Good Morning Team – we get asked this question a lot, even when it’s not the biggest goal setting day of the year. No matter what, or whose, goal setting system you choose to use, the key common denominator among them all is this; hand write your goals.
We’re sitting on a property that was once a dream we transformed into a goal, looking at a house built for Julie’s parents that started as a dinner table discussion. So we know for a fact that writing goals down makes the difference between a hope and wish vs creating a new reality. Here are some other points that you might find useful as we enter 2013.
“Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul; the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.” –Napoleon Hill
BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND: Please understand that your mind thinks in pictures and for the most part – in a linear manner. It can only plan according to what it understands currently. Start with activity goals – like how many people you’re going to speak with, which products you’re going to use, etc. Because activity leads to production. Production leads to money and THEN with money can buy the THINGS you want. Essentially you’re going to have two sets of goals; 1. “ACTIVITY” goals and 2. “Thing” goals.
ACT WITH THE END IN HEART You’ve just been asked to put together a jigsaw puzzle. You’re excited to get started. You pour out all 1,000 pieces, spreading them out across a large table. You then pick up the lid of the box and look at it – but there’s no picture! It’s blank! How will you ever be able to finish the puzzle without knowing what it looks like, you wonder? If you only had a one-second glimpse of what it’s supposed to be. That’s all you need one picture of the finished product. Without it, putting together the puzzle will take a really long long time….
Now picture your life and your “1000 pieces”. What is the clear picture of who you desire to BE as you build your business? Who is in the picture with you? What are you Being, Doing, Having?
Here’s what I’ve learned about goals & goal getting from my 25+ years of studying successful people;
1. You MUST acknowledge where you’re starting from and just because you haven’t done something before…doesn’t mean you can’t learn to do it now and/or in the near future.
2. Your goals MUST be bigger than you…especially to the point of scaring you. Example; “We’re Attracting a Global Team of Extraordinary individuals Dedicated to Loving, Learning and Connecting with Grace and Abundance”
3. They MUST be Specific. Example; if your goal is a new car; What year, make, model, color, features etc. Fluffy language like “I want a new car, “more money”, “more time”, “more love” …gives your brain zero info to act upon and actually gets you less of those things.
4. You MUST attach a time frame. No deadline = no urgency = no have.
5. You MUST never ask “How”…only “WHY”. The how will be provided by your mentors.
6. You MUST attach a big, detailed, emotionally significant “WHY” to each of your goals. Example, If your goal is $5000. a month….that’s great…but you don’t want that because you want 5000 pictures of George Washington for your bathroom wall…..there’s a “WHY” behind that. What will achieving that allow you to Be, Do and Have? A Great way to focus your “WHY” is to ask yourSelf how achieving any particular goal will benefit others.
Finally, they MUST be hand written first (you can type them later) AND they MUST be read and re-read multiple times per day, every day with the same strong emotional feeling you’ll have when you’ve achieved those goals. This way your mind masters what to do. Repetition is the mother of skill.
So now grab a pen and start writin! Put your “picture” on paper…and over the next year watch your miracles come together….with Grace and Abundance.
Live With Intention,
Dr Bill
About Dr Bill Toth
Bill’s Background
I’m just an average guy who’s learned a few things about Life, Success and Personal Development – thanks to some incredibly good and bad experiences during the past 25+ years. I’ve made many mistakes and have learned to combine down to earth values with a unique ability to distill complex concepts into simple powerful strategies which can be immediately applied to produce measurable results. In short;
“I’ve traveled the territory, drawn a few maps and I’m happy to share them”
I do not consider myself to be an “expert” and my work is never presented as the definitive doctrine on how you should live your life or what it takes to be successful in your business. I am a work in progress and if you were to you join me on life’s journey by hiring me as your coach or partnering with us in business – our learning will very likely be a two way street. In fact, I expect it to be.
“What you know dies with you – what you DO leaves a legacy”
I was raised in upstate New York and eastern Pennsylvania. This rural upbringing is strongly reflected in my personal value hierarchy: Faith > Family > Friends > Fitness and Finance.
Education and a commitment to continuous improvement are next on the list. All these and more are strongly reflected in my coaching, teaching, writing and speaking.
While growing my private practice I also taught Orthopedics and Neurology at both the undergraduate and graduate level, produced a TV show on fitness, appeared on numerous radio and TV programs, authored numerous journal articles, chapters for medical texts, served as vice-president of my state medical association, and started a family. I have had the honor and privilege of consulting with and coaching a diverse population of people from royalty to prisoners, from children to CEO’s, from amateur to professional athletes from 41 countries and people of almost every race, creed, religious belief and nationality.
I am passionately committed to contribution and Living With Intention. Part of my philosophy is to think globally while acting locally. I am a very active member of my church, as well as several community organizations. After church, my favorite philanthropy is the Nourish the Children. I have also performed extensive volunteer work for both the Anthony Robbins Foundation, and the Make a Wish Foundation.
Why become an Entrepreneur?
I became an entrepreneur because after 5 years of Health Care Reform I found I was merely an employee of the various insurance company’s I was interacting with. I became painfully aware I was working more hours for less money and that what I was doing wasn’t working!
At the same time my beautiful daughter, Casey, was born. This was the first time in my life I started to think about my future, and of course hers. When children come into your life, your perspective changes from Firebirds and Ferrari’s to Gymnastics, music lessons, horseback riding and so forth. Suddenly, I had to think longterm – was what I was doing going to provide all the things that a father wants for his children?
In October of 1998 I started my entrepreneurial endeavors on a very part time basis. Less than 3 months later my New Year’s Resolution was to put my practices up for sale. In May of 1999 I sold them and began to work on my dreams and my fortune on a full time basis. From there, it took me a full five years to get to the point where I could do whatever I wanted to do. Along the way I wrote my first book: “Morning Moments”…as well as learning a few things about money, transitioning careers and happiness. I am happy to share what I know, in short again;
“I’ve traveled the territory, drawn a few maps and I’m happy to share them”
In summary; Transitioning careers was the hardest challenge I’ve ever taken up and it’s been the most rewarding! In so many ways, this is the very best personal development seminar I’ve ever taken because I met mySelf and my wife in the process…and every perceived adversity was worth it.
Today, with my wife Julie, we “get to” pay the gift forward by coaching, mentoring others through the same process. There is no greater pleasure than showing others how to earn their freedom and then observing what good they do with it.
Life Will Never Be The Same