Interview with Simon T. Bailey - Discussing Goal-setting

Simon T. Bailey is an internationally known speaker, author and consultant, he inspires individuals to take charge of change and transform their lives from the inside out. You can visit him at SimonTBailey.com.

While this is a very brief interview, I'm confident you will agree that Simon shares some great ideas when it comes to achieving goals.

Josh Hinds: What is goal setting?

Simon T. Bailey: It's laser focusing on one thing that matters the most to you.

Josh Hinds: Why is Goal Setting important for success?

Simon T. Bailey: It enables an individual to focus their energy on being effective instead of busy.

Josh Hinds: Can you share your best advice on goal setting?

Simon T. Bailey: If it doesn't move you, make your hair blow in the wind, cause your heart to skip a beat then why do it anyway. It has to be something meaningful.

-I hope you've found the ideas helpful.

Yours in goal setting success, Josh Hinds

*brought to you by GoalsSuccess.com

Interview with Randy Gage on the topic of Goal Setting

Randy Gage has been helping people transform self-limiting beliefs into self-fulfilling breakthroughs to achieve their dreams for more than 20 years. Through his prosperity workshops, books and CDs, he travels the world teaching that health, happiness, and wealth are possible for all who desire it. Visit him at RandyGage.com.

Josh Hinds: Why is goal setting important?

Randy Gage: If you don't have a clear goal, you don't really know where you are going and what actions will get you there. Setting a goal programs your subconscious mind and causes you to take actions that bring you closer to it. It also gives you a scoreboard to follow and know where you are in relation to where you want to be.

Josh Hinds: In your opinion why do you think so many well intentioned people fall short of the goals they set for themselves?

Randy Gage: I think a lot of people don't do critical thinking about their goals and often just adopt ones they think will be acceptable to others. Many don't write them down and clarify them. Your goals need to be bold and real to you, so they pull you toward them.

Josh Hinds: Do you have any specific techniques or systems people could put into place that would help them achieve the goals they set?

Randy Gage: I am a big believer in reinforcement things such as affirmations, prosperity maps, daily mantras, pictures on your refrigerator, mirror, steering wheel, etc. The more you feed your dream, the more emotional it becomes and emotion is a big driver to keep you focused and active.

Josh Hinds: Randy, thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and ideas on goal-setting. Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers along these same lines that would be helpful?

Randy Gage: I like to cover both bases and use negative and positive reinforcement for my goals. I will often "paint myself into a corner" by committing publicly to having something done by a certain date. This creates pressure in a good way to keep me working towards accomplishment of the goal.

I also use positive reinforcement, giving myself rewards for goals. If it's a small goal I may promise myself to get a massage when it is accomplished. For major goals, I may give myself a Hawaiian vacation or even a new sports car. Doing both angles like this keeps me always achieving goals and setting the next ones.

-I hope you found the ideas Randy shared helpful. Remember that ideas alone won't create positive change -- it's the application & implementation of the ideas you learn that can allow you to reach your intended destination!

Yours in goal setting, Josh Hinds

PS. If you found the ideas above helpful, be sure to join our free Goal Setting and Motivation Newsletter!

Goal Setting - Interview with Michael Angier on Accomplishing Goals

Michael Angier is founder and CIO (Chief Inspiration Officer) of SuccessNet -- a support network helping people and businesses grow and prosper. You can visit him at SuccessNet.org.

Josh Hinds: What is goal setting and why is it important?

Michael Angier: Goal setting is simply the process of deciding specifically what you want to achieve and how you plan to achieve it. Sounds simple, doesn't it? And yet most people are never taught how important it is nor how to do it.

Most people spend more time planning their vacation than they do setting goals for the next year--say nothing of the next three, five or ten years. Without goal setting, the rest of the world is determining where you are going instead of you. Other events and other people direct your course instead of you determining your own.

Josh Hinds: If you could share only one piece of advice on setting and achieving goals what would it be?

Michael Angier: It's hard to pick just one, but I would have to say be very specific. I hang around mostly goal-oriented people so they are already in the top 10% of all
people.

But even within this group, I find far too many that do not have clear specific, measurable goals. When asked what their goals are, only a very small percentage can answer in a way that indicates they are clear and specific.

Our unconscious mind works on specificity. It does not do well with vague generalities. So get clear. Be specific. Make sure your goal is measurable and that when you share it with someone, they "get it".

Josh Hinds: How important has goal setting been in your own life--can you share how it's had an impact on you?

Michael Angier: I've always been a directed and purposeful individual. But that's not enough. It was when I learned about the power of goal setting--about writing them down, getting specific with a plan of action, that things took off for me.

I have not accomplished every goal I've gone after. But I have achieved more of them than I missed. And even the ones I have not achieved have moved me further along the path of my success. When I look back at my life, I can tell the times that I was really practicing my goal setting and when I was not.

