How,Set,and,Achieve,Realistic, DIY How to Set and Achieve Realistic and Effective Goals &#4

When starting a new work at home business it is very easy to become consumed by it. We spend so much time trying to get the business up and running that we may end up becoming burned out and lose our motivation. There is so much to learn and Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in

Article Title: How to Set and Achieve Realistic andEffective Goals (Part One Updated)Author Name: Craig LockLine Space: 65 characters Category (key words): Self Help, Personal Growth,Motivation, GoalsettingWeb Site: http://www.craiglock.com/books.htmlArticles by Craig Lock: http://www.bridgeniche.com/clockarticles/index.htmlPublishing Guidelines: We hope that the following article (an extract from Craig's first published book HANDBOOK TO SURVIVE) may be informative and helpful to your e-zine readers, or on your web site.This article may be freely reproduced electronically or in print. If it helps others "out there", then we're very happy."We share what we know, so that others may grow." *HOW TO SET AND ACHIEVE REALISTIC AND EFFECTIVE GOALS (PART ONE)by Craig LockOh no, not another article on goalsetting!Author's Note:This extract is from Craig's first published book HANDBOOKTO SURVIVE - a collection of writings on various subjectsto help every man or woman survive in a rapidly changing,uncertain world. An introductory look at the concepts of success, motivation, attitude, goal setting and stress. *It's well past half-way through the year already andhave you put all yourJanuary 1 2004 goals (business and personal) into ACTION,or werethey just New Years resolutions - merely WISHES? Or perhapsjust distant, long-forgotten memories in the deep recesses of your mind! No matter,now is a good time of year to reflect on life, our family'slives,our journey - where we've come from and where we areheaded.Who knows!'There is one quality which one must possess to win, andthat is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what onewants and a burning desire to possess it.'- Napoleon Hill (author of the classic book, 'Think andGrow Rich')'Nothing happens, no forward steps are taken until a goal isestablished.'- David J. Schwarz (author of 'The Magic of Thinking Big '-an excellent book by the way!)' Your life is controlled by your thoughts. Your thoughtsarecontrolled by your goals.'- Earl Nightingale' When we have no personal goal which we are interested in,and which means something to us, we are apt to go round incircles.'- psychologist Maxwell Maltz'The key to peak performance is not potential or skill,but motivation and dedication....having clear performancegoals and putting in the training effort to achieve them.'- Dr Sven Hansen 'I would like to repeat the critical importanceof committing your plan to writing. It cannot be over-emphasised!'- Paul J. Meyer of Success Motivation Institute'Learn how to set your goals:a. Write down your goalsb. Give yourself a deadlinec. Set your standards high.'- Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone (co-authors)UNDERSTANDING GOALSSetting goals is the first step towards ACTION. They get youinto motion. The energy of motivation should be harnessedby being transformed into clear goals and a clear PLAN toachieve them. Goals are dreams which come true....and they are far easier to achieve once they arefocussed.Goals therefore help to fulfil one's PURPOSE in life bygivingexpression to your core inner values, the 'real YOU'.Psychologists have found that helping people to developpersonal goals has proved to be the most effective way tohelp them cope with personal problems by:1. Crystallising one's purpose in life - through addingmeaning .2. Helping make difficult decisions.3. Giving direction to your life and keeping you on track by concentration.4. Resolving conflict5. Building confidence and6. Adding to your self respect (or sense of value = selfworth)The power of imagination in goal setting comes from havingBIG HOPES AND DREAMS. I believe too often weunderestimate our capabilities. Use the amazing power ofyour CREATIVE IMAGINATION to think what you REALLYWANT OUT OF LIFE..Then visualise your dreams actually coming to pass.Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is more powerfulthanknowledge".Very true, as I believe the human imagination is ourgreatestasset. Thoreau once wrote these beautiful words:'If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreamsand endeavours to live the life which he* has imagined, hewill meet with a success unexpected.'(Sorry ladies!) ** Only joking - you can have dreams too and achieve themeven better than us "mere males"(and please don't beat up " Mr un- PC" Thoreau forneglecting you).'Be true to your ideals, no matter what may happen now.Then things will take a turn and the very things you wantedto happen will happen.'- anonThat one has just inspired me as I write this. *Summary:Set realistic, yet achievable goals. Ones that stretchyou...because we are all different, what is achievable for oneperson might not be so easy for another. Also, becausewe are all unique creations with different hopes, desires,aspirations and dreams, what goal is important to you maybe totally inappropriate for another individual's lifedirection.I believe setting goals is vitally important in achievingwhatwe want out of life....and setting even small daily goals are a great help ina daily action plan to move your life forward. I find itvery satisfying ticking off even small routine tasks,like paying bills (well that is a big goal for a "starving"writer!).These small immediate goals are stepping stones to ourbigger goals " down the track".WRITE THEM DOWN, because putting them down onpaper makes for more COMMITMENT.It focuses your thinking on what youwant to achieve, like a magnifying-glass (that's called asimile,by the way!). Doing thischrystallises (nice big word) our hopes, aspirations anddreams. They keep us on track towards our medium-termand long-term goals - the "grand plan or vision" for ourlives.This is most important...Re-evaluate your progress from time to time. Doing thiskeeps you on track to see how you are progressingtowards the "big picture". I find it extremely satisfyinglooking back and ticking off the goals I have achieved.( Of course , I don't achieve all of them, but am workinghard on that.)It can be very encouraging seeing how far you have come ,when you look back at your first "teeny-weeny" goals anddoing this is a great motivater to me.Goals are the first step in a positive plan of action.And always remember,every great journey down the "river of life" starts withone small first step.YOU CAN ACHIEVE ALL YOUR PERSONAL GOALS.SoWHAT'S STOPPING YOU FROM TAKING THAT FIRSTSTEP RIGHT NOW?Craig LockAs the ancient Chinese philosopher said so well,"A journey of a thousand miles starts with a ...broken fan belt and a flat tyre"...er sorry...a single step."A wish is just a wish,A New Years Resolution is just a resolution.Goals have deadlines and are the stepping stones down thepath, the stair-case to your dreams."- Craig LockAbout the author:Craig Lock has studied and written extensively in the fieldof self help. Craig believes in the great potential of every human being in the journey of life and loves to encourage people to share their individual (and guiding) spirits, so that they become all that they are CAPABLE of being.To order 'Handbook click on http://www.craiglock.com/books.htmlor email Craig at [email protected] of Part OneTHIS ARTICLE MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHED Article Tags: Achieve Realistic, Effective Goals