A Goal Setting Formula

I have spoken to hundreds of top salespeople to find out what makes them better than others. One of the key characteristics and one of the things they ALL have in common is that thy have GOALS.

They have taken the time to decide what they want in life and out of work. They have sat down and put on paper (this is key) what it is they want - both long-term and short-term. You see, they built a a clear blueprint for themselves and their future lives.

Why is it so many people don't set goals? I believe they don't know how. And I believe they are not prepared to work to achieve them.

A Little Skeptical
You may start the process of goal setting with some skepticism. But I guarantee you -you will become a believer in a matter of weeks when you begin achieving your goals. Every person I know of who sets goals, is absolutely amazed at the incredible power of goal setting. Every one of them has accomplished far more than they ever believed possible in selling and their success.

What To Do
Make and take the deliberate process of thinking through every aspect of your work and your life and decide what it is you want. Do you want to earn $300,000 per year? Live in a bigger hime? Have enough money in the bank to retire early? Be physically fit? Then, decide by writing out what it is you want. Then detail out what you are going to have to do to achieve it. You must develop a detailed, written road map to get you to where you want to go.

The Definition of Happiness
Happiness has been defined as, "The progressive achievement of a worthy ideal, or goal." Goal setting is really about achieving your own happiness. It is frankly in the doing - the work - the road to achievement, rather than the achievement itself.

When you are working progressively, step-by-step toward something that is important to you, you generate within yourself a continuous feeling of success and achievement. You will actually feel more positive and motivated. You feel more in control of your own life. You feel happier and more fulfilled. You feel like a winner, and you soon develop the psychological momentum that enables you to overcome obstacles and adversity.

All goal-setting requires that you start with knowing "Who you are." This means; what are your values? What do YOU stand for? What will you NOT stand for? Write these down. All improvement in your life begins with you clarifying your true values and then committing yourself to live consistent with them.

Make sure your goals are in alignment with these values. Your goals and value cannot be out of sync or you will experience frustration and problems. Do you believe that being healthy is important? Do believe money is of value to you? Of course you do.

Successful people are successful because they are very clear about their values. Unsuccessful people are not sure. And complete failures have no real values at all. When you take the time to think through your fundamental values, and then commit yourself to living your life consistent with them, you feel a surge of mental strength and well-being.

Here are two things you can do immediately:
1. Put these ideas into action. First, decide for yourself what makes you truly happy and then organize your life around it. Write down your goals. Then write out the steps you will need to take to actually achieve them. Then take each written step and work on that first step, until it is completed. Then take the next step, and the next, until each step is done. Work on the next step each day. Do some one little thing to accomplish that next step on the path toward achieving your goal.

2. Second, begin with your values by deciding what it is you stand for and believe in. Commit to living your life consistent with your inner most values - things that matter the most to you. Promise and commit to yourself that you will behave and act every day in a manner consistent with your convictions. Do this, and you will find that you will never make another mistake again.