When preparing and presenting goal setting seminars I discover many individuals believe in the goal-setting process but they do not discipline themselves to practice it. I understand. It does take time initially to establish the method of success but the simple phrase ‘practice makes perfect’ has credibility. (Or some might inject “perfect practice makes perfect.” Yes I think we should do it the right way.)
The first step to develop the path to goal success is to vision, or dream, about the outcome you want to obtain. The more you focus on the goal the more you reach. The more you reach, the easier to discover the path … and once you see the path the goal is easier to obtain. One of the key elements of motivation is to see the path but before the ‘how’ is established we need the ‘what’ to be established. ‘The what!” is the vision of the outcome, the goal. So the first step is to see the dream, the vision, the outcome, see success and make it real in our mind! That will push us to the action needed to make it come alive.
Consider this formula or process for steps to success. The first process to consider is to practice but not all practice the same way, so not just practice is important but effort is a key consideration. This is where most goal setting goes wrong. Little effort – little success. The next is to dream about the possibilities. Dream what it will be like to obtain the goal. How will I feel about myself? How will I act? Will I accomplish more? The dreaming leads to excitement and you grow passionate about the possibilities. The passion causes you to perform at a higher level. You begin to expect more out of yourself. Little victories promote improved practice, effort and performace. You begin to expand your dreams because you see you can accomplish more. Success breeds success.
Finally the process promotes intention. You wake up each day with a renewed idea of what you can accomplish. Your purpose has been altered. You step beyond what you were and now reach for higher goals. Your intention is now to reach beyond comfortable to risk to improve. The process has disciplined you to expand your thinking about yourself and what you can accomplish. You no longer reach for success but have made the choice to live successfully. It’s what Gandhi said “We have to become the change we want to see.”
You have become a lifetime goal-setter.