We all know that goal setting is the key to success. It provides us with the strength to keep going when times are tough, and it gives us direction when we feel lost. But what if you don’t have any goals? Well, you need to pick a goal – any goal – your best guess for today will do! I don’t want you to procrastinate and wait for the perfect goal. Pick an interim goal that will get you into action and give you the practice of achieving it. Onceyou begin doing this on a regular basis, your perfect goal will come into view and you will know what to work towards, what is most meaningful, and you can begin to devise a plan to get it. Here are some questions to get you started.

First – let’s dream a little and write down the answers to these questions.

  • What do you love doing? Can you create opportunities from it?
  • What is most important to you? Make a detailed list of what you need in your life to be happy, healthy, and
    financially comfortable.

Now let’s get specific:

  • How much money do you want to make? Can you do this in your current situation?
  • What job could you do to make the money you want?
  • Do you need specific training or skills to do this job?
  • What type of service could you offer people that they want and need?
  • Do you want to work for someone, or do you want to own your own business?
  • Are you willing to invest the time, energy, and money into reaching your new goal?
  • What are you willing to do, learn, and be, in order to have a good, comfortable life?

Research shows that those people who write down their goals are 73% more apt to accomplish them. It is important for you to bring forward those thoughts and dreams into reality. By writing down your goals you can now make a list of how to accomplish them. Start creating all those things you want out of your life instead of wishing that you had them, or resenting someone else who does. Try not to overthink things.

There is an old saying: “analysis causes paralysis.” Recognize that life is unpredictable, and it is impossible to anticipate the outcome of everything. Only when you take action and start doing things towards your goal, will you feel better, and guaranteed you will be happier, sometimes almost immediately.

Remember, you never know if you can do things before you do them. Typically, what happens with most of us is we set out on a goal and then somewhere along the line we are presented with another option, to go in a different direction. Should you stay the course, or keep to the original plan and ignore the new ideas? Only you will know at the time. Presented with new opportunities along the way opens up new and never realized ideas to go in a different direction and accomplish more. Only when you shake up your life, does the new possibilities and opportunities present themselves.

Try it. You might be surprised with what great things show up in your life, sooner than you expected.

Good Luck & Best Wishes,

ATML - Christine Ibbotson