How to Set Life Changing Goals

Austin
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5
How to Set Life Changing Goals

Big Goals Lead to Big Success

How to set goals is a question that is asked constantly. It’s a great question to ask because goal setting is one of the most important steps to becoming successful. Setting goals for yourself gives you a chance to outline all the things you need to do to get where you want to be. It’s like a road map to all the dreams you’ve ever had about achieving more.  We’ve all heard either “ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer” or on the more positive side of things “as a great question to get a great answer”. Setting goals works the same way. If you set a big goal you will achieve big dreams.

Now you may be asking “what is goal setting and how am I supposed to be doing it?” Well to start the goal setting definition is the process of identifying something you want and setting up measurable goals and timeframes to to achieve what you originally wanted.This sounds simple enough but it can be difficult depending on what you dream about achieving. Here are some goal settings examples that you may have heard of before.

  • Become a millionaire
  • Be self employed
  • Spend more time with friends and family
  • Vacation more often
  • Retire early
  • Buy a new house
  • Buy a nice car

In reality the list can go on forever. If we were going to list out everything we want in life it would take us a lifetime of writing and we still wouldn’t finish. Now you can see there are different types of goal setting too. Not everyone wants to run a business, move to a new house, or become the next Bill Gates. That’s where we get into the different types of goals to set and how to set them.

How to set what kind of goal?

Now you may be wondering what kind of goal should I be setting? The answer is it depends. If ask a million different people how many types of goals there are you will get a million different answers. Short term goals, long term goals, personal goals, professional, artistic, financial, relationship… I think you see what I mean by a million different answers.

What you need to remember is a goal should have 3 main characteristics. First goals should have time limits because it creates urgency. Second they should be attainable because if it’s not possible you won’t do it. Third goals should have a specific topic because you need to know what you’re working on. Now with that in mind we need to talk about how to set goals and achieve them.

There are many different methods to goal setting. Everyone should try different goal setting methods until they find one that works for them. I’ve found that the most empowering goal setting methods are SMART goals, picking The ONE Thing, or using the 10x Rule. These methods will all have different steps to set goals but they will all have the 3 main characteristics of a goal.

SMART Goals

 

SMART Goal setting is one of the most common types of goal setting. Many people actually credit Peter Drucker for its invention. Using SMART goals makes sure you have every aspect of a goal that is needed to achieve it. SMART is actually an acronym. Although there have been different words used this is the most common way you’ll find it.

S.M.A.R.T.
  • Specific

A goal should be specific. If the goal is not clear it will be hard to stay focused. This is one of the situations where using the 5 “W’s” can be beneficial. Goals are not meant to be broad pick something that is extremely specific like learning 100 german words.

  • Measurable

 Goals need to be measurable so that you can track progress. This measuring will also create excitement if you think about how close you are to finishing. The most important question to ask yourself is “How will I know when I’ve accomplished my goal?” Find a way to measure that answer.

  • Achievable

Your goal needs to be possible but it needs to push you to your limits. Don’t pick something like make 10 trillion dollars this year. That goal won’t be possible and it will hold you back. If you want to increase your income look at where you are at now and decide on something that will be difficult but achievable. A great question to ask is “how realistic am I being and how will I achieve this goal?”

  • Relevant

Pick a goal that is relevant to the things you enjoy, other goals, and what matters to you. If you don’t like cars don’t make a goal of learning to rebuild an engine. You will lose interest. Goals are about finding things that are relevant to you and sticking with them until you accomplish them.

  • Time Bound

Goals need to have a time limit set on them. Eventually is not a good example of a time limit. If you want to achieve a goal pick a time that will keep you motivated. Ask yourself  “Can I do this in X months, in X weeks, in X days?” only you can pick a time limit for your goals.

The ONE Thing

This method of goal setting comes from Gary Keller’s best seller “The ONE Thing”. It has set new standards for what people can achieve. It has also become one of my personal favorite books. If you get a chance to read it you should.

Using this method of goal setting you still need to follow the 3 main characteristics of a goal. It needs to be attainable, specific, and have a time limit. When you are picking your “ONE Thing” you still need to keep those characteristics in mind. Your “ONE Thing” is going to be the only goal you focus on once it’s picked. Which means this goal needs to be the most important thing to you. This goal also needs to be bigger than you can imagine. A good way to do it is to go 10 times bigger than what you want to achieve. Your “ONE Thing” will be broken down into many smaller things as you go. The best way to describe this method is with a list.

What is your “ONE Thing”?
  • What is “ONE Thing” you can do this year? 
  • What is “ONE Thing” you can do this month? 
  • What is “ONE Thing” you can do this week? 
  • What is “ONE Thing” you can do today? 
  • What is “ONE Thing” you can do right now? 

Each step must lead to the next step when using “The ONE Thing” method. Your goals will be set from the end to the beginning one step at a time. This method is very flexible because as you learn and get closer to your “ONE Thing” you will be able to change what you are doing for each step. I highly recommend reading “The ONE Thing” by Gary Keller if you want to get the full experience from this method of goal setting. It is really a lifestyle more than anything.

10x Rule

The 10x Rule is a lifestyle that Grant Cardone lives by. In his book “The 10x Rule: The only difference between success and failure” he talks about how you can achieve success through putting in more effort than anyone else will. This method of goal setting is more of a lifestyle than any other method mentioned.

