nk them in an order of personal importance. That means, not what’s most important to your spouse or partner, your kids, your parents, your friends, your boss, your _________.

Make the list by ranking the items in importance to you. Does this mean that I’m suggesting you be totally selfish and self centered while ignoring the wishes of everyone else? Heck no. In fact, one would hope that your priorities are basically in alignment with those of at least your spouse or partner, your kids, your

Before we can begin setting goals, we first have to establish a couple of pretty important things. Goals are where we what to get to, aren’t they?

First, before we can figure out where we want to go, one of the things we need to figure out is where we are now, plus why do we want to get to the goal?

Try this. Grab that trusty note pad and a pen or pencil. On the left side of the page make a list of all the things that you would like to see different in your life. Be as specific as you can. Now I have a word of caution here.

As you write the list, you might be tempted to focus on what you haven’t got in your life yet. This makes some people feel sad or even angry. So my suggestion is this. On the right hand side of the page, list all the things that you can think of that are working well and that you have achieved.

Take a moment and be thankful for what you have already accomplished and what is working. It’s a universal truth that what you focus your attention on grows. Please don’t get caught up in the trap of thinking about what’s wrong, be grateful for what’s working. What isn’t quite working yet for you isn’t right or wrong, it just isn’t working and soon it will change, won’t it?

Remember, you aren’t a finished product. You are a work in progress. Take five minutes and get the lists started now. After you have completed this arcticle you can get back to your lists and build on them some more.

Secondly, let’s start another list. This is what I like to call the Core Values list. This list is essential to effective goal setting because it is what will help create the passion to propel you towards your goals. The core values list will clarify who you are and why you want what you want in life.

Often, I find that people who bypass this step often end up setting goals that are chosen by someone else for them. That won’t work. Goals need to come from within you. How do you determine your core values?

You need to look inward. You need to ask yourself what are the absolute most important things in your life. Then rank them in an order of personal importance. That means, not what’s most important to your spouse or partner, your kids, your parents, your friends, your boss, your _________.

Make the list by ranking the items in importance to you. Does this mean that I’m suggesting you be totally selfish and self centered while ignoring the wishes of everyone else? Heck no. In fact, one would hope that your priorities are basically in alignment with those of at least your spouse or partner, your kids, your

ve a word of caution here.

As you write the list, you might be tempted to focus on what you haven’t got in your life yet. This makes some people feel sad or even angry. So my suggestion is this. On the right hand side of the page, list all the things that you can think of that are working well and that you have achieved.

Take a moment and be thankful for what you have already accomplished and what is working. It’s a universal truth that what you focus your attention on grows. Please don’t get caught up in the trap of thinking about what’s wrong, be grateful for what’s working. What isn’t quite working yet for you isn’t right or wrong, it just isn’t working and soon it will change, won’t it?

Remember, you aren’t a finished product. You are a work in progress. Take five minutes and get the lists started now. After you have completed this arcticle you can get back to your lists and build on them some more.

Secondly, let’s start another list. This is what I like to call the Core Values list. This list is essential to effective goal setting because it is what will help create the passion to propel you towards your goals. The core values list will clarify who you are and why you want what you want in life.

Often, I find that people who bypass this step often end up setting goals that are chosen by someone else for them. That won’t work. Goals need to come from within you. How do you determine your core values?

You need to look inward. You need to ask yourself what are the absolute most important things in your life. Then rank them in an order of personal importance. That means, not what’s most important to your spouse or partner, your kids, your parents, your friends, your boss, your _________.

Make the list by ranking the items in importance to you. Does this mean that I’m suggesting you be totally selfish and self centered while ignoring the wishes of everyone else? Heck no. In fact, one would hope that your priorities are basically in alignment with those of at least your spouse or partner, your kids, your

of thinking about what’s wrong, be grateful for what’s working. What isn’t quite working yet for you isn’t right or wrong, it just isn’t working and soon it will change, won’t it?

Remember, you aren’t a finished product. You are a work in progress. Take five minutes and get the lists started now. After you have completed this arcticle you can get back to your lists and build on them some more.

Secondly, let’s start another list. This is what I like to call the Core Values list. This list is essential to effective goal setting because it is what will help create the passion to propel you towards your goals. The core values list will clarify who you are and why you want what you want in life.

Often, I find that people who bypass this step often end up setting goals that are chosen by someone else for them. That won’t work. Goals need to come from within you. How do you determine your core values?

You need to look inward. You need to ask yourself what are the absolute most important things in your life. Then rank them in an order of personal importance. That means, not what’s most important to your spouse or partner, your kids, your parents, your friends, your boss, your _________.

Make the list by ranking the items in importance to you. Does this mean that I’m suggesting you be totally selfish and self centered while ignoring the wishes of everyone else? Heck no. In fact, one would hope that your priorities are basically in alignment with those of at least your spouse or partner, your kids, your

al to effective goal setting because it is what will help create the passion to propel you towards your goals. The core values list will clarify who you are and why you want what you want in life.

Often, I find that people who bypass this step often end up setting goals that are chosen by someone else for them. That won’t work. Goals need to come from within you. How do you determine your core values?

You need to look inward. You need to ask yourself what are the absolute most important things in your life. Then rank them in an order of personal importance. That means, not what’s most important to your spouse or partner, your kids, your parents, your friends, your boss, your _________.

Make the list by ranking the items in importance to you. Does this mean that I’m suggesting you be totally selfish and self centered while ignoring the wishes of everyone else? Heck no. In fact, one would hope that your priorities are basically in alignment with those of at least your spouse or partner, your kids, your

nk them in an order of personal importance. That means, not what’s most important to your spouse or partner, your kids, your parents, your friends, your boss, your _________.

Make the list by ranking the items in importance to you. Does this mean that I’m suggesting you be totally selfish and self centered while ignoring the wishes of everyone else? Heck no. In fact, one would hope that your priorities are basically in alignment with those of at least your spouse or partner, your kids, your parents and your boss. If they are not there might be other issues in play.

Those people will generally, but not always, be supportive of you. Friends may be another issue. Have you ever heard the expression, “birds of a feather flock together”? Generally, that’s why people are friends, isn’t it?

As you begin to achieve more successes in your life, both financially and personally, because of your choices that work for you, be aware that others may not be comfortable with your achievements. This will be especially true if they don’t have the drive and passion that you will develop.

Some actually may try to discourage you. Just be aware. Let’s take stock of some things that might be considered core values that may help move you towards certain goals.

• The love of family
• The desire to help people
• The need to be recognized
• The desire to display strong ethics
• A strong spiritual life
• The need for adventure
• The need for security
• The desire for a lavish lifestyle
• The need to feel fulfilled
• The need to feel happy
• The need to feel good

These are examples of some core values. I don’t say one is better than another in your life because it is your life and you get to choose. You must build your personal list because it’s these core values that will provide the answer as to why you want to pursue a particular goal. Without understanding why you want to achieve a goal your ship will be rudderless. Goal setting really does work if you do it well. Those who don’t have clearly established goals, seldom achieve at the highest levels of success.