Within the next hour, you are going to get out of the chair and write yourself a fistful of goals. Here's how:

On a single side of plain paper, write a list of ten things you would like to achieve in your life; five long term, five short term.

The first goal should be something which you cannot complete in your lifetime. This makes you think carefully. It makes you realize what is important to you, and why you are here. The long-range goals stop you being frustrated by short-term setbacks.

You might be very surprised at what you write for this goal - it might have nothing to do with your present life.

As an example, if you are a writer, your goal might read: "One day, every educated adult on the planet will have heard the name Stuart Goldsmith, and have some idea about his philosophy." By the way, that isn't one of my goals because I am not out to save the world - just you, you miserable sinner! But it is a good example of something that would transcend my lifetime.

The next goal should state an exact amount of money which you will one day have. Again, this is a lifetime goal and should not carry a date. Example: "One day I will have a net worth of ten million dollars." This
goal quantifies your dreams of wealth and sets an ultimate target. But before you write this particular goal, spend a few moments considering if you are willing to pay the price. Don't want to pay the price? - then don't write such a grand goal.

After you have finished writing your list, I want you to look at your 'money' goal and answer the question: "What one thing can I do right now, today, which will take me a step closer to this goal?" It could be a simple thing like a telephone call, but write it down as your eleventh goal: "By the end of today I will have................. which will advance me one step closer to my financial dream."

The rest of the sheet is for eight specific time-dated goals. For example: "By January 1st 2004, I will have
moved into a four-bedroom, detached house in large grounds."


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Goal-Setting Tip #1
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Do not get bogged down in worrying about if goals should be in the past tense or future tense; or if they should be written at midnight or midday. The bottom line is that none of this matters nearly as much as actually writing them!


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Goal-Setting Tip #2
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Do not write a goal in the hope that you will attain it by mystical methods; that somehow the 'bountiful universe' will cause this money to 'flow' to you. It won't. That stuff is for dreamers. To make your goals come true requires action on your part.


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Goal-Setting Tip #3
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Buy yourself one of those natty little credit card wallets at some point in the near future. They are small leather wallets with individual clear plastic pockets designed to hold about ten credit cards. Write out your goals onto credit-card sized pieces of white card. You should keep the cards in this wallet and carry them with you always.

Normally, goals are written on a sheet of paper - fine if you live alone; you can leave it lying around to remind you of your goals. But if you have a family, or people coming to visit you regularly, then you don't want these people to see your private dreams. So what happens is that you put the piece of paper away in the drawer - and there it stays for several months! I really like this card idea because it means that you always have your goals with you, and they remain private.


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Goal-Setting Tip #4
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Before writing a big life-goal, do a double check to see if you can uncover the underlying need. It would be a great shame to spend your life pursuing a grandiose long-term goal when in reality this just stands as a symbol for an underlying need - a need which could perhaps be filled far more easily.

Copyright Stuart Goldsmith. All Rights Reserved.