Target in the Dark

Life without goals is like aiming at a target in the dark and expecting to have good results. If you don’t care where you are going, it doesn’t make any difference where you land. When Alice in Wonderland asked the white rabbit if she should go right or left, the rabbit gave a puzzled look and asked where she wanted to go. When she replied, “I don’t know,” the rabbit grinned and shrugged “then it doesn’t make any difference which direction you turn.”

Goals determine your direction. Goal setting is the absolute common denominator of all successful people. They are persistent relentless goal setters. Therefore they are top goal achievers.

There was a study done with the graduating class of 1953 of Yale University. They asked the graduates how many of them had specific written goals and only 3% did. When they interviewed the surviving members of that class 20 years later, it was discovered that the 3% who had specific written goals were worth more in financial terms than all the other 97% combined.

Note an interesting correlation here. Only 3% to 5% of all businesses succeed. Only 3% to 5% of people set specific written goals.

Goals relate to all aspects of your life: personal, financial and professional. Goals are both tangible and intangible in all 3 areas. All goals must be SMART – specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely. The more specific the goal, the greater the likelihood you have of attaining it.

There are several ways to determine your goals.

First, list the 5 things you value most in life.

Second, In 30 seconds or less list your 3 most important goals. Dr Joyce Brothers refers to this as the quick list. Whatever you write in 30 seconds or less is likely to be top priorities for you.

Third, what would you do if you won a million dollars tomorrow? What would you buy? Where would you go? What would you do first, second, third?

Fourth, if you knew you would live in perfect health for exactly 6 months and then immediately die, what would you do? This tells you your true priorities in life..

Think about these answers very carefully and then compare the answers. If the answer to what would you do if you only had 6 months to live is not consistent with what you would do if you won a million dollars then you have a conflict in your goals. You are attempting to go in different directions at the same time. That never works. These answers should also align with your 3 most important goals. If they are consistent, great, if not do some serious soul searching about what is truly important to you in your life.

You will always be more successful doing something you love. One of the best ways to determine that is getting in touch with your feelings. When do you feel the best about yourself? What puts a warm glow in your heart? Where do you feel most fulfilled and appreciated and happy? When you can clearly identify that one factor, I can tell you your entire philosophy of life. That one aspect defines the key to your soul.

Now combine that with the goals you have defined above and you know your one true calling and mission in life. Everyone has one special talent or ability or area of excellence. Using these simple steps will refine your focus and direct you to your special area of excellence. When you align your goals with your special talent, you can accomplish anything you desire.

The mere fact that you can clearly define your goals and area of excellence is an absolute guarantee that you can have it. How quickly it materializes depends on your actions and your continued focus on that objective. If you can clearly define it, write it and see it as accomplished in your mind, you can absolutely have it in your reality.

Be specific, laser focused, consistent and persistent and you will never again be aiming at a target in the dark.