Developing goals that are reasonable and achievable is the first step to success—whether it is in your career or any other aspect of your life. You must plant the seeds in your subconscious mind that will enable you to accept and implement these goals. Here are seven steps that will facilitate this process:
1. Goals should be clearly stated
Indicate in clear terms what you wish to accomplish. Be specific and firm in stating the goal. For example, saying, “My goal is to be the best salesperson in my company” sounds good, but it is better to be more specific: “My goal is to reach a sales volume of so many dollars for the next fiscal year; and 10 percent more each year for the next three years.” Now you know your target, and your subconscious mind will help concentrate your efforts on reaching those figures.
2. Goals should be inspiring.
If you set a goal that is too easily attained, it will not motivate you to do more than minimal work. Set goals that will inspire you to keep moving ahead and to work that much harder to achieve them. Achievers recognize that once a goal is reached, they should immediately set another goal that will make them stretch to continue to improve and grow.
3. Goals should be measurable.
It is not always possible to quantify your goals. Some goals can be measured in financial or other numerical terms. You can set sales figures that you wish to attain by the month, quarter, or year—in terms of units of product or dollar value. You can set production
■ goals by amount. Even intangible goals, which cannot be quantified, can be established in measurable terms. The major goal can be broken into segments and timetables set for the completion of each segment. In this way you can measure how close you are in reaching each of the segments and fine-tune your activities to assure that they will be accomplished in a timely manner.
4. Goals should be action based.
Unless the actions that will be taken to implement the goals are noted, the goals are no more than dreams. Action requires activity—mental, physical, and emotional. Mentally, you must be prepared to think about your goals every spare moment and what actions you must take to realize them. Your subconscious mind will help you convert your thoughts into actions.
5. Goals should be written down.
One way to assure that goals will not be forgotten or lost in your hectic day-to-day life is to write them down. Make a list of your long-term goals; break them into intermediate and short-term goals. Write them in large letters and post them where you can see them every day—over your desk, on the refrigerator, on your mirror. Read them, memorize them, reread them and ask each day: “What am I doing to accomplish these goals?”
6. Goals should be shared with another person.
Another way of assuring that you will not let your goals go the way of New Year’s resolutions is to tell somebody about it—somebody you respect; somebody whom you listen to. Bill Wilson, one of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, reported that one of the major acts that help participants in keeping sober is sharing their goals with others. Jean Nidetch, founder of Weight Watchers, reported similar experience.
7. Goals should be flexible.
There are times when circumstances change and the goal you set is no longer pertinent. Economic conditions may not be favorable for starting that new enterprise; technological innovations may have made your goal obsolete; you have made errors in your research and the goal is not feasible. This does not necessarily mean the goal must be abandoned. It may just require new thinking or more study. If you are faced with such a situation, review what has transpired and make necessary adjustments.
- Joseph murphy , putting the power of Subconscious mind to work.
