settinggoals

I have been working on this book now for about 6 years, adding any new lessons that I
have learned. Right from the beginning, I have tried to break everything down to its most
basic level. Then I realize there is even a more basic level. If you don't have the first
step, it becomes pretty hard to do the rest. This chapter is about setting goals, and
then breaking those goals down to a level than anyone can handle.

More than anything else in this book, setting goals is the one thing that matters if you
are too ever be successful at anything. There are some people that are born with
motivation, but I believe that they are only a small portion of the population. I'm talking
about those people that can work 80 hours or more a week and not think anything of it.
If a person like that can focus their energy in the right place, they would have more
success then they could handle. I however am not one of those people. I like to have a
lot of free time and I don't like to work more than 40 hours a week if I can help it. Now
don't get me wrong, work can be a good thing. Most people need to work just to have
structure in their life but lets take this to the simplest level. There are some people that
have lost so much of their motivation that they don't even want to work. Those people
will only continue in a downward spiral to the point of not even wanting to get off the
couch. The problem is that there is no goal, or the thought that their goal is impossible.
Some goals may almost be impossible, It is good to keep those goals, but at the same
time you must set goals that are possible. You might think that there is too much effort
required reaching your goal, but that is simply not true. Time is all you need. There is
plenty of time in front of you, and if you will just take a small piece of that time
everyday, with very little effort you can reach your goals.

The key to reaching your goals is to first set a goal that you can achieve. The question
is; what one small goal can you make today that will bring you closer to your big goal.
You should make a list of goals, or a list of things to do every single day, and carry that
list with you at all times. Maybe at the end of the day you will not get all of them done,
but you should only give yourself what you can handle. Even if it is only one thing, but
you will find in time that it is so rewarding to finish your list, that it will become easier to
add more to the list.

I have been using a list for years now. It is the only way I can get things done. I've
always been the kind of guy that doesn't like homework. When I was in high school, I did
my homework while I was at school. Now I do my planning while I am at work. I carry a
list in my pocket all day, and when I think of something that I need to do, I add it to my
list. Throughout the day I look at the list. There may be something on my list that I can
get done while I am still at work, Like a phone call or E-mail to someone, but when I get
home from work, I take my list out and try to complete as many of the tasks as I can.
Then I am free to let those things slip from my mind and enjoy my life a little.

Most goals start with a phone call. The call is what makes you commit to your goal. You
really don't have to think too much further ahead than that. Make the call, and see
where it leads you, but if you make a commitment, you should do your best to fulfill it. It
is one thing to let yourself down, but you will only burn bridges if you let someone else
down.

Structure may even be more important than setting goals. Without structure, everyday
runs together and you seem to get nowhere. Do you know what day of the week it is
right now? If not, then you probably need structure. Having a job with steady hours is
one of the easiest ways to have structure. It forces you to have a scheduled life. It is
very important to always have a plan for what you will be doing tomorrow. Even if it is
going to be a play day, you still should do at least one thing to fulfill a goal. Without a
structure, it is very hard to stay focused on any goal. Another way to create structure
is to always be learning something. It does not matter what that is. It could be anything
from Martial Arts to a musical instrument. It should just be something you enjoy, and
something you have to go to class for. Anytime you stimulate your brain with learning, It
will heighten your senses and give you a will to achieve, and also having a scheduled
class creates structure.

I have had a goal for many years to learn how to play the guitar, but I could never find
the time. I have had many hobbies, and each one of them has taken up most of my free
time. I find after a while that I have gotten all I can get from these hobbies, and they
become a habit rather then a hobby. The best part of a hobby is the people that go with
it and share it with you, but sometimes, you have to think about why you are still doing
it. Is it because you enjoy it? or is it because of the people you have become friends
with? If you still enjoy it, then by all means stay in it, but if you are there for socializing,
you can always make new friends in a new hobby. I recently quit an old hobby and
started to learn guitar. It was pretty hard at first, but now I can hardly put it down. The
point is, as long as you are learning, even in a hobby, then you will always have drive.
When you stop learning, Things get old and stale. If you want to stay young, If you
want less stress in your life then keep learning.

So are you ready to get started? What is your big goal? What One thing can you do
tomorrow that will get you one step closer to that goal? Write it down. If you don't write
it down, then you probably don't really mean it. Use something like the back of a
business card so you can carry it in your pocket. Any time you think of something
important that you have to do, pull out the card and write it down. Just simple reminders
like;

Call Joe
Take Out the Trash
Fri-Dentist 10:00
Call Realtor

As you complete each one cross them out. Then if any remain carry them over to a new
list when the old one runs out of room. Give it a try, Great Idea's are lost every single
day because people don't write them down when they get them. Easy come easy go.