The 10 Step Goal Process

What does it take to achieve your goals? There is a process we mentally go through when we set, plan and take action on our goals. At times we think it is just about setting the goal and then getting into action. We quickly find ourselves distracted and off track. This is common, especially when the goal process is not followed. Here is a 10 step process to support you in your efforts. Good Luck!

1. OPENNESS - see opportunities and creatively explore new ways to get things done 

2. CLARITY - know what is most important and set a goal 

3. MOTIVATION - know your WHY and the benefits of doing this 

4. CAN DO ATTITUDE - decide what you will do, celebrate what you have done 

5. FOCUS - know what you want to achieve and get it done 

6. PLAN - be clear and specific with your goal and plan of what and how you will do it 

7. SET MILESTONES - create mini milestones to keep you feeling success and momentum 

8. ACTION - have a list, have a schedule and deadlines, be proactive, be flexible, do something 

9. SUPPORT - have a network or accountability to support you or keep you on track (it matters if you don't do it) 

10. RECHARGE TIME - after giving it 100%, take a break and rest and recharge

Test your goals now...

- Am I open to new ways and ideas? (fixed or closed mindset) 

- Do I have clarity on what is most important to do? 

- Am I motivated? If not, what is getting in my way and how can I remove the barrier? 

- How is my attitude? Do I see the possibilities and solutions? If I am stuck, talk to someone or write down the block and shift to thinking "what is possible?" 

- Am I focused? If there are distractions write them down to do later or set up space to reduce distractions. 

- What is my plan to get this done? What do I need to do and when will I do it? 

- What is the first milestone or significant accomplishment toward this goal? 

- What action will I take right now? 

- Who can I be accountable too and check in with? 

- What will I do to recharge and take a break?

Setting goals isn't just about the goal; it is about the process around the goal. At times these steps can seem obvious or trite however they are key actions in the process of goal achievement. If you are not reaching your goals, consider if there is a step in the process that you can sharpen and increase your goal success!

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-10-Step-Goal-Process&id=9951928

Find Your Why and The How Is Then Easy

What makes some people more successful than others, even when they have come from the same backgrounds, attended the same schools and universities and even achieved the same grades? Darren Hardy, the Editor of Success Magazine, has an answer. He says that those people who have achieved great success have found their "Why" and that's what motivates their action, not money, or the desire for power or status. He tells this powerful story about finding our "Why".

He tells it like this to his audiences:

If I put a plank across the stage from one side to the other, about half a metre from the floor and offered you $20.00 to walk across it, who would do it?

Almost all the hands in the room go up.

If I put this plank between two buildings, ten storeys up and offered you $20.00, who would walk across?

No one puts up their hand.

If the building at the other end of the plank was on fire and one of your children was lying unconscious at the end of the plank with the flames about to reach her in a few minutes, would you walk across the plank?

Most people put up their hands.

So what's the difference?

The difference is the WHY.

WHY is a little word that poses a big challenge for us. It is what feeds our motivation.

When we don't achieve the success we want, it is often because we are not clear about WHY we want it. When it doesn't happen quickly enough we become depressed. We have nothing to motivate us at a deeper level.

When we give up on our goals a few weeks after we set them, it's often because we are not clear WHY we want to achieve them. When the going gets tough, we let go and take the easy road to nowhere.

When we fail to differentiate what we do from everyone else who does the same thing, it is usually because our WHY, which is our differentiator, is not clear.

When we have a big enough WHY, the HOW is never an issue. We just do it! We keep on doing it until we achieve what we want.

It's not easy to find our WHY. It means we have to stop and reflect. Unless we do find it, however, we will always live and work feeling we are not quite making it, feeling there is more to us than we are tapping into.

So find your WHY and let it motivate and drive your life.

How? Find a colleague to help you. Speaking it to someone who keeps coming back to you, asking questions to clarify it, until that colleague is inspired by your WHY and it resonates with you. You then know you have it.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Find-Your-Why-and-The-How-Is-Then-Easy&id=9797397

It's All In the Timing - Or Is It?

