Burst Goals

It is a truism in personal development that goals drive activity. However, while all worthwhile goals are valuable and cause action, not all goals drive immediate action. For example, a retirement income goal will drive action, but for most people that action is not right now. A burst goal is a goal which drives immediate action or, as Tony Robbins calls it, massive action.

Burst goals are goals you are going to set for a short period of activity; they are the results of activity "bursts." Since they are of limited time duration, you do not have to worry about setting a deadline (the T of the SMART goal properties). Some of the characteristics of burst goals apply to all goals, some are unique to burst goals.

General Properties

* Positive tone - The subconscious does not understand negatives, so you want to phrase all goals as something positive. For example, not "I will cut my debt in half" but "I will save $1000."

* Specific - The more specific you are, the better the universe can respond. For example, not "I will get in better shape" but "I will lose 50 lbs."

* Able to Visualize - You must be able to visualize yourself reaching the goal. Do not use this quality to limit your goals but to drive your visualization exercises.

Burst Goal Properties

* Your Actions - Base a burst goal on what actions you can do, not on the results you desire to achieve. For example, not "I will get 10 new clients" but "I will make 50 phone calls"

* Use the word "will" - Most of the time, you want to avoid the use of "will" in a goal since that implies the goal is always in the future and never actually achieved. However, in this case you should go ahead and use the word because of the built-in deadline. This is a promise to yourself which will (see??) be redeemed by the deadline.

* Crescendo not Jump - When determining how big to make the goal, start at your current level of activity and start building; do not say you will make a massive change at the beginning. For example, say you were saving $50 per week. Start there, and build to $100 per week by the end of the time period, with some growth each week.

* Focus - Do not make a lot of burst goals at once. Better to make 1 goal you can focus on immediately for a short period of time than 5 goals which causes too much commitment.

* Short, short, short - The maximum time frame should be 90 days. Anybody can believe they can do something for a short period of time; too long and you put off action, particularly if you are not convinced you can do the action for an extended period of time.

* Plan for Stopping - In the long run, you want to increase your activity, of course. However, recognize that this is a burst of activity, and when it is done you will take a break. Just like a runner, plan a break or a reward when you reach the end of the race.

Burst goals can lead to new habits and new levels of productivity, but only if set and keep the deadlines. Use them to build momentum, and you can reach levels you have only dreamed about before you started.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Burst-Goals&id=9391412

Clarity Takes Courage

Clarity is powerful and is a primary ingredient to performing at your best. It is poorly understood and generally not a feature of most people's strategies. Why? Because we are too busy being busy. We take pride in taking "massive action."

Yet, if you are not clear about where you want to go and why, if you arrive at your chosen destination at all, you will likely find it was not the solution you were seeking. If you even make it to your goal, you may find that you wasted much time, energy, and money and made unnecessary mistakes - a.k.a. "learning by trial and error" - along the way.

Why do we typically do this?

1. It's because we don't know what we don't know.

2. We have not been taught the energy-efficient way of creating and innovating with intention.

3. We believe it takes "hard work" in order to be successful.

4. We don't know what we really want.

5. We don't know who we really are and what our authentic, heart-felt vision is.

There are other reasons, but these are five significant ones. We tend toward massive action without insight because we are not used to the idea of reflection and restoration, and we don't know and trust ourselves. We don't listen to our own inner intuitive voice.

We are too busy being distracted by all of the voices of clamoring gurus who know better than you what you "should do." Ouch. This one, more than once, has burned me. It takes courage to break away from the external loud voices and get to know your own inner guidance. It takes courage to learn how to slow down and quiet not only the other voices but the confusion within yourself, as well.

To see with mental clarity the details of your new vision will require you to be still; something most people seem to run from.

Obsessive busyness is a brain-wired habit, and habits can be broken. It will take commitment. It will require you learn about the operating system of your brain if you want to accelerate this process.

It will take confidence, and it will take having the clarity to make up your mind to change your mind. You can do it. You just need to pull up the courage and intend to get clear. I've learned the hard way so that you can learn easier. I get a thrill from being able to help others perform at their best.

Our work and home environments will become more enjoyable when we slow down and clarify our own unique self-expression. And learning never stops - we never arrive - I'm still growing. I just have a head start on many because courage is one of my highest personal values.

I have changed the way I see growth and development. It's not about fixing anyone. It's about knowing yourself; it's about reconnecting your mind with your heart. It's learning to listen to and see your own unique vision first clearly in your mind's eye and then flowing with the unfolding insights and synchronicities of how you can manifest your vision within the context of your everyday life. It's living with mental agility instead of rigid, less-than-best performance.

Performing at your best requires clear intention. Life is an adventure; it's meant to be enjoyed - not endured. I hope you pull up the courage to walk the path of leadership and personal development to learn how to perform at your best while living a peace-filled life. Chaos, fear, and stress as a routine occurrence, "be gone." Intend to see clearly now. Life is good - no, it's great.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Clarity-Takes-Courage&id=7962181