Archive for the Category » Goal Setting «

Dec
03

Setting New Year Goals and Resolutions

If you’re like most of us, you rarely keep your New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you have trouble with them because you make resolutions that are too ambitious. Or maybe you give up because immediate progress is hard to see. Whatever your reason, it’s possible to make adjustments in your approach until you get what you want.

If you want to keep your New Year’s resolutions, you first have to learn to make the kind you can actually follow through on. Make effective resolutions that support you and lead you toward the destiny you desire. Create unstoppable momentum by creating resolutions that lead to small, continuous victories.

Focus on what kinds of changes you really want to make in your life. Do you want to lose weight? Quit smoking? Go back to school? Write a novel? There are all kinds of things you may want to do, both big and small. In order to get them done, you have to first get started. more »

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Category: Building Success, Goal Setting, Life Improvement  Tags: , , ,  4 Comments
Dec
03

4 Goal Setting Pitfalls to Avoid

It is the end of the year again and I believe you have reflected on your journey this year.  Time now to sit down and look ahead to the coming year – to SET GOALS. Do you find yourself struggling to achieve your goals? Don’t worry, many people do.  Perhaps your difficulties lie in the way you’re setting your goals in the first place. Rather than setting yourself up for success, you may be setting yourself up for failure in your first step!

There are four very common “goal setting traps” that you may be falling into. These are dangerous mistakes that can make it very difficult for you to accomplish whatever you’re setting out to achieve.

1.     Your goals are too vague.

If your goals contain uncertainties, you’ll have difficulty attaining them. Strive to create specific goals. Determine exactly what you want to achieve and attach terms to your goals that are certain and measurable.

Ensure that your goals are measurable and timely. There should be a specific point when you can tell that you’ve achieved your goal. “Lose weight” is not measurable, but “Lose 10 pounds” is. “Lose 10 lbs in 90 days” is ideal, because it’s clear, concise, measurable, and has a motivation-driving deadline. more »

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Nov
01

Take Control of Finances

Take control of your finances, instead of your finances controlling you.  This is what we all wanted, isn’t it ?

A properly thought through budget can help in your finances while making sure the necessities are taken care of.

  • Keep track and know your finances

The first crucial step in creating a household budget that works is to list all of your income and keep track of every dime you spend for a month. Before you can know where you’re going, you have to know your starting point.

You’ll be surprised to learn where your money goes each month. This awareness alone may change your spending habits for the better.

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Category: Financial, Goal Setting  Tags: , ,  2 Comments
Oct
28

My Dreams are Real and Achievable

I have plenty of high hopes and dreams, but I am sure to keep my feet on the ground when it comes to planning my goals.

Even if I need to do a lot of preparation or further my education or skills, I plan achievable ways to obtain what I need. I know that, when my goal is achievable, I am destined for success!

I take all the time I need to make a sure-fire action plan. This plan becomes my roadmap for my journey to reach my goals and I detail every step of the way. I make each task one of the steps on my path. Every task I complete, no matter how small, is another step closer to my goal.

An ancient proverb states, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Therefore, I make my first tasks quick and easy ones so I can get started without much ado. Placing easy tasks at the beginning also helps me build momentum that motivates me and keeps me going when I encounter challenges.

Some might say that I have my head in the clouds with my dreams, but I am confident that my plan will get me where I want to go. I take action every day to work toward completing my next task.

Even if a task might take years, like going back to school to get a specialized degree, I am patient because I know I am still moving forward according to my plan.

Today, I intend to make a detailed plan for one of my highest goals, making it real and achievable for me!

Self-Reflection Questions:

  1. What is my most exciting dream for my future?
  2. Is this dream real and achievable, even if it should take years to reach my goal?
  3. Have I made my roadmap of how I’m going to get there?
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Category: Affirmations, Goal Setting, Life Improvement  Tags: , ,  Leave a Comment
Jul
19

Developing Prosperity Mindset for Financial Goals

We all have our own financial goals in life.  Either to retire early and enjoy life or to provide better for family members or even to buy something that you have been thinking for a long time.  Keeping on track towards your goals regardless of any challenges you may encounter along the way, is important.  Having a prosperity mindset is a key factor in reaching your financial goals.

These strategies below will help you foster a prosperity mindset that can enable you to live the life you desire.

