Have you ever gotten really
excited about that million dollar idea only to end up going nowhere? Often times, the idea itself was not what had
resulted in failure, but a lack of a systematic process to take that idea and
turn it into a reality. This is like driving your car across the country, and
never filling up your tank with gas. You
will only make it a certain distance, and you will never reach your final
destination. What I am about to teach you is a way to create “mental gas
stations,†with the Goal Achievement System (GAS). The GAS will allow you to refuel your
motivation and allow you to achieve extraordinary results that you did not know
were possible.
The great thing about this
process is that you can use it anywhere in your life that you choose. You don’t need a million dollar idea, and you
might have a different desired outcome, like loosing weight. For the purpose of
this article, we will use weight loss as an example, but you can apply this same
process for any type of goal.
They first part of the system
is creating a well defined goal. A problem well stated is a problem half
solved. We are going to take a simple ambiguous goal, the type that we are used
to setting, and turn it into a clearly defined problem.
- Set a specific
goal. You cannot be ambiguous. If you tell yourself, “I am going to
lose weight,†does that mean you lose 5 pounds, or do you lose 30
pounds? Your mind will probably end
up giving you that satisfied feeling if you only lose 2 pounds, because
that means you lost weight. Be
specific. “I am going to lose 30 pounds.â€
- Give your goal
a deadline. Human beings are procrastinators! If you say “I am going
to lose 30 pounds†you can easily tell yourself that you are on the right
track a year later and 10 pounds lighter, because you don’t have a finish
line. At the same time, if you GAIN 10 pounds, you still have not
technically missed your goal, because it will never come due. Imagine if
your boss said: “I’d like you to hand in that report sometime before you
die.†Would you do it? Probably
not. If you tell yourself “I am
going to lose 30 pounds in 10 weeks†you add a bit more pressure on
yourself and you force yourself into taking action.
- Use Towards
Motivation. There are two types
of motivation. Towards Motivation, and Away From Motivation. Away From Motivation is the act of doing
something for the sake of NOT doing, being, or feeling something else. For
example, If you tell yourself “I want to lose weight because I DON’T want
to be fat,†your mind focuses on what you don’t want, because the human
nervous system cannot process a negative though without first focusing on
what it is you don’t want. For example, “Don’t think about Benjamin Franklin’s face on the $100 bill.†Did an image briefly flashed through
your head before you forced it out? Away From Motivation usually ends up
in us doing just enough to not have that feeling. You might lose 15 pounds
and feel ‘not fat,’ and that will end up keeping you satisfied enough, but
not completely satisfied. Instead, use Toward Motivation, as that will
allow you to set a positive standard that you are continually trying to
seek out and make better. “I am
going to lose 30 pounds in 10 weeks so I can look great, be healthy, and
feel more energetic.†Which
sounds better to you?
- Put yourself
in the future, when you’ve achieved your goal. This is an exercise
that you can use every day to help motivate you towards achieving your
goal. Look at your calendar, and find out the exact date 10 weeks
later. Close your eyes and tell
yourself “Today is December 5, and I am 30 pounds lighter. I look a lot
better, and I feel great. People
have complemented me on how I look healthier and am a more enjoyable
person to be around. I can now participate in activities I’ve always
wanted to do but felt limited by my weight.†Imagine that picture in your
head of that skinnier you, and associate yourself with that image as if
you are seeing the world through your own eyes as people are complimenting
you on the ‘new you.’ Take a moment to feel that excitement and energy.
Smile. You will get there.
- Write down
your new goal from step 4 and display it where you can see it. Personally,
I like sticky notes. I like to write my goals down and place them on my computer screen, so I end up looking
at them many times a day. So write down your goal, and make sure you place
it somewhere it can be easily viewed at least once a day. “Today is December 5, and I am 30
pounds lighter. I look a lot better, and I feel great. People have complemented me on how I
look healthier and am a more enjoyable person to be around. I can now
participate in activities I’ve always wanted to do but felt limited by my
weight.†Now, whenever you see your goal, you will be able to revision
your experience from part 4 and it will help energize and excite you.
Congratulations! You have just
concluded part I of the Goal Achievement System. Remember, ‘a problem well
stated is a problem half solved.’ You might not have lost any weight yet (or
whatever it is that you are trying to achieve) but you are already half way
there. Trust me. An NFL coach who goes into a game without a game plan will
have lost the game before the opening kickoff. In part II, I will show you how to
pick all the right plays from your play book so that you can take your newly
defined goal and make it into a reality.
Part 2 - Taking Action
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Live Free Die Rich - Escape the 9 to 5
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