Tony Williamson

"A man without a goal is like a ship without a rudder."

- Thomas Carlysle

In my previous articles I have been writing about the tremendous power of the mind, the need to dream and then to move that dream to desire - intense desire. This desire grows so great it becomes a creative vision. But a vision is useless unless it is transformed into reality. There is a process by which you can turn your dreams into reality, and it starts with planning. It continues with work, very hard work, of which you will learn in subsequent articles.

Goals are the signposts of life. Someone said, "If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there." If you do not have a goal, you do not have purpose. No purpose, no pursuit; no pursuit, no passion; no passion, no power; no power, no prize.

Without a goal, you drift aimlessly like flotsam and jetsam in life's turbulent seas, like dead fish carried downstream by the river of life. If you aim at nothing, you hit nothing. It will be well worth your while to memorise the words of American naturalist Henry David Thoreau: "In the long run, men only hit at what they aim. Therefore, though they should fail immediately, it is best they aim at something high."

John F. Kennedy put it this way; "Effort and courage are not enough without purpose and direction."

Where are you aiming? What goals do you have? What is your purpose in life?

Setting some goals

Let us then begin to turn our visions into reality by setting some goals. Here are four steps:

1. Set clearly defined goals and write them down

In the 1950s, a study was made of the graduating class of a large university in America. The researchers followed their progress for 20 years and at the end of that time, they made the following discovery: Three per cent of the class had written-out, clearly defined goals. Ninety-seven per cent had not written down any goals. The three per cent of graduates with written goals had not only surpassed their objectives, but their incomes were three times larger than the 97 per cent who had not written down clearly defined goals! The researchers concluded that goals, when clearly defined and written down, are usually achieved.

2. Break down large goals into smaller proportions

The life insurance industry recognises Ben Feldman as the greatest salesman of the 20th century. In 1970, Feldman alone produced US$100 million in business - more business than many life companies. Ben was asked how he could conceive of, much less produce, such an astronomical amount of business. He replied, "Well, if you look at it as US$100 million, it's big. But if you break it down to US$2 million per week, it's really no big thing."

The secret of eating an elephant is 'one bite at a time'.

If you work, say, on commissions, break down your goals to daily earnings that you require.

3. Set specific time periods for the accomplishment of your goals

The advantage of specific times that will signal the accomplishment of your goals is focus. Time constraints focus the mind. In fact, there is a saying (referring to a condemned man) that "There is nothing that concentrates the mind more than a hanging next morning." Set short, medium and long-term goals and evaluate your progress as you go along.

4. Share 'give-up' goals with many, 'go-up' goals with only a few

Give-up goals fall in the category of giving up something for your betterment. For example, you may share your goal to give up smoking on January 1. Or you may share your goal to lose 25lb by March 31. People will support you in these 'give-up' goals.

Be careful, however, how you share your 'go-up' goals. Let me give you an example. Suppose you desire to become the president or managing director of your company; if you share that with people who have the same ambition, you are not likely to receive their support since you are competing against them. You may only succeed in creating tension at the workplace, so be very selective with whom you share 'go-up' goals. If you set goals, plan your work and work your plan your visions will be turned into reality.

A very happy Christmas to you and yours!

Tony Williamson is an international motivational speaker, sales trainer, author and lifestyle consultant. Email: tonywilliamson_57@yahoo.com.