Think back to the achievements that you have already made. Were you goal orientated at the time? Probability is that you were. One of the saddest things in life is that many of us start out with good intentions. We set a goal. We go out and achieve that goal or we fail in the attempt. After that one failure many people fail to set another one. Consequently we drift on the tide of life, instead of setting our sights clearly on the next target.

Goal achievement is a continual process. You should always have both a major and many minor goals in your life. Your big goal might be to own the company you now work for in five years time. That's good. It is a positive long-term goal. You should also have medium goals - say an overseas holiday next year. Even more importantly you should also have short term and immediate goals.

Whether you understand it or not, you do have a habit conditioned mind. What you must do is create a new habit that will make your habits assist you instead of working against you. When people hear the statement that ?There is not much in this world that you cannot have if you really want it?; most people have an automatic rejection to this type of statement. They counter with ?Who me? You've got to be kidding.? The only reason for this reaction is the habit conditioning of your mind. You are used to thinking of limitations. Your habit centres reject the thought that you can have whatever you want. You are guilty, as we all are, of the deadly sin of self-limitation. Your mind is comfortable. You are in life exactly where your mind feels comfortable. It takes a little courage to get out of that rut and begin to create the new life that you really want, but that you reject because of your present thinking patterns.

The first step is to understand the goal setting processes. The first step is to argue with your own mind. To argue with your own indifference. To argue with your own laziness, and force yourself through a deliberate mental process, to set and work towards goals that you really want.

There can be nothing worse than setting well defined positive goals - and then ineffectively pursuing them. Many people do this. It is a tragic waste. Another tragedy is the person who works hard and pushes and persists without having a clearly defined goal. This person may or may not succeed. His persistence may push him into winning situations but whereas the first person knows where he wants to go and doesn't ever quite get there, this second person drifts like a ship without a rudder.

A goal must be set and the first step taken. Set a ten year goal and begin right away. You may find that you have to make continual changes in your direction. You may find that you arrive at your goal in 12 years. What is more likely is that in four or five years, you will be so well on your way that you will achieve your target well ahead of the deadline. The only way you will not achieve it is if you, (a) give up or (b) fail to adapt to changing circumstances and make the necessary changes.

Achievement is really only taking one step after another. The hundredth step is a very easy one to take. The hard one is the first, second and third. Inertia that holds you back from taking the first step, will work for you in making you take the later steps, once you are off and running. So take the first step as soon as you can. Procrastination, the old thief of time, must be dealt a speedy deathblow. The first step is undoubtedly the hardest. The secret is to begin whether you are ready or not.

The first step is to decide exactly what you want. Begin by setting your goals now. Don't say ?I'll do it tomorrow?. Get started right away. Where do you want to be in five years time? Right where you are now? Or streets ahead in money, possessions, personality and personal satisfaction? The choice is yours today. Make your goal list today. This really is a vital moment of decision in your life. When you look back on your life you are going to be able to say, ?That's it. That's the moment when I began to put it all together. That was the turning point in my life?. Don't look back and say, ?That was another opportunity I missed.? Have you the courage to set your goals now and be on your way to enjoying life as it is meant to be - in abundant fulfillment!