One of my goals was to do 4 hour of research/reading or listening per week. I started implementing this goal from day 1 of writing. My research can come in any form as long as it is aiding my growth and development. Reading the ‘finance supplement’ of the paper opened up another goal of ‘blue chip share portfolio’ to the value of $$$$$. Starting off, I would never have imagined that I’d even think of this one, let alone go there.

Next Step- when repetition of goal writing occurs.

  • When I realized that I was coming up with the same goals each day and the time frames were the same, then it was time to take my next step.
  • Re-writing each goal in my goal book was a must. This book is A4 in size, giving a double page to each goal.
  • On the left hand side of each double page, I then wrote down my 20 strategies that I need to implement and make this goal a reality.
  • If you are having a problem getting the 20 strategies down, start doing some creative and thinking outside the square planning.
  • Get down as many as you can from day 1 at this stage, then set yourself the task of coming up with another 1 each day till you reach your 20.
  • There are benefit from brainstorming and leveraging with other ‘like minded’ people that are able to support you on this journey, should you get ‘stuck’ at any time!
  • Remember that these are your goals and your’s only, not anyone else’s.
  • Goals must be tanible, doable and realistic.
  • Strategies can come in steps. If a goal was to increase your income by $10k per month. Step this out under ‘what would I have to do by the end of my 1st month’ as a process, then 2 & 3 months. Often by breaking up big steps into smaller ones, the outcome is very manageable and supports us in sticking with the goal and noting each step as a milestone.
  • Our goals change as our circumstances and thinking change so being open to run with this one allows growth in.
  • If a goal was to loose 5 kilo’s within 3 months that’s ok. Your goal from there on could be to maintain that specified weight or to loose more.
  • By realistic goals I’d understand that people usually over estimate what they can do in a year, but underestimate what they can do in 5 years.
  • Often with our goals, having an outside entity to keep us on track and accountable is a must.

I would value your input and experiences here on how you have found this goal setting process to be!

Goal setting is a totally new experience for me. As I’ve never had any before! As each day of writing passes, I’m feeling the weight being lifted off my shoulders and the feeling of de-cluttering and clear directions coming into my life for the very first time. Yes I’m a grandmother and I can’t believe it.
Noelene

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