We all think that when we get more time, we'll sit down and work toward our goals and dreams. Maybe we're waiting for the kids to go off to school or maybe we're waiting for our spouse to go on a week-long business trip or a hunting trip with his buddies. Then, finally, when we have the time and the peace and quiet, we'll get started.

I've done this numerous times. And I've always come back with the same conclusion: it doesn't work for me. I finally get some time to myself but then the time goes by so fast I hardly get any work done. By the end of the "me" time, I'm looking back on it and thinking I just wasted the whole week. Maybe I accomplished some things, but the fact that I can't recall much of what I did tells me that I didn't work on much that was important enough to remember.

It's a noble concept, this I'll wait until life settles down. But by the time we get there, we haven't developed any habits or routines that will help us make the most of the time we have. It can take weeks to get into the groove, especially when it's something that involves creativity like writing. Everything relating to the dream we've been holding off on is new. Even if it is a goal to get in shape or to start eating healthier meals, it's still new and trying to stick to brand new habits can be a challenge. Not impossible, but a challenge.

If we want to make the most of the special time we get, we have to start developing habits and routines now. That way, when we have extra time, we can get some serious work done rather than flounder around trying to be productive but not knowing what to do or how to do it.

I'm sure there are some people who handle this very well. They get the extra time and they can go, go, go until the time is up and they have to return to normal life. But if you're anything like me, you need to get into the groove first before you can handle such a large amount of time.

I need time for the creativity to come back. If I'm not constantly working at it, I find myself out of ideas and then frustrated as a result. For me, frustration does not spark creativity; it stifles it. When I don't work on my writing every day, my writing "muscle" starts to weaken. It gets out of shape.

Whatever your "muscle" is, you'll want to give it regular exercise if you want to take advantage of those moments of extra time. Not only will you be able to get more work done when you have more time, but you'll also be working toward your dream right now instead of next month or next year or whenever retirement rolls around. As they say, the timing will never be just right. We have to start today.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Its-All-In-the-Timing---Or-Is-It?&id=9455853

Turn Any Problem Into An Action Plan In 4 Easy Steps (By Alex Quill)

Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough. - Og Mandino

I'd love to be always determined as well, you know!

I've been analyzing the past few years of my life and I came to the conclusion that my productivity and my success were always going hand in hand with my daily motivation. I'm a disciplined person overall and I can force myself to work long hours every day. In fact that's what I've been doing for the past years since I've got my first paid job.

Life goes on and so do our goals. I always wanted to become an independent professional, but I could never find the inner strength to sit down after work and dedicate some hours to develop my own business. The temptation to lay on my couch and relax while watching my favorite TV show was too big. My social environment wasn't helping either: everyone was in the same situation as me and they called it a "normal life". Which is not wrong, if you ask me. Having a stable, well-paid job is a privilege nowadays. But we always want more.

I'd lie if I'd say that I wasn't doing ANYTHING in order to achieve my dream. I was trying to find the strength to work on my goals after work whenever I could. That wasn't bringing any results though, except that it made me ask myself several important questions. In fact, that was the first important thing I've learned about procrastination:

1. The first step is about accepting that there's an actual problem

It was Monday night. I've decided to accept my friend's offer to write an article for his newspaper. He said that it could be a good starter for me - if I succeed, I could reach thousands of people. It was a topic I knew pretty well and the whole deal was about doing a little additional research and compiling my knowledge on an easy-to read and engaging way. The only problem was that I was feeling tired and empty inside. I was simply sitting in front of my PC screen, checking my cell phone from time to time. Not that I was waiting for someone specific to message me, it's just I wasn't feeling like I was focused or inspired enough to start writing.

After an hour of wasted time, I've realized that I'm waiting for a miracle. I'm waiting for the inspiration to come in out of nowhere and do the job for me. And that's not how success comes to people's lives. That's not how motivation comes. So the first step to overcome procrastination was to reveal the problem. There are many ways to do that; I've used the simplest one (in my opinion) which was about being honest with myself and writing down the problems I was facing:

a. I'm feeling down and tired.

b. I don't feel too excited about the things I need to do.

