When is a goal not a goal? By S. H. Evans

Sounds like a riddle doesn’t it? And why be interested in a goal that is not a goal? After all, we know that we should have goals. Explicit goals. Preferably quantitative. Certainly concrete enough so we will know when we reach them. This is the moral imperative of organizations.

If you are an organization, you need explicit goals. Organizations need explicit goals because they operate by cooperation among people. Cooperation only works when everybody understands the goal. Not just the words. The goal as it will appear in reality.

But if you are not an organization, you are entitled to a different treatment of your goals. All you have to do is cooperate with yourself. Since your brain has many parts, that cooperation is not automatic. But those parts are not limited to talking to each other in language. They have other channels.

Take, for example, the title of this page. Your language module rejects the title as a logical inconsistency. You probably see it as something like a riddle and expect that the page will give you some kind of answer. As you read the page, you may have the (unstated) goal of resolving the inconsistency before you find the answer.

So here is one kind of goal that is not a goal. People make implied goals by asking questions. You give other people goals by asking them questions. Other people give you goals by asking you questions. You can give yourself goals by asking yourself questions.

Some questions are just for information. The kind you could look up in an encyclopedia, a textbook, or on Google. Those questions don’t give your brain much of a workout unless you are trying to answer them on a test, in front of a group, or at a job interview.

You get more out of quest questions. Quest questions send you on a search through your brain. You may have to figure out where to find the answers. You may have to figure out who to ask or what resources to use. You may have to figure out how to put the information together.

Here are some quest questions people might ask themselves about their goals:

* What was I doing yesterday? What was my goal in doing that?
* Why was I working on that goal yesterday?
* What goal am I working on today? Why do I want that goal?
* What goal will I be working on tomorrow?
* Am I always working on a goal? Do I ever just sit back and enjoy what is?
* Do I ever reach a goal? Do I ever sit back and enjoy my success?
* Do I know what goals I should have? Are these really my goals?
* Am I working toward my goals mainly because I should work toward them?
* What have I been doing recently? Where will that take me?
* Is where I am headed a goal? Do I want it to be a goal?

One of the main reasons for thinking about goals is to find the difference between your goals and the goals you think you should have.

When is a goal not a goal? When it is not your goal.
___________
S. H. Evans was Professor of Psychology at Texas Christian University and an independent consultant in behavioral research. Now retired, he works with Dr. D. F. Dansereau, Professor of Psychology at TCU. They maintain a free website based on work by the Applied Cognitive Research Lab at TCU. This site, thinkerer.org, provides simple, commonsense tools for self-improvement, self-direction, learning, and other psychological fixes.

Do You Love What You Do? By Catherine Pulsifer

If you love what you do, then it is no longer work. The money you earn is secondary when you love your work. Money can never buy happiness, or peace of mind.

Those who continue to work at a job they hate for the money alone are more likely to be stressed, and very unhappy. They live for their vacations and weekends.

Unfortunately, they are sadly missing out on the happiness of everyday life. It is better to receive less money and be happy with what you are doing, than to receive lots of money and hate what you are doing.

"Profit is a by-product of work; happiness is its chief product." -- Henry Ford

When you love your work, you look forward to each day. Your attitude changes from one where you are counting the days to the weekend, to one where you enjoy your weekend, but look forward to your return of work.

Unfortunately, not many people have found this quality. Often, people stay in jobs that they despise rather than taking a risk by changing their work to an area that they love.

Sometimes, we fall into the trap of thinking we are secure in our positions, and believe it is better to remain where we are rather than change jobs.

If you do not love what you do, I would encourage you to find an occupation that you would enjoy, and set your goals to help get you there. Although, I have heard numerous people wish for a different position, they take no concrete action to move them towards fulfilling their wishes.

By setting goals, you can start to advance in the direction you want. It may take time, but rather than wishing, you are actually taking positive steps toward achieving your desire.

"The great thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes

Many times I hear people say, "Loving what you do sounds great, but I'm not sure what I love to do." Well, let me suggest that you make a list of the following:

1. What things have you done in your life that you really enjoyed doing. Don't judge your thoughts, just write - it could be anything from playing a sport, to cooking a dinner.