Keep Your Focus

If you find that your mind wanders from idea to idea, create one set plan and stick to it. In your plan, create a list of specific achievable action steps that lead to your goal, and then work on at least one task each day to help maintain your focus.

Plan for Success

It doesn’t matter how focused you are if you don’t have a proper plan. Your financial goals aren’t going to happen just by deciding on a number. Make some clear plans on how you’re going to get there. This will get you past the dream phase so you can start making your ultimate goals a reality.

Be as detailed in your plan as possible and set each task as a mini-goal in itself. Achieving these small goals on a daily basis keeps you motivated and moving along toward your big goal.

Model Yourself After Successful People

One of the best decisions you can make is to use other successful people as your role models. Think about what you admire about these people and then try to model their behavior.

See if you can set up an interview with someone you feel is successful. You may wish to find someone in a similar career so you can study his or her success story.

You’ll also want to study the reasons why they’ve become successful. How do you think they got to where they are? Can you embark on these steps too? Chances are that you can; all you need to do is build up the courage.

Believe In Yourself

Unfortunately too many people don’t have confidence in their abilities and they fail to try or give up far too quickly. You don’t have to be one of these people!

Look back at the people you admire and you’ll likely notice that they felt like giving up at some point. But they didn’t! They likely have an unwavering belief in their abilities and a drive to succeed, no matter what.

You, too, can reach your financial goals! Believe that it is possible! People have proven that it’s possible, and you can achieve anything that’s possible.

Pay It Forward

Along your journey to success, you can practice good karma by paying it forward. Spread your knowledge so that others can learn the lessons you’ve learned. You can serve as a mentor to others just like you were mentored when you were starting out.

When you’re kind to others, that kindness will find its way right back to you. You never know what good can come out of some simple kindness.

It may take some time and effort to develop your prosperity mindset, but the rewards are well worth it. Once you’ve mastered it, it will be with you for the rest of your life, guiding you to achieve any financial goals you desire.

Wishing you all the best in achieving your financial goals.

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Apr
25

It is Okay to Say No

I can only expect to achieve success without burnout when I am focused on my goals and aware of my limitations. For this reason, I am able and willing to say no when the need arises.

I prioritize the people and activities in my life. I have let go of the idea that I should be able to come up with enough energy for every person and every activity that comes my way.

My family comes first. They know that, as does everyone else in my life. They are aware that I am incapable of dropping everything for their every whim, but I have granted them the security and confidence they deserve by putting their genuine needs first, above my work and social life. They know that I am there for them when they truly need me, no matter what else is going on in my life.

I also take time to be with friends and colleagues who are positive, supportive, and who help me in my constant pursuit of excellence. I have let go of the idea that I should be instantly available to anyone who asks. I am friendly with everyone, but my time is precious. I choose to spend it with those who will help me become my best self.

I take time to engage in activities that will relax me and further equip me to reach my dreams. I let everything else go, without feeling guilty or creating excuses because I know that it is okay to say no.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Do I keep my goals in mind when deciding how to spend my time?
2. Do my friendships help or hinder me in reaching my goals?
3. Does my family really know that they come first in my life?

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Apr
07

Achieving Goals That Really Matter

Goal setting is one of the best ways to get ahead in life – but only if you’re setting your goals effectively!

Are you trying for unattainable goals that you aren’t really passionate about? Do you quickly give up on your goals? It can be easy to get discouraged, but you don’t have to end up there!

With the right strategies, you can set goals that really matter to you and meet them more easily than you ever imagined.

Most importantly, your goals should be yours and not someone else’s. The goals that your parents, friends, and family members have for you may not be the same for yourself.

What’s Important to YOU?

Too many people set goals to be rich, write a best-selling novel, or marry someone who’s famous, wealthy, or otherwise important or influential. If those are truly your dreams, there’s nothing wrong with them. However, if they’re just society’s dreams – and not yours – let them go, and think about what really matters to you. What do you want out of your life?

When you’re setting goals, stop and ask yourself, “What will bring me joy, beauty and happiness?”

Your goals might include things like:

* Getting married
* Having children
* Finishing college
* Starting your own business
* Changing careers
* Helping others
* Buying your own home
* Having material wealth
* Being physically fit
* Attaining spiritual enlightenment

No matter what you choose or how many goals you have, you can reach them if you’re dedicated and committed to making them happen.