2. You can only start fixing something after you've figured out the cause of the problem

Now that these problems were finally revealed, the time came to look for their roots. Why? Because knowing that I'm not motivated wasn't pointing me to a solution. I've stated that I have a problem and that was a big step ahead. That wasn't enough, though. I've associated the problem with someone else, while the main reason was in me.

Therefore the step #2 was made when I've assumed the responsibility for the problems I was facing. I've decided that the main issue wasn't in my time-consuming job, my lack of creativity or the rain, pattering against the window of my apartment. I've tried to re-write the two statements in a way they'd bring a solution, and I came up with this:

a. I don't know how to stay motivated.

b. I don't know how to start feeling excited about the things I need to do.

3. You'll find the answer once the question was asked

As soon as I did that, all of the sudden, I felt like something changed in me.

It wasn't a "miracle" or a revelation, but suddenly I felt way more awake and motivated. The "I don't know" part sounded like something which can be solved. It means that there IS a solution, it's just I don't know about it yet. For example, we cannot change the day/night cycle, but we can learn how to keep our homes illuminated at any time of the day.

The next step, therefore, was to replace the passive statements with active questions:

a. How do I stay motivated?

b. How do I start feeling excited about the things I need to do?

4. Once the question was asked, let yourself find the answer

What I did helped me to realize that the problem wasn't in my environment or my personal traits. It was merely in my lack of knowledge. The solution was clear: "Alex, stop forcing yourself to do the things you don't want to do. Stop feeling down about your inability to do things the right way."

I didn't have a problem anymore. Instead, I had an action plan:

1. Go to the library and study related materials;

2. Contact the most productive people from my environment and ask them specific questions about the tools they use to stay motivated.

3. Go to bed early and do the writing tomorrow morning before work.

What about you? What methods do you use to turn your problems into action plans?

http://ezinearticles.com/?Turn-Any-Problem-Into-An-Action-Plan-In-4-Easy-Steps&id=9376670

The Ticket to a Simpler Life

Do you dream of leading a simpler life? Are you worn out, frustrated, or unhappy with where you live or what you do? I've talked about living in paradise before, but I wanted to share a few more thoughts on the subject.

There isn't anything wrong with having a "paradise dream" (dreams are encouraged!), but if we live our lives waiting until we can move on to greener pastures, we'll miss out on what life has to offer right now.

We all have ideas on what we think a simpler life means. Some of us think retiring and moving to the woods is the ticket. Others want to move to somewhere tropical. Most of the time retiring and moving are key components for what we think is a happier, stress-reduced life.

Oh, the error of our ways...

The thing is, simplifying life doesn't have to mean moving to the middle of nowhere. Oftentimes, doing just that actually complicates things a bit. Just think about all the things you have to do to survive if you take off and move into the woods. If you don't have electricity, you have to get firewood (even if you live in the south - doesn't it get chilly there, too?). If you don't have a job or a ton of money in savings, you can't just buy the wood. That means you have to gather and cut the wood yourself. What it takes to live off the land and survive is a lot more than one would expect. And in many cases, it's a full-time job.

Our ideas of a simpler life aren't always accurate. We think if we can just move into the woods, life will be simpler. Or we think if we can just quit our jobs, life will be simpler. Sometimes it really is simpler, especially if there is drama in the workplace, but what are we going to do after that? How are we going to pay the bills?

Even if we live off the grid and grow our own food, we still have expenses. Whether we like it or not, we still need an income or a major reserve of funds to get by. It isn't as easy as one might think.

Also, in our world today, we have become spoiled with technology. We can whip out our smartphones and find out just about any information we need or want. We can order products, even food, online and have it delivered to our front door. We can watch movies online and dial a phone number simply by speaking a few words into the phone.

Many of us aren't ready to say goodbye to the internet. And if we want high-speed internet (trust me, satellite internet doesn't cut it), well, we'll need to be in a location where the service is available.

See, we have these grand ideas that if we take off into the woods, life will get easier. But the issue comes when our true calling doesn't actually support our dreams of living in the woods. In that case, moving to the woods makes our lives much harder. Internet will be slower, if it works at all, and getting supplies will take longer.