Other than the intensity of my desire, goal setting has been the most important aspect of my success.

-I hope you found the ideas helpful as you pursue all your goals and dreams!

And remember...

It's your life, LIVE BIG! Josh Hinds

PS. if you enjoyed the ideas shared above, be sure to join our free goal-setting and motivation newsletter!


*brought to you by GoalsSuccess.com

Goal Achievement - Interview with Edie Weinstein on the topic of Goal Setting

Rev. Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW is a Renaissance Woman and Bliss Mistress who delights in inviting people to live rich, full, juicy lives. She is a dynamic and inspiring speaker, an interfaith minister. She is currently writing her first book entitled The Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming the Ordinary Into The Extraordinary. You can visit her at www.liveinjoy.org.

Josh Hinds: What is goal setting?

Edie Weinstein: I view goal setting as part and parcel of focusing intention to create an outcome; whether it be a job, a relationship, or lifestyle change. It is a road map or compass that can be used to measure where we are in the process. It is the first step along the journey....but it is only the beginning.

Josh Hinds: Why is goal setting important?

Edie Weinstein: As the lyrics of the Joe Jackson song so wisely proclaim... "You can't get what you want, 'til you know what you want." There have been far too many times in my life when I settled for whatever showed up, because I wasn't aware of the power of goal setting, or didn't trust myself to use the tools effectively. Right brain, creative type that I have always been, I eschewed structure for fear that it would hamper my colorful style. Not so, as I discovered; indeed, it enhanced it. Goal setting allows us that framework, that foundation, if you will, on which we can build. Something solid to stand on.

Josh Hinds: Can you share your best advice on goal setting?

Edie Weinstein: 1. Get a clear vision of what it is that you desire to manna-fest. I like that spelling since once what I have desired, has come to fruition, it does feel like 'manna from Heaven'.

2. Embody that image....sit, stand, move and breathe AS IF what you desire is present in your life now.

3. Write a story about how it is in your here and now; the ways in which you live it.

4. Make your goals measurable and manageable. Such as..."by this date, I am completing 3 chapters in my book"

5. Make the goals believable. If you have difficulty imagining making $100, 000 a year...how about visualizing increasing your income by 20% for starters?

6. Gather encouragement from those who support your goals. Just as 'it takes a village to raise a child', so too does it take a village to see your dreams come to be.

7. Find ways to make the process fun. For example, a month or so ago, I joined a gym, with the intention of going 3-5 times a week. There are some days when I just don't wanna, so I call them my 'play-outs' instead of work outs, and call the experience 'sweating my prayers', visualizing my healthier, trimmer body as I exercise. By the time I leave, I feel great!

Josh Hinds: Can you share some of the ways setting goals has had a positive impact in your life, whether personally or professionally?

Edie Weinstein: In only every way. When I applied for grad school, I remember sitting down with a friend and writing the names of the schools and programs that interested me and the dates by which I would complete the apps. After a few months, I checked back in with him and had done those tasks. By the next term, I had been accepted into Rutgers University's School of Social Work from which I earned my MSW in 1985.

When I decided to become an Interfaith Minister, I treated the process and course work with the same degree of dedication and commitment as I had grad school; having a vision in mind of offering spiritual services as I have for the past nearly 11 years since ordination.

The most amazing experience from goal setting and visioning to manna-festation began more than 20 years ago when I had a a journalistic dream to interview His Holiness The Dalai Lama. In the interceding two decades, I seed planted by sharing my desires with anyone who would listen, created vision boards that had his picture on it, writing questions as if I would be interviewing him the next day and then....I surrendered the outcome.

Sure enough, on July 17, 2008, I had the opportunity, along with only one other journalist from the Philadelphia area, to spend 45 minutes in his presence and write about it. It is a poignant reminder that our deepest held dreams can become fully realized. The interview can be read on my website www.liveinjoy.org.

There is such a sense of gratification when I see the process from goal setting to tangible result. One thing that I have learned is that I don't always have control over the final outcome and sometimes things work out better than even I, with my vivid imagination, can conjure.

-I hope you found the interview above helpful & gained some helpful ideas on setting and achieving goals! Take a moment to share your key takeaways from what was shared in the comments below.

Yours in goal setting success, Josh Hinds

PS. If you enjoyed the ideas shared in the interview above, be sure to join our free Goal Setting and Motivation Newsletter!

Goal Setting for a New Decade By Nancy Brook

How would you like your life to look ten years from now? If you’re like most people, you’d like greater wealth, more free time, and deeper connections with the people you love.

As we ring in 2010, we’re not only launching into a new year but a new decade. This is the perfect opportunity for you to create the life you desire.

Most everyone has heard about practical steps for setting goals. Yet, there is a lot more than a plan to achieve success. Read on to find out how you can create inspired goals that result in the life of your dreams.

Dream a Little...

