Setting and Achieving Your Goals

The is the second post in a series on how to set the right goals.  In this article I’ll cover the second principle I use to set and achieve goals.  Before reading on, see my previous article so that you understand what I mean by the “right” goals.

You can find that article here:  How To Set The Right Goals

As I said in my previous post, setting the right goal is based on what works versus what doesn’t work.  I have a lot of experience with what doesn’t work, so I’ll spare you the details.  Here is what does work.

To set and achieve the right goals apply two principles:

  • Goals have magnitude (or feeling power)
  • Goals have direction (meaning they are specific and measurable)

I’ll use the velocity analogy again.  Goals must have velocity.  Just like a vector, they must have magnitude and direction.  Miss either one of these and you’re cooked – you’ve shot yourself in the foot before you’ve began.

Setting and Achieving Your Goals by Setting A Direction

Direction is absolutely necessary when setting goals.  Why is it so important?  Let me illustrate with an example.

Let’s say that you’ve set a goal for yourself.  You have an interest in working from home so you decide to start an online business.  As you put together your first website, you decide to write out your goal.

Your goal includes the following elements to be completed by September 1, 2009:

  • Website launched and running
  • 3,000 unique visitors
  • Networked with 3 online partners to drive traffic
  • Earning a recurring monthly income of $500
  • Acquired 400 leads with Newsletter

It seems to be fairly specific and measurable, doesn’t it?  It is, but it does lack an important element of goal setting; it lacks focus.

This goal is too comprehensive and complex.  It carries too many variables in too many directions.  That makes it almost impossible to achieve because of the ambiguity.  Being specific is one thing, but being specific in several directions scatters your focus.  The biggest problem with the way I’ve worded this goal is that it’s multi-directional.

A Multi-Directional Goal

Setting and Achieving Goals - Image 1

Multi-directional goals are way too complex for your conscious and unconscious minds.  They’re not workable because they’re confusing.  Not only that but they send unclear signals to you, to others and to the Universe at large.  Your better off working with a single target.

Set A Clear Target

You want to be crystal clear when setting your goals.  Instead of having multiple targets, choose one very specific goal to work with.  The right goal has to be specific and measurable, BUT it also must be very focused:

Setting and Achieving Goals - Image 2

There are a lot of reasons why the right goals are much easier to process and work with than multi-directional goals.  They set clear targets for your conscious mind to work with and they promote greater clarity.  They also make easy targets for your unconscious.  Here are a few things to keep in mind when setting the right goal:

  • Start with the end in mind.  In this case I choose $500 as the end point.  Launching the website, attracting visitors and building the leads for your mailing list are milestones along the way. They’re not part of your end point, they’re part of the working process.
  • Choose an end date and be specific.  I choose September 1, 2009, but it could be any date you choose.  What’s important is that the date feels right to you.
  • Choose at least three elements to describe your goal.  In this case I said, “I am quickly, easily and effortlessly earning $500 income from my website by September 1, 2009.”  If quickly, easily and effortlessly seems like a lie to you, that’s ok.  What’s really important is how you feel about those specific words.

Once you have the right goal, you’re ready to set that goal on autopilot.  Your ready to give it to your automatic success mechanism – your unconscious mind.

Set An Unconscious Target

Your unconscious mind should be listed as one of the greatest wonders of the world.  Once you get your unconscious working on a clear target, it will do most of the work for you.  You’re also 96% more likely to achieve your goal.

“96-98% of our behavior comes from the unconscious.” ~ John Assaraf

The easier it is for your unconscious mind to understand the better.   That’s why it’s important from the very beginning to set a goal that is specific, measurable and focused.

Prior to studying Stuart Lichtman’s book, How to Get Lots of Money For Anything Fast, I would have never thought of using my unconscious mind as a goal setting mechanism – but that’s exactly what it is.  It’s no wonder Stuarts book has had such a profound impact on me.

To ensure a high probability of success make sure to set your goal as an unconscious target.  Here are the three steps again:

  1. Write Out Your Goal (your first draft)
  2. Set A Clear Target (by eliminating multi-directional goals)
  3. Set An Unconscious Target

Once you have a clear target, your next job is to imprint that goal onto your unconscious mind.

How do you do that?

You visualize.  You take the time to practice and visualize your goal on a daily basis.  As you mentally rehearse your goal being achieved over and over again, your neural cavities will imprint the goal in your mind.

There is a process to setting goals and using your unconscious success mechanism to achieve them.  You want to emotionalize your goals and give them direction. To learn more about Stuart Lichtman’s unconscious targeting, see these two posts:

Setting and achieving goals is a science.  The more you understand and work with this science, the simpler it is to set your goals.  Give your goals velocity and let them work for you.

6 Comments

  • Monique Gallagher

    Reply Reply June 30, 2009

    Steve,

    I really like the way you express the cybernetic transposition processes that Stuart describes in his How to Make Lots of Money for Anything Fast book.

    Many people have found it difficult to learn from the book, as I did. I think I fell into every “blocker” pot hole imaginable and managed to find simpler ways to do the processes that have yielded increasing results.

    You are doing good work here sharing Stuart’s book. More people need to know about the power of these processes.

    Monique Gallagher
    Certified Cybernetic Transposition Coach

  • I like the vector metaphor, Steve. It makes a lot of sense. Also, the point about focused goals is very important.

  • Steve

    Reply Reply July 1, 2009

    @ Monique – I totally agree. There is nothing (that I’ve found) that quite explains how to reprogram your unconscious mind quite like Stuarts book.

    As for learning from a book, I found the instructions were very good. It took me three trys to get my target set properly, but now I feel really good about the target I’ve set. And unfortunately, I can’t tell you what the target is – or I’ll ruin it!

    So with a little persistence I was able to make the book work.

  • Vitalia

    Reply Reply July 2, 2009

    Hi Steve,

    I really like your points about maintaining focus to achieve your goals. Maintaining focus is one of the keys to accelerating your success.

    I like to use a lot of acronyms as teaching tools in my training programs and use FOCUS as an acronym when talking about goal-achievement strategies. Perhaps the following will be helpful:

    F = Find your strengths and talents.
    O = Observe your mentors and organize your
    priorities.
    C = Courage to challenge yourself, to step
    out of your comfort zone, to stretch and
    grow.
    U = Utilize your resources, knowledge,
    talents,and skills to the fullest extent
    possible.
    S = Strive to make a difference. Stick with
    it!

    When it comes to achieving your goals, always keep your eye on the future and maintain focus!

    Vitalia

  • Srinivas Rao

    Reply Reply July 2, 2009

    Great post STeve. The vector metaphors are great. I really like the idea of one target and focusing on it.

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