What I'm trying to get across is this: it doesn't matter where we live. We can still find ways to simplify our lives without taking off and saying goodbye to the world.

Many of us think if we just move to somewhere tropical, life will be easy. But does it align with our calling? If it does, great! If not, moving to that paradise location will make our lives miserable. We can have the best view in the world, but if it makes doing our work more difficult, we may find ourselves frustrated.

So, what are some ways we can make the most of where we are right now?

• Remember our goals. 
• Remember our purpose (we weren't meant to be hermits). 
• Work toward our dreams. 
• Focus on positive things and limit the complaints. 
• Recognize the blessings. 
• Learn from all experiences. 
• Remember that life is a journey. 
• Find an activity to enjoy. 
• Believe that paradise can be achieved right now. 
• Listen to the things that God is placing on our hearts.

The grass on our side can be just as green as it appears on the other side. It just takes a little work to see things clearly. It isn't about the location or the work; it's about the journey and what we can learn each step of the way.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Ticket-to-a-Simpler-Life&id=9409292

7 Habits of Highly Emotionally Healthy People

6. Identify self-defeating behaviors, and defeat them.

Most of us pay close attention to our health and treat threats to our physical well-being as soon as they occur. We dress warmly when we feel a cold coming on, we apply antibacterial ointments and bandages to cuts and scrapes, and we don’t pick at scabs as they heal. We sustain psychological injuries just as often as we do physical ones, but we are much less proactive about protecting our psychological well-being than we are our physical well-being. Adopting the following seven habits, and "treating" common psychological injuries when they occur, will help protect your mental health and improve your emotional resilience.

1. Gain Control After a Failure

Failure distorts our perceptions such that our goals seem more out of reach and our capacities seem less up to the task. Once we feel as though there is little we can do to succeed, we become demoralized and lose our motivation. Adopt the habit of ignoring this misleading gut reaction and make a list of the many factors related to your goal that were in your control—effort, preparation, planning, different approaches you could have taken, etc. Then, consider how you might go about improving each of these factors. Doing so will not only combat defeatist misperceptions, it will drastically improve your chances of future success.

2. Find Meaning in Loss and Trauma

One of the main factors that distinguishes those who thrive emotionally after experiencing loss or trauma from those who do not is their ability to eventually find meaning in their experiences and to derive purpose from them. Of course, doing so takes time, as does the process of grieving and adapting to new realities. However, adopting the habit of searching for ways to recognize not just what you've lost, but what you’ve gained as well, will allow you to develop new appreciation for your life and the people in it, to make important changes, and to find value, meaning, and purpose even if you lacked them before.

3. Disrupt the Urge to Brood and Ruminate

When we brood over distressing events we rarely gain insight into them. Instead, we replay upsetting or angering scenarios in our heads, which only increases our urge to brood and makes us feel worse. Therefore, despite how compelling the urge to brood is, adopt the habit of disrupting the brooding cycle as soon as you catch yourself ruminating about the events in question. The best way to do this is to distract yourself with a task that requires concentration—such as a game of Sudoku, trying to recall the exact order of the stations on your bus/subway line, or watching an absorbing show.

4. Nurture Your Self-Esteem

Our self-esteem fluctuates such that we feel better about ourselves some days than we do others. But many of us become self-critical when we’re feeling bad, essentially kicking our self-esteem when it’s already down. To improve your mental health, adopt the habit of regarding your self-esteem as an "emotional immune system" that needs to be nurtured back to health when it’s ailing. The best way to heal damaged self-esteem is to practice self-compassion. When you have self-critical thoughts, consider what you would do if a dear friend had similar feelings. Write out what you would say to them in an email if you wanted to express compassion and support. Then read the email as if they had sent it to you.

5. Revive Your Self-Worth after a Rejection

Rejections are so hurtful that we often try to make sense of our emotional pain by finding fault in ourselves. Our reasoning is that if we hurt so much, we must be really weak/pathetic/a loser/unworthy/fragile/unlovable, etc. Rejection hurts as it does not because there’s something wrong with us but because of how our brains are wired. The best way to ease emotional pain and revive your self-worth after a rejection is to adopt the habit of affirming aspects of yourself you value, qualities you possess that you find meaningful (e.g., loyalty, compassion, creativity, or a strong work-ethic). Make a list of such attributes, choose one or two and write a short essay about why the quality is important to you.

