Goal Setting Tip #1: Where are you going?

This goal setting tip can be summed up with the title of a book my father bought me on goal setting quite a few years ago. The title of the book was "If you don't know where you're going you'll probably end up somewhere else". Those words have stuck with me all these years.

When you think about the title and realize that most people have no idea where they're going or what they want. It's really sad. Our minds are goal seeking computers. Just give it a specific goal and it will work to complete it. However, all most people have is vague wandering thoughts of what they want. They've never written their thoughts down in a coherent manner.

If you send a message to a friend you don't write the words down in whatever order and expect them to figure out what it says. Why do we do it to ourselves with what we want out of life?

It's your job to write down on paper how you want to live.

Get out a piece of paper and start with your top 100 goals. Start writing a list of the things you want to accomplish in your life. I mean anything you can imagine, learning a language, taking a trip, meeting a famous or not so famous person. Write on that list everything from the littlest thing like brushing your teeth twice a day to flying in the space shuttle.

Keep making the list until you reach 100, however, don't stop there. Carry the list with you and continue to write down more goals as you think of them. It may take several hours or days to complete this list. However, it's essential that you do it.

Goal Setting Tip #2: Let's get specific

The second goal setting tip, get specific about the things that you want. Take your top 100 list and start with the easiest ones and write a more specific description of what you want. If it's a car, what make and model, what color, leather or cloth seats. If it's a trip, where are you going, how will you get there and what will you see. If it's money, be specific. How much, why do you want it and what will you do with it when you get it. Remember, BE SPECIFIC!

Goal Setting Tip #3: It's in the want to, you'll find the how to.

Now let's discover the key to successful goal setting. Why do you want it? Think about and write on paper why you want each of the dreams on your Top 100 list. Get specific and dig deep to the emotions and feelings that are behind each one. It's in this step you'll find which ones you truly are willing to pay the price to get and which ones are not really important.

"The best way to predict your future is to create it". - Chinese Proverb

In order to create your future you have to know what you want to create.