Have you ever known someone whose life appeared to be literally all over the map? One day they are learning to play golf only to turn around the very next day and take up tennis. This person might decide one day to get in better physical shape. So they purchase a piece of home exercise equipment and jump right in fast and furious. Three weeks later the exercise equipment is collecting dust and our friend is watching TV, drinking beer, and eating their weight in Polish sausages.

On the other hand, have you ever known someone who was completely committed to what they were doing? Their entire life was a laser focus on a particular accomplishment. Nothing seemed to distract them or interfere with their mission. They knew where they were going and they usually got there.

What do you think the difference is between these two people? Heredity? Maybe. Motivation? Possibly. Intelligence? Not necessarily.

The real difference between the first and second person is that person 2 knew what he or she wanted and person 1 did not. Person 2 knew what his or her outcome was going to be and person 1 did not. Person 2 had a goal with the actions steps to meet that goal. Person 1 did not.

As a result, person 2 will experience all of the richness and fulfillment life has to offer while person 1 struggles to get to the refrigerator between commercials.

Can goals make that much of a difference? You bet they can.

In 1953, the graduating seniors of Yale University were polled to determine which had written goals complete with the action steps to complete those goals. Only 3% of the graduating class had such goals. Twenty years later, the researchers interviewed the surviving members of the 1953 class and made a startling discovery. Of the members polled, the 3% that had the specific written goals had a higher quality of life and were worth more in financial terms that the entire other 97% combined!

This study clearly demonstrates the power of goal setting and focus.

I am going to provide you with a vehicle to get you to a particular destination. What and where that destination is depends on you. Stated differently, the tools I provide you will be of little use to you if you don't know what you're going to be using them for.

So let me ask you a question. If you knew that it would be impossible to fail and you were assured of ultimate success, what life-changing action would you take right now?

With that ultimate success mindset, take a minute and answer these questions?

1. When you look in the mirror, what would you like your body to look like?

2. In 3 months, what would you like your dress size or pant size to be?

3. How much energy would you like to have in 3 months?

4. Three months from now, what would you like your physiologic age to be?

5. In 3 months what would you like your body fat to be?

6. What would you like your body weight to be in 3 months?

Your answers to these questions (and any others you can think of) will form the basis of your goals.

How do you write goals? For goals to be effective, they must address the following components:

1. They must be specific.

2. They must be measurable.

3. They must be achievable.

4. They must be realistic

5. They must have a timetable.

6. They must have a factor of accountability.

7. They must have purpose

In addition to these elements, major obstacles to achieving your goals and ways of overcoming the obstacles should be explored. Your brain will automatically create a barrier to your goals and this is where most people get stuck. But, if you will get into the habit of listing the objections your brain raises and assigning a specific strategy to overcome each objection, you will break through any and all barriers to realizing your goals.

A well-written healthy weight loss goal may look something like this:

By January 1st, 2007 I want to decrease my dress size from a size 12 to a size 8, reduce my body fat from 25% to 17%, and lose 15 pounds so that I can attend my 25th high school reunion in the Bahamas.

For the next few minutes, decide what you really want and write your specific healthy weight loss goals down.

Remember that making a true decision means committing to achieving a result, and then cutting yourself off from any other possibility. If you know what you want, develop the specific strategy to get you there.

So go for it right now!!!