2. What do you have a passion for? What has made you want to jump out of bed?

From these two lists, expand on the ideas. What type of career do you see by using one of your ideas. Your results may reveal several possibilities. You then have to decide which one you want to pursue.

After you have decided which career to pursue, set your goals and take the necessary action to attain them. This may mean taking courses to acquire your credentials, improving your current skills, or conducting research. Use the three principles in setting your goals:

WHAT = Goal
HOW = Action Plan
WHEN = Time Frames
___________
For more inspiration visit InspirationalQuotes4u.com where you will find inspirational quotes to inspire and motivate you. Sorted by subject and by author. Plus a quote for each day of your week.

Establishing Dreams and Goals by Jim Rohn

One of the amazing things we have been given as humans is the unquenchable desire to have dreams of a better life, and the ability to establish goals to live out those dreams.

Think of it: We can look deep within our hearts and dream of a better situation for ourselves and our families; dream of better financial lives and better emotional or physical lives; certainly dream of better spiritual lives. But what makes this even more powerful is that we have also been given the ability to not only dream but to pursue those dreams and not only to pursue them, but the cognitive ability to actually lay out a plan and strategies (setting goals) to achieve those dreams. Powerful! And that is what we will discuss in detail this week: How to dream dreams and establish goals to get those dreams.

What are your dreams and goals? This isn't what you already have or what you have done, but what you want. Have you ever really sat down and thought through your life values and decided what you really want? Have you ever taken the time to truly reflect, to listen quietly to your heart, to see what dreams live within you? Your dreams are there. Everyone has them. They may live right on the surface, or they may be buried deep from years of others telling you they were foolish, but they are there.

So how do we know what our dreams are? This is an interesting process and it relates primarily to the art of listening. This is not listening to others; it is listening to yourself. If we listen to others, we hear their plans and dreams (and many will try to put their plans and dreams on us). If we listen to others, we can never be fulfilled. We will only chase elusive dreams that are not rooted deep within us. No, we must listen to our own hearts.

Let's take a look at some practical steps/thoughts on hearing from our hearts on what our dreams are:

Take time to be quiet. This is something that we don't do enough in this busy world of ours. We rush, rush, rush, and we are constantly listening to noise all around us. The human heart was meant for times of quiet, to peer deep within. It is when we do this that our hearts are set free to soar and take flight on the wings of our own dreams! Schedule some quiet "dream time" this week. No other people. No cell phone. No computer. Just you, a pad, a pen, and your thoughts (you get to do this in the workbook exercises this week).

Think about what really thrills you. When you are quiet, think about those things that really get your blood moving. What would you LOVE to do, either for fun or for a living? What would you love to accomplish? What would you try if you were guaranteed to succeed? What big thoughts move your heart into a state of excitement and joy? When you answer these questions you will feel Great and you will be in the "dream zone." It is only when we get to this point that we experience what Our dreams are!

Write down all of your dreams as you have them. Don't think of any as too outlandish or foolish - remember, you're dreaming! Let the thoughts fly and take careful record.

Now, prioritize those dreams. Which are most important? Which are most feasible? Which would you love to do the most? Put them in the order in which you will actually try to attain them. Remember, we are always moving toward action, not just dreaming.

Here is the big picture: Life is too short to not pursue your dreams. Someday your life will near its end and all you will be able to do is look backwards. You can reflect with joy or regret. Those who dream, who set goals and act on them to live out their dreams are those who live lives of joy and have a sense of peace when they near the end of their lives. They have finished well, for themselves and for their families.

Remember: These are the dreams and goals that are born out of your heart and mind. These are the goals that are unique to you and come from who you were created to be and gifted to become. Your specific goals are what you want to attain because they are what will make your life joyful and bring your family's life into congruence with what you want it to be.

Until next time, let's do something remarkable!
Jim Rohn

(Excerpted from Week Six of the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan)
____________
Article Submitted by Jim Rohn - Announcing The Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan! One of the Most Comprehensive Resource and Success Plans Ever Created For You To Reach All Of Your Goals in the Next 12 Months!

Goal Setting Success - 7 Steps to Getting Unstuck By Valerie Hayes

So there you are, parked on the couch, feeling like it's time to make a change, making an abstract list of goals for a new you. You’re determined not to let opportunity pass you by, but honestly you’re feeling a little stuck. Here are seven simple steps to help you get unstuck and on the way to success.