The 10x Rule is about setting goals for yourself that are 10 times as big as what you want to accomplish. When you pick a goal that is 10 time bigger you will have to put in 10 times the effort. Going for such a big goal and putting so much effort in means you are guaranteed to at least reach your original goal. The 10x Rule is about getting away from average. You want to be the best at your life.

This is the simplest method to use for goal setting because you are going to change your entire lifestyle. Anything you do needs to be 10 times what you expect. If you aren’t putting in the effort to be extraordinary you are being average. It is easy to be average but average people don’t live extraordinary lives. Grant Cardone does a much better job at explaining the 10x Rule than I could ever do. I highly recommend reading his book and getting involved in the 10x lifestyle.

Follow Through With Your Goals

You have gone through the effort of learning about goal setting. You’ve sat down and taken the time to make your goals. Now it is time to follow through with your goals. This is not the time ask “how to achieve our goals in life” or “how to achieve goals successfully”. This is your time to get out there and follow through.

By now you will have created a list of goals to set for yourself. These are the things that you have always dreamed of. Why would you want to let yourself down? Take action and start living your dream, reach your goals by following through. You now know of 3 things that your goals should have. You know 3 types of goal setting methods that you can use. Don’t sit around waiting for your dreams to come true, make them come true. Taking one step towards your goals each day will let you live a life you never thought was possible.

If you think goal setting will change your life please subscribe to our newsletter. If you have family or friends that are interested in learning more about goal setting let them know by sharing the post on your favorite social media. Thanks for reading!

9 Concepts For The Pursuit of Excellence

Austin
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3
9 Concepts For The Pursuit of Excellence

I’m sure you’re wondering “What is the pursuit of excellence and why should I care?”. The pursuit of excellence has different results for everyone but the process of achieving excellence are the same.

The pursuit of excellence is the idea that you can always keep moving towards your ideal image of yourself. The end goal is to become successful. I’m an advocate for everyone creating their own version of success so what I think is successful may not be what you believe is successful.

On the journey to your own success you will learn many things and get to experience more of life than if you sit tight and hope everything falls in place. You are the driver of the car that is your life, you get to make the decisions of where you go.

Pursuing excellence is the way to achieve the things you dream of having. If you spend the time learning how to take the next step in life, someday you will have walked to your goals.

Now that we have what the pursuit of excellence is on our mind, let’s take a look at 9 concepts that will help you get started on your pursuit of excellence.

1. Find What Gives You Motivation And Leverage It

When you trying to find your motivator you will need to ask two questions. What is my one thing that motivates me to do everything?  The second question is why is this one things so important to me? Your one thing and your why should give you an emotional response when you think about it. My one thing is my family. I do everything so that my family can live a better life, so that they don’t have to live through the hardships that I did. If you don’t feel an emotional connection with you motivator dig deeper and find something that drives you towards excellence.

2. Make Big Goals That Can Be Broken Down

A big goal can seem impossible to reach. The best thing you can do for yourself is to make your goal bigger than you think you can ever achieve. Once you have your BIG goal break it down into manageable piece. If you can break your goal down to what you can do today, this week, this month, this year, or in 5 years. You will be able to achieve parts of your goals making the big goal not seem as bad. If your goal is 10 time bigger than you planned and you reach 10 percent, you reached your original goal.

3. Create a Vision Board

A vision board can tie together your why with your goal. You should create a vision board and hang it somewhere that you will see everyday. Your vision board should include your big thing and your why. Use words and pictures that excite you and give you inspiration. As your goals evolve add to your vision board.

4. Track Your Progress

One of the hardest parts of pursuing excellence is keeping on track and moving towards your goal. Finding a way to keep track of your progress will help you see that you are moving in the right direction. When you feel good about your progress it will be easier to keep moving forward.

5. Find a Mentor to Guide You

A mentor is someone that has already achieved what you want. If you find someone that is ready to teach you what they’ve learned they can kick your progress into high gear. Your mentor will have already made more mistakes and learned more than you can imagine. Take their advice and you will improve faster than you thought possible.

6. Tell The People Around You

The people you spend most of your time with have a huge influence on your life. If you tell them what you are doing and they are supportive stick with them. If they question why you want more for yourself find new people that will support you.  The higher the achievers you spend time with the more their personalities will be ingrained in yours and you will achieve more.

7. Be Confident in Your Choices

Confidence is a huge factor in the way the world sees you. Make sure that you always are firm with your decisions, your whys and you goals. Once you move forward don’t look back and question why you didn’t make a different choice. Own what you have and work with it.

8. Keep Learning When You’re Passionate

Your passion is the most important thing for your dream. If you love working on cars, doing math, creating website, or working with money, never stop learning about it. If you keep learning you will one day become an expert in your field. That is one example of excellence and success.  Never stop learning.

9. Never Give Up

Giving up is the best way to achieve failure. Never give up on yourself. You may have to change paths or look at things from a different perspective but never give up. With enough trial and error, someday you will achieve everything you’ve ever wanted.

I’ve decided to dedicate my life to helping others improve theirs. If you want to be part of helping others pursue excellence and become successful in their own way, sign up for our email updates so you can be part of the movement towards a better life.

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