Know What You Want & Where You're Going

Success Tweet: Goals are important. You can’t get what you want if you don’t know where you’re going. If you want to succeed, you must commit to three things. First, you must take personal responsibility for your success. Only you can make you a success. You need to be willing to do the things necessary to succeed. Second, you must set high goals -- and then do whatever it takes to achieve them. Third, stuff happens; as you go through life you will encounter many problems and setbacks. You need to react positively to the negative stuff and move forward toward your goals. The other day, I came across a succinct statement on goal setting and goal achievement from Denis Waitely.

“The secret to productive goal setting is in establishing clearly defined goals, writing them down and then focusing on them several times a day with words, pictures and emotions as if we've already achieved them.”

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I really like what Denis has to say. Let’s break it down.

1. Your goals need to be clear.
2. Your goals need to be written.
3. Your need to focus on your goals several times a day.
4. You need to visualize yourself achieving your goals.

Clear goals follow the S.M.A.R.T. formula. They are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time Bound. Do your goals pass the S.M.A.R.T. test? If you’ve written them, it should be pretty easy to review them to see. Here’s a goal that one of my friends shared with me recently. To become a millionaire selling products on the internet. Let’s see how well it stacks up to the S.M.A.R.T. test. Specific? Reasonably so. This guy wants to become a millionaire selling products on the internet. This goal would be more specific if he had specified the product or type of product he wants to sell, and if he is going to develop the product himself, or resell others’ products. Measurable? Overall yes; if he defines being a millionaire as having a net worth of over a million dollars. Achievable? Probably. He’s a smart guy who has the desire. And, he is committed to this goal. I think he can achieve it if he works hard and smart. Relevant? For him, yes. The guy defines success in monetary terms, so becoming a millionaire is certainly a relevant goal for him. Time Bound? No. He hasn’t set a date by when his net worth will reach one million dollars. Not bad for a first try. Here’s how I would make this goal more S.M.A.R.T: To build a net worth of $1,000,000 by the time I am 40 by being an internet super affiliate marketer, reselling products in the self help field. Specific? Very. Net worth of $1,000,000; internet affiliate marketer, reselling self help products. Measurable? Yes. He can check his net worth on his 40^th birthday. Achievable? Likely, given some hard work and tenacity. Relevant? Yes. Money is how he defines success. Time Bound? Yes. His 40^th birthday is a hard deadline. The common sense career success coach point here is simple. Successful people set and achieve high goals. They understand the power of Tweet 23 in Success Tweets, “Goals are important. You can’t get what you want if you don’t know where you’re going.” Written goals are the first step when it comes to life and career success. Sharpening your goals until they are clear and concise is the second step. If you don’t have written goals for your life, and for this year, write some tonight. Then check them against the S.M.A.R.T. criteria. Make sure your goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time Bound. If you take just these two steps you’ll be well ahead in the career success game. Bud Bilanich, author of Success Tweets is a motivational speaker and blogger who will help you create the life and career success you want and deserve.Read more » articles by this approved career expert | Click here » if you’re a career expertPhoto credit: Shutterstock