1. Pick a goal you’re passionate about. Identify something that would make you happier or your life easier every single day. Maybe it’s something you’ve always dreamed of doing or something that really annoys you on a daily basis. If you’re really passionate about your resolution you’re more likely to stick to that goal for the long haul.

2. Take action today. Right now, absolutely right now, write down three actions you can take to help you meet your new goal. Taking immediate action will not only get you off the couch, but it will help you feel in control of your destiny.

3. Get yourself an expert. Find a coach, buy a book, research the Internet, get an instructional CD, or ask a friend. Find someone who knows more about the topic of your goal than you do and learn as much as you can. Information really is power.

4. Take baby steps. Often we are so anxious to get to our goal that we have unrealistic expectations. Most people overestimate what they can get done in a week, but underestimate what they can accomplish in a year. Break your goal down into baby steps and get started. Just like learning to walk, once you get your footing your confidence will increase and you will naturally gain speed.

5. Do your best impression of a tortoise. Not only should you take baby steps, but just keep taking them over, and over, and over. There are moments when you’ll be discouraged; hang in there. Always keep moving towards your goal. When it comes to getting unstuck, slow and steady really does win the race.

6. Keep your goals visible and visualize your goals. Write down you new goal and put it somewhere where you can see it on a regular basis. (I print my goals out in a caligraphy font and put them in a beautiful gold frame in my office.) Every time you read the note, visualize yourself in a specific situation having achieved your goal. Imagine how excited you will feel when you’ve finally arrived. It’s no coincidence that 90% of medal-winning Olympic athletes practice visualization of their goals. If it works for them, it can work for you too.

7. Surround yourself with a support network. Tell family and friends about your new goal. Make sure you only tell people that you think will be supportive, not “doomsday” friends. Successful people surround themselves with other successful people. It’s a positive cycle you can use to your advantage.

Okay, so back away from the computer, pry yourself off the chair, get started with #1 and just keep on going. Just keep on chipping away and don't stop until you've accomplished your goals and created your own personal vision of success!
___________
Valerie Hayes is an entrepreneur who survived a corporate layoff by starting her own consulting practice using only cash on hand, her laptop computer, and readily available resources. Within two years she had matched her corporate salary, was writing for national magazines, and was featured on MTV. She accomplished all this while working a part-time schedule from her home office! Now she offers her simple strategies to others looking to create their own vision of success. Please visit her website at HayesSuccess.com.

More Time Please By Jason Johns

You’ve got goals haven’t you? Things you want to achieve in life? The thing I would guess you are lacking is the time to do it. I mean, you’ve got a job, then your social commitments, then your hobbies, sports, TV time and … oh yes … you have to sleep too.

And after all this, what time is there left to work on your goals and making your life outstanding? Very little. And I bet you would like more time, wouldn’t you?

Everyone has twenty four hours in a day, whether you are Bill Gates or a homeless guy on the streets. Everyone has exactly the same amount of time. It’s what you do with it that determines whether you sleep in a $42 million mansion or under yesterday’s newspapers.

So how can you get some more time to work on your success and that dream life?

Well, there are lots of ways you can get more time.

How much time do you spend in front of the TV each day? The average is about 3 hours. What if you cut that back by an hour a day?

How about instead of lying in bed for that extra half hour romancing your snooze button you got up straight away?

What if you used your lunch break to read and research what you needed to know in order to achieve your goals?

How long is your commute to work? The average is about an hour, so what if this time was used to learn, think and plan?

You probably use a computer too, and answer email or write letters. What if you learnt to type faster and so make your computer time more productive?

Let’s take a hypothetical example here. From doing the above you get an hour from reducing your TV, half an hour from getting up earlier, half an hour for lunch, and an hour commuting time. Plus, let’s say you learn to type and so save half an hour a day on the computer because you can type faster.

That means you get three and a half hours extra a day to work on your success – free!

Now, you’d better sit down for a moment here because this may surprise you. This three and half hours a day equates to an extra fifty three days a year for you to work on your success.

So you would get fifty three days free just by making this small sacrifice! Not bad is it?