Before you even begin on a goal, you first must determine what you really want in life. Make sure that your goal is something that you want to achieve. This is your opportunity to dream a little. Put aside your mind’s logical list and let your heart and imagination inspire creative thinking.

You might be musical and have always wanted to play guitar. Maybe you are passionate about horses and would find great fulfillment in working with them. Your passion might be real estate, and maybe you have always desired to learn about investing.

Write all of these ideas down on a sheet of paper. You may find yourself wondering, how can I ever do this? Don’t worry about the “how” right now; just focus on the what. For now, keep these ideas to yourself. You don’t want to be swayed by what others think you should do. Your only work is to dream a little. Believe in yourself and in your unlimited possibilities.

Prioritize...

After your dreaming exercise, you may have a list of a few items or you may have a list of 100 items. It’s fine either way. Your next step is to prioritize your goals. If you could only do one thing, what would you do?

Go on down the line until you’ve ranked each goal in order of importance. This is critical because you won’t likely achieve success at any goal if you try to do everything at once.

To start, you will only work on your top three goals. You have the list of the other goals, so keep them somewhere so you can review them later.

Getting Specific...

Now that you have your maximum of three goals, it’s time to work on measures. For each of these goals, what will success look like? For example, if your goal is to become a runner, success might be finishing a 10K race.

If you want to go to school, success might mean obtaining a college degree with a specific GPA. Decide what these are for each of your goals.

Once you know what success looks like, you’ll want to determine the “when.” How long will it take you to work up to running a 10k or completing a degree? Everyone’s timing is different, so you’ll really need to determine how this will fit in with all of the other activities and priorities in your life.

What if you don’t know how long something should take? That’s OK – just determine the next milestone you can figure out. Let’s use the running example. Maybe you’ve never run, and you’re not sure how many weeks you will have to train to run that distance. Perhaps you do know that your first goal is to run a mile.

So figure out how long it will take to run that far. Another option is to find expert resources. In any endeavor, there are people who have completed what you want to do. You can shorten your learning curve by asking others or finding resources for help.

With the outcomes and timing assessed, you now can figure out what you need to complete each day, week, month and year to accomplish your outcome. For example, if you want to complete college in four years, you may need to take sixteen credits each semester.

Each class will have specific requirements which will go into your daily and weekly goals. Write all of these details down. If you are familiar with spreadsheets, this is probably the easiest way to track your to dos.

Visualize Success...

Getting specific is much more of a left brain activity. This provides the opportunity to engage your mind in its task list. Equally important is activating your right brain. Your more creative side responds to visualization and affirmation techniques.

There are many methods for visualization. The key is to picture yourself having achieved your goal. What does it look like? How does it feel? How does this change your life? You can focus on visualizing in your mind or you can create a vision board in which you record pictures or images of your desired outcomes.

Go through magazines and clip out photos that capture what your end looks like. Or if you are artistic, use your own drawings and photos to tell your story. Put these images on a poster board.

Another powerful strategy is affirmations. These are statements in the present tense that state your goal as already having been achieved. Start by writing these down. For example, I am a college graduate with a 3.5 GPA.

Then spend time every morning when you awake and every night before you go to sleep reading these affirmations to yourself. You may find yourself saying, this isn’t true. But stick with it. You will find that after a while, your mind relaxes and the affirmations won’t bring about objections.

A final method is to act “as if.” If you were a published author, for example, how would you act? You might do public readings, develop a web site, or write articles on your topic. Start doing these things now. Just like in the affirmation exercise, your mind might object. That’s fine. Keep on track, and eventually, your mind will yield.

Keep Positive...

Striving for something new in your life may seem daunting. Along the way, you will need some support. Find like minded people to be your cheerleaders. Befriend people who have achieved what you would like to achieve.

You may decide you need a coach to keep you on task. At the very least, share your goal with people who will support you. When you are feeling discouraged, reach out to those who can buoy your spirits.

Equally important: avoid those people in your life who will dismiss your goals. Even people you love can be unsupportive when it comes to changes in your life. If you find this to be true, don’t talk about your goals with them. It may cause you to doubt yourself.

The Home Stretch...

If you’ve done all of the exercises listed, you will be well on your way to achieving your goals. The next decade can be a time of great fulfillment by reaching for your dreams. You just need the courage to take the next step toward goal setting.
_________________
Nancy Brook is an award-winning speaker, author and goal-setting junky. She is launching her first book, “Cycling, Wine and Men: A Midlife Tour de France.” Find out more about Nancy at www.NancyBrook.com.

Sponsor: WHAT IF YOU HAD THE SAME MINUTE-BY-MINUTE THOUGHTS AS THE SUPER SUCCESSFUL? Mike Brescia has developed the ultimate mental conditioning programs that can help anyone wipe out intense fears and enjoy huge successes in all areas of life. Learn more about these powerful programs here.