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First of all, goals give clarity on your end vision and a peace of mind. If you don’t have goals in life, you’re spending your life running around and not achieving anything for yourself. You have this illusion that you’re getting things done but you really aren’t accomplishing anything significant. Everything in this world is created twice, first in your mind, then in the final manifestation. If your mind and your goals are not aligned, the chances of wasting time and effort are greatly increased.

Goals stop you from becoming stagnant by moving you forward. Sometimes, when I lose focus in life, I meditate on my vision board and this quickly brings me back into alignment with my goals and this drives me forward. Goals also get you to become laser focused so you don’t go off-track. Unless you create goals for yourself, your energy is usually dispersed in activities that bring you little to no results and value. You then start labeling “nice to-do activities as important even though they are not. Aside from that, goals make you accountable, to you and not anyone else.

Types of SMART goals:

Long term – over 5 years

  • Buy a new car
  • College education
  • Move to another state or country

Intermediate-term goals. -1-5 years.

  • Purchasing or replacing a car
  • Getting an education or certificate
  • Paying off debt

Short-Term goals (within one year)

  • Starting a new career or a business
  • Getting in shape
  • Learn a new language

Along with your short, medium and long term goals, also create some long term goals for yourself such as:

  • What type of person do you want to become?
  • What type of neighborhood you want to live in?
  • What type of lifestyle you want for yourself and your family?
  • Maybe this is also a good time to think about starting a family?
  • What type of places you want to visit?

Develop a Sense Of Urgency

Lets face it, if you don’t have a sense of urgency, then whatever you listen to on my podcasts or read on my blogs, you won’t put into use. Why? Because you’re not stuck, desperate or in need – simply stated – you’re “comfortable” with life and yourself and you’ve just settled. In order to make sense out of any of this and put it to use, you need a sense of urgency.

What does a sense of urgency mean? Well – there is a lack of certainty and you’re very uncomfortable about your situation and you need big changes. As an example, if you lost your job today, it would skyrocket your sense of urgency. You may have so much in the bank that it may only cover a few weeks of expenses. Finally – urgent behavior is not driven by a belief that all is well, or that everything is a mess but instead, that the world contains great opportunities and hazards at the same time.

“Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value.” –Jim Rohn

S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Specific: A general goal would be, “Get in shape.” But a specific goal would say, “Join a health club and workout 3 days a week.”

  • Who: Who is involved?
  • What: What do I want to accomplish?
  • Where: Identify a location.
  • When: Establish a time frame.
  • Which: Identify requirements and constraints
  • Why: Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal.

Measurable: This is when you measure concrete criteria about your goals. For example – How much? How many? How will I know when it is accomplished?

Attainable: When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true.

Example one: You develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. You begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals.

Example Two: When you list the goals to build your self-image, and you see yourself as worthy of these goals, you then develop the traits and personality that allow you to possess them.

Realistic: A goal can be both high and realistic. You are the only one who can decide just how high your goal should be. Some of the hardest jobs you ever accomplished actually seem easy because you enjoyed doing it.

Time Bound: this is why someday is just a wish. A goal should be grounded with a time frame or there is no sense of urgency.

Podcast Links and Materials

Thanks for listening AND reading the show notes. Now – let the comments begin – what are some of your questions? Do you need some clarity or do you want to comment on this episode? I would love to hear from you.