Imagine what you could do with those extra days? It’s almost two more months in the year! I am sure you could create your dream life in that extra time, don’t you?
___________
Jason E. Johns is a personal success coach specializing in helping you to achieve your dreams through an innovative and compassionate approach. Discover more about goal setting and how you can achieve your dreams at www.livingmotivation.com

Do you want Success in 90 Days, 180 days or in 2006? By Frank Gasiorowski

What is your goal setting choice?

Do you have the luxury to wait to set your Goals?

Success is a process that starts when you take ACTION.

For a lifetime of Dreams and Goals accomplishments you must take a Focused Actions that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic with a time frame associated with them.

They are called SMART Goals.

I had a goal of being retired when I was 50. I achieved that goal but since I was not specific enough, my wish was achieved but not my Dream.

I was retired on disability.

I wanted to be drinking sweet ice tea on some island beach resort without a care in the world.

To make matters worse: I had a Heart attack on my Birthday.

To make matters more tragic,

I had to have Open Heart, quadruple By-pass surgery after that.

The doctor said that I could have another Heart attack or stroke at any time. I could become totally disabled or die at any second.

The doctor told my wife that she had one-hour to get all of our affairs in order.

How will that mess up your Goal planning?

The point of this story is that we never know how much time we have to accomplish what we think we are after in this lifetime.

How much time do we actually have?

We just don’t know.

Do we?

That brings us to 2006.

What will this year bring us?

Without taking focused action right now we may never know.

Do you want Success in 90 Days, 180 days or in 2006?

Start right now.
_________
Frank Gasiorowski or as his is known on the internet as "Mr. 90 Day Goals", has been teaching since 1973 and his current mission is to provide easy and effective ways for individuals to achieve their true potential through, 90DayGoals.com and TotalSelfMastery.com coaching programs.

Don't "Should" On Yourself! By Grace Judson

The best New Year’s resolution I ever made – and the only one I ever kept – was to never make another New Year’s resolution.

I am dismayed by the number of people who doggedly, stubbornly make their resolutions every year – often the same ones they made the year before. Within weeks, or even days, these resolutions fall by the wayside, trampled into the dust by existing habits and ways of thinking and acting.

Predictably, this perceived failure to execute becomes a blunt instrument for self-flagellation, evidence of a lack of commitment, general bad-personhood, and overall unworthiness.

Talk about setting yourself up for failure!

Establishing new habits is hard. Evidence suggests that it takes at least three weeks – that’s a full 21 days! – of consistent action to create a new habit; eliminating an old habit is even more difficult. And most of us make resolutions based on what we believe we should do (or should not do), rather than what we really want to do (or not do). Furthermore, we state our resolutions in fuzzy terms: Eat less. Exercise more. Be more organized. While these are certainly virtuous and valuable objectives, there is no way to measure your achievement. What’s “less”? What’s “more”?

The start of a new year is an obvious choice for self-evaluation, setting goals, and making plans. By applying a little creativity and thought, we can set ourselves up for accomplishment and achievement instead of disappointment and discouragement.

First, take a few moments to frame your thoughts as desires and goals. You don’t really want to eat less and exercise more; you want to look and feel better and live a healthy, active life. You don’t really want to be more organized; you want to navigate easily through your daily tasks. When you use positive, active terms to describe your desired outcome, you advance along the path to success. Contrast this to how you feel when you tell yourself you’re an over-indulgent couch potato living amidst clutter!

Once you have your aspirations stated in words that excite you instead of depressing you, you’re ready to describe how your achievements will look and feel, and what specific steps you will take to get there. For instance, you may choose to take a vegetarian cooking class to learn ways of including vegetarian meals into your weekly menu; you might finally break down and get the puppy your kids have been clamoring for so you can take daily walks with the puppy and the kids; you might consult with a professional organizer to create systems that work for you instead of making you feel straitjacketed with rules and regulations.

The challenge I offer you, then, is to throw out all your old New Year’s resolutions and craft exciting, positive lifestyle goals with clearly defined, creative, and fun steps to a measurable result.

“Now there are more overweight people in American than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average. Which means you’ve met your New Year’s resolution.” -- Jay Leno, American writer, actor, and humorist.

(c) Grace L. Judson
________
Grace Judson is the founder and driving force behind Svaha Concepts, and specializes in helping smart people find easy ways to do hard things. Sign up for their free Svaha Concepts newsletter.