6. Combat Loneliness by Identifying Self-Defeating Behaviors

Chronic loneliness is much more common than we realize and it has a devastating impact on our emotional and physical health.  The problem is that once we feel lonely, we often act in ways to minimize the risk of further rejection by unconsciously engaging in self-defeating behaviors and sabotaging opportunities to make new social connections or to deepen existing ones. The best way to combat loneliness is to adopt the habit of identifying and challenging such self-defeating behaviors. Make a list of excuses you’ve used to avoid taking the initiative in social situations—I won’t know anyone at the party so why go?; They don’t call me so why should I call them?; They’re probably too busy to meet up; I can’t just introduce myself to a stranger at a cocktail party. Now make a list of people whose company you’ve enjoyed in the past (go through your phone book, Facebook friends, and Email contacts) and reach out to one or two each day to initiate plans until your social calendar is full. Challenge yourself to avoid using excuses from your list when you feel anxious.

7. Shed Excessive Guilt by Repairing Damaged Relationships

Excessive guilt occurs when our actions or inactions have harmed another person (most often a close friend or relative) who has not forgiven us for our wrongdoing. Such situations usually have more to do with the inadequacy of our apologies than with the inability of the other person to "let go" of their hurt. Indeed, the crucial ingredient an effective apology requires—and the one we most often miss—is empathy. For the other person to truly forgive you, adopt the habit of conveying effective apologies when you've done wrong. To do so, make sure the other person feels that you totally "get" how they felt as well as how they were impacted by your actions. Once you’ve expressed adequate empathy, the other person is much more likely to feel your apology is sincere and to convey authentic forgiveness. Your guilt will dissolve soon thereafter.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-squeaky-wheel/201307/7-habits-highly-emotionally-healthy-people

Get Organized And Reap Multiple Benefits!

When thinking about being creative or productive in our work, it's easy to think big-picture. We tend to go from the idea of our goals and head straight to the finish line without really considering the details of the process. But think again! The key to completing any task or creative endeavor is having the right tools. Having what you need to achieve your goals, keep you inspired, and help you enjoy the process is key.

In the words of author and philanthropist Steve Mariboli, "Accept yourself, your strengths, your weaknesses, your truths, and know what tools you have to fulfill your purpose." Tools are both the personal qualities within us and the literal things we use to help us complete our goals and manifest our dreams.

The more organized you are in any endeavor the more time you have to focus on the heart of what matters, leading you to more success. Being organized brings many benefits to your life as a whole. Here are just a few:

Reduced Stress - Running around trying to keep track of everything only adds to your stress and further disorganization. Having the tools you need to get organized in the first place stops the vicious cycle and gets you on track.

Increased Productivity - Because you won't be wasting time and energy, you will have more time to spend on the things that matter. Being organized clears the path to getting things done and keeps you from feeling like you're running around in circles.

More Motivation - Getting and staying organized unclutters more than just your home, office, desk, backpack, whatever. It clears your mind, too, helping you feel more focused, in control, and motivated to complete the tasks at hand.

More time - It's a simple equation. More organization means less wasted time. You'll work more quickly, more efficiently, and have more free time.

More Joy - You'll actually be free to enjoy your responsibilities, tasks, projects because you'll feel good about how efficiently you make progress. And feeling joy makes you that much more efficient and confident.

Whether you're learning something new, plugging away at a college degree, or working in a career you know inside and out, the more organized you are the more effective and happy you will be. That means you will enjoy more free time and probably even increase your earnings. All of those things combined mean you will feel more empowered in your work, studies, and play. It's the details of the journey that make the big picture rewarding. So give yourself every advantage and get organized in the new year. 2016 can be your most successful year yet. You just need the right office supplies and organizational tools.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Get-Organized-And-Reap-Multiple-Benefits!&id=9294840