Brian Tracy provides a simple seven-step formula for setting and achieving goals in the book The 21 Success Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires.
- Decide exactly what you want in each area of your life, especially in your financial life. Most people never do this.
- Write down your goals clearly and specifically. Something amazing happens between your head and your hand when you put your goals in writing.
- Set a deadline for each goal. Set subdeadlines if a goal is big enough. Give yourself a target to aim at.
- Make a list of everything you can think of that you will have to do to achieve each goal. As you think of new ideas, add them to your list until it is complete.
- Organize your list into a plan of action. Determine what you are going to do first and what you will do later. Decide what is more important and what is less important.
- Take action on your plan immediately. It is amazing how many splendid goals and plans are never realized because of procrastination and delay.
- Do something every day that moves you at least one step closer to your most important goal. This commitment to daily action will make you a big success in anything you decide to accomplish.
Action Exercise:
Take a sheet of paper and write the word “Goals” at the top of the page with today’s date. Then, make a list of 10 goals that you would like to achieve over the next 12 months. Write your goals in the present tense, as though a year has passed and you have already achieved them. Begin each goal with the word “I” to make it personal to you.
Once you have your list of 10 goals, go over the list and ask this key question: Which one goal on this list, if I were to achieve it, would have the greatest positive impact on my life?
Whatever your answer to that question, circle that goal and make that your number one, most important goal for the future. Set a deadline, make a plan, take action on your plan, and do something every day that moves you toward that goal.
From now on, think and talk about that goal all the time. Think and talk about how you can achieve that goal. Think and talk about all the different steps that you can take to make that goal a reality.
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