Goals Are Dreams With Dates Attached
Copyright © Leon Bowes
http://www.HonestlyFreeHomeBiz.com"When you put a date on your dream, it becomes a GOAL. When you aim for the GOAL, it becomes a challenge. When you beat the challenge, the reward is success. To have success...you need a dream..." - Raja AkhtarMAKE YOUR DREAM LISTTake the time to dream about what you "want to be", what you "want to do", and what you "want to have." Make yourself a dream list and break it down into those 3 categories: (1) Everything I Want To Be, (2) Everything I Want To Do, and (3) Everything I Want To Have.
Now write down your dreams no matter how far-fetched they may seem. Don't just say, "I want to have a successful Christian business from home"; envision what you want, like "I want to have a successful Christian business from home making $2000 a day only working 3 hours in the morning". If your desire is to have an expensive car, describe that car right down to the color of the floor mats.
CAN YOUR DREAMS BECOME GOALSSometimes a dream is nothing more than just a dream. Maybe it is not as important to you today like it used to be and maybe it will become more important in the future. The simple fact is, if it is not a target, it's just a dream; and until it becomes a goal, why waste your time on it?
Now, test each dream you listed to see if it can become a goal. Ask the following questions of each dream and write "yes" beside the dreams if one or more of these questions apply: "Will my dream...(1) Make me more secure? (2) Make me healthy? (3) Make me happy? (4) Give me peace of mind? (5) Give me hope? (6) Make me prosperous? (7) Improve my family and friend relationships? (8) Improve my self-image? If the answer isn't "yes" to at least one of these questions, you should cross that dream off your list.
TURN YOUR DREAMS INTO GOALSReview all the dreams you put "yes" beside and decide on the goals you would like to work on right now. Identify them by putting a "check mark" beside each one.
Now think in terms of 3 categories: Short Term, Intermediate Term, and Long Term.
Pick 4 goals and put them on the "Short Term" list that you want to accomplish (in a month or less). Then put 5 goals on the "Intermediate" list to accomplish (in 4 to 52 weeks). Finally put the rest on the "Long Term" list that would be for (a year or more from now). Now prioritize each of the lists.
STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL GOAL SETTING
"Describe Your Goals In Writing" - Make the goal visible and own it.
"Think Big" - When you think about your goal, don't hold back. Visualize it as larger than life.
"Set Realistic Goals" - Be reasonable, as most people set themselves up for disappointment by thinking TOO big and want everything "now" when in fact worthwhile things take time to achieve.
"Make Your Goal Personal" - Dream and imagine yourself in your goal and think of how the achievement will change your life. Imagine you are making $25,000 per month from your Christian business from home only working three hours, four days per week.
"State Goals In The Present Tense" - There is no such thing as future time in your mind, because your mind can't tell time. Act as if you've already reached your goal.
"Identify Goals That Challenge You" - Don't make your goals so easy to attain as your mind will get bored.
"Reward Yourself" - When you achieve a goal, celebrate and reward yourself.
"Make Goals, Not Excuses" - No matter what you feel is getting in your way, don't give up. Just do it!
"Remember The Reason For Your Goal" - What is the WHY? behind your goal? The WHY? is the ultimate drive for the dreamer to achieve the goal.
MONITORING THE GOAL SETTING PROCESS
Implement your process by owning it. Write down each goal on a separate piece of paper and monitor it. Here are some suggested categories to monitor:
AREA OF LIFE YOUR GOAL REPRESENTS TODAY'S DATE FINAL DATE YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL DATE YOU ACHIEVED YOUR GOAL WHAT IS MY GOAL BENEFITS TO ACHIEVE MY GOAL LOSSES TO AVOID POSSIBLE OBSTACLES YOU WILL ENCOUNTER POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THOSE OBSTACLES SPECIFIC ACTION STEPS TO ACHIEVE GOAL HOW WILL I TRACK MY PROGRESS IS IT WORTH MY TIME FOR ALL THIS EFFORT? AFFIRMATIONS FOR THIS GOAL GOAL SETTING IS MY DAILY RESPONSIBILITYLIFE IS A CAFETERIAA friend's grandfather came to America from Europe and, after being processed at Ellis Island, went into a cafeteria in New York to get something to eat.
He sat down at an empty table and waited for someone to take his order. Of course, nobody ever did. Finally, a man with a tray full of food sat down opposite him and told him how things worked.
"Start at the end," he said, "and just go along and pick out what you want. At the other end, they will tell you how much you have to pay for it."
"I soon learned that's how everything works in America," Grandpa told our friend. "Life is a cafeteria here. You can get anything you want as long as you are willing to pay the price. You can even get a successful business from home. But you will never get it if you wait for someone to bring it to you. You have to get up and get it yourself." Go out and set your GOALS and then pursue them with a passion.
This article was written based on information I learned at a training seminar I attended with materials provided from "The Dwyer Group" P.O.Box 3146, Waco, TX
About the Author: Leon Bowes is the co-owner and webmaster of http://www.HonestlyFreeHomeBiz.com. As Christians, he and his wife Deana only recommend honest and legitimate businesses that are available to anyone regardless of their background or skills.Labels: Business From Home, Business Ideas, Business Opportunities, Christian Business, Christian Business Ideas, Christian Businesses, Christian Businesses From Home
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