Making Your Dreams Come True

Once you’ve decided what really matters to you and you set your goals, you can begin to make them a reality in your life. Although your goals will take some work, watching them come into fruition is exciting and satisfying!

Follow these tips to help you achieve your goals:

1. Keep your focus. Keep a picture of the life you desire at the forefront of your mind. When frivolous things try to distract you, as they will, remember to make choices according to what’s really important to you.?

  •  Take action toward your goal every day. Each day, find something you can do that will bring you a little closer to meeting your goal.
  •  When challenges arise, getting discouraged won’t change anything, so seek solutions that can put you back on track. Just stay focused and adjust your plans as necessary.

2. Be open to change. Your goals aren’t set in stone. If you choose to change what you’re focused on and set a new goal, that doesn’t mean you’ve given up on your goals. It only means you’ve seen that your goals need to change, just as you change. That’s a sign of growth and wisdom.

3. Set realistic timelines. Some goals can be met in a day or a week, but larger goals often take months or years. When you set goals, it’s important to be realistic about how long you expect them to take.

  • If it’s too far away, you might procrastinate, or you may not start at all.
  • If it’s too soon, you’ll be frustrated and discouraged if you don’t make your deadline.

4. Divide your goal into small steps. Another great way to reach your goals is to divide big goals into smaller ones. Each small goal is one step, or one task, on the way to achieving your ultimate goal.

  • Set individual deadlines for these small steps. This way, you’ll always be moving forward, one step at a time.
  • For example, if your goal is to own your own business, there are things you’ll need to look into like licensing, income, credit, location, and others. Each one of these tasks is one step. You could also subdivide these steps into even smaller goals.

5. Avoid giving up. Many people give up on their goals just before they reach them, not even realizing how close they were. Never give up! You may be closer than you think.

These strategies will enable you to not only reach your goal, but also enjoy the journey along the way – all without getting overwhelmed!

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Mar
22

Overcome Obstables to Achieve Success

We all encounter obstacles in life whether it’s related to our finances, relationships, work, conflict, or illness. There are many things that we desire, but there are always challenges that we must overcome before we succeed. Instead of thinking negatively and giving up on your dreams, why not figure out how you can overcome these obstacles and make them part of your success story? After all, the bitterest of obstacles only serve to strengthen us and make victory that much sweeter!

Leaping Past Your Obstacles to Achieve Success

Everyone would be rich, healthy, happy, and successful if it weren’t for those brick walls that spring up unexpectedly and discourage us, but the real success stories all start with some problem, failure or obstacle.  The truth is, there will always be things that stand in our way. That’s precisely why we all have a choice: we can choose to believe we can overcome any obstacles, or we can choose to give up.  It always starts with a choice.

Setting Attainable Goals to Overcome Obstacles

You need to be able to set attainable, realistic goals so you can leap over the obstacles that are in your way on the path to success. Setting goals is a great way to move past obstacles because it gives you a timeline to help you get things done regardless of the barriers along your path. This will also help you make constant progress toward your goals through prioritization and organization.

Setting goals is important to overcoming obstacles because it allows you to envision your future and create something concrete to work toward. Many people become apprehensive when they only see barriers and roadblocks standing in their way. These people see the obstacles but don’t see the goal at the end of their journey. Sadly, they give up before they get started. But this doesn’t have to be you!

Creating Bite-Sized Goals

Goals often help people see the obstacles they thought existed don’t exist at all, or they were just not as insurmountable as they first thought.  After all, there’s no need to make a mountain of a molehill!

On the other hand, if your obstacles are significant ones, you may find it beneficial to break these obstacles down into mini goals. When you set attainable, realistic goals you are breaking the obstacles into manageable bite-sized pieces that you can overcome one at a time.

For example, if you need a college degree to meet your ultimate goal, consider the application process as your first mini goal and move forward from there, one step at a time.

Using Affirmations and Positive Self-Talk to Break Down Mental Barriers

Leaping past your obstacles is easier when you have a positive mindset. Affirmations and positive self-talk help you program your mind for success. For example, you may find it easier to move forward with your goals if you said, “I am capable of succeeding without feeling overwhelmed or unfulfilled.” By implementing affirmations you will create a positive inner dialogue so you can overcome any obstacle with confidence and purpose.

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Category: Building Success, Goal Setting, Positive Thinking  Tags: , ,  One Comment
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