Business Strategy Coach - How to Achieve Your Desires With a Goal Achievement System - Part 2

In part 1 of this article, I showed you how to properly set goals by being specific, giving yourself a deadline and making your goals positively oriented. I also showed you a technique where you actually visualize yourself after you've hit that goal and you imagine what it actually feels like. In part 2 of this article, I'm going to show you a step by step process to take that goal, and create a plan of action for achieving that goal. When you are creating this plan, remember this:

"You can't reach the top of the mountain in a giant leap-but b
So in essence, what we are about to do is take your mountain of a goal, and break it down into individual obtainable steps. For the sake of this exercise, we are going to continue with the example we used in part 1, which involved losing 30 pounds in 10 weeks. Remember the goal that you wrote down? This is our end all final achievement. We will call this our mission statement. Here is what we came up with last time, and the one that you wrote should be posted in plain view.

"Today is December 5, and I am 30 pounds lighter. I look a lot better, and I feel great. People have complimented me on how I look healthier and am a more enjoyable person to be around. I can now participate in activities I've always wanted to do but felt limited by my weight."

So how can we break this down? Well since we gave ourselves 10 weeks, the best way to me sounds like breaking this up into 10 obtainable milestones that we need to complete along the way. Hitting the 10th and final milestone would complete the mission. Now we need to set up each milestone accordingly. Please note, 30 pounds in 10 weeks can be a big stretch if losing those 30 pounds would mean giving you six-pack abs. I don't personally believe that this is obtainable to do so in a healthy manner. But for an individual who is much more overweight, it is very possible. I am using weight loss for the sake of this exercise. If your goal is weight loss, I recommend speaking to your physician about what is realistically possible for you (and then try to outdo what they say of course).

Since we are using weight loss as our mission, it is ok that we don't set our milestones equally because it is much easier to lose those first 10 pounds then it is the last 10 pounds. I would recommend this schedule. Weeks 1 & 2 lose 4 pounds a week. Weeks 3 - 8, lose 3 pounds a week. Weeks 9 & 10 lose 2 pounds a week.

Now did you notice something about these milestones? Pounds don't just disappear in chunks just because you made the number smaller. Completing a milestone may not be the same as leaping to the top of a mountain, but it is like leaping to the top of a hill. So, like what we did with our mission statement, we will continue to chunk down on our milestones until we can break them down into smaller more obtainable goals. I would recommend writing each milestone down on an index card on the top line (sticky notes work well too). On each index card, further break down your milestone into individually achievable goal. For example, on one card, you may list:

Week 1 Milestone: lose 4 pounds

Monday: run 1 mile

Tuesday: lift weights for half an hour

Wednesday: run 1 mile

Thursday: lift weights for half an hour

Friday: run 1.25 miles

Saturday: lift weights for half an hour

Sunday: day off (eat healthy!)

If you are really feeling diligent, you can break this down even further! You may want to list exactly what you eat on Monday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You may want to plan out a healthy sleeping schedule. Remember, the more specific and detailed you are, the more likely you are to achieve your desired outcome.

Do you remember hearing about the straight A high school students who flunked out of college? Do you know why? In high school, everything was planned out for them. They had English first period, Math second period, Chemistry third period and so forth. They followed a schedule that was strictly enforced, and they were able to thrive in that situation, even if it was to avoid the negative consequences of things like cutting class (this is away from motivation and we want to use towards motivation - we want to look great and feel healthy). However, once they got to college, they were given a lot more freedom, such as optional lectures and readings, and eventually they couldn't keep up because they lost that feeling of an automatic schedule, where everything is laid out for them. We can argue about there being many other reasons, but I'm not going to go there right now.

You may think that this involves a lot of work. But in reality, the amount of time spent on this activity is only a fraction of the amount of time spent on achieving your mission. If you spent 5 hours a week working on your mission, what's an extra half hour the first week? I'll give you a little hint to help start you off so write this down. Goal #1: write down your milestone schedule!

Remember, in order to have success, you must first plan to have success.

Business Strategy Coach - How To Achieve Your Desires With A Goal Achievement System - Part 1

Have you ever gotten really excited about that million dollar idea only to end up going nowhere? Often times, the idea itself was not what had resulted in failure, but a lack of a systematic process to take that idea and turn it into a reality. This is like driving your car across the country, and never filling up your tank with gas. You will only make it a certain distance, and you will never reach your final destination. What I am about to teach you is a way to create "mental gas stations," with the Goal Achievement System (GAS). The GAS will allow you to refuel your motivation and allow you to achieve extraordinary results that you did not know were possible.

The great thing about this process is that you can use it anywhere in your life that you choose. You don't need a million dollar idea, and you might have a different desired outcome, like losing weight. For the purpose of this blog, we will use weight loss as an example, but you can apply this same process for any type of goal.

The first part of the system is creating a well defined goal. A problem well stated is a problem half solved. We are going to take a simple ambiguous goal, the type that we are used to setting, and turn it into a clearly defined problem.

1. Set a specific goal. You cannot be ambiguous. If you tell yourself, "I am going to lose weight," does that mean you lose 5 pounds, or do you lose 30 pounds? Your mind will probably end up giving you that satisfied feeling if you only lose 2 pounds, because that means you lost weight. Be specific. "I am going to lose 30 pounds or better yet I am going to weigh 125lbs."

2. Give your goal a deadline. Human beings are procrastinators! If you say "I am going to lose 30 pounds" you can easily tell yourself that you are on the right track a year later and 10 pounds lighter, because you don't have a finish line. At the same time, if you GAIN 10 pounds, you still have not technically missed your goal, because it will never come due. Imagine if your boss said: "I'd like you to hand in that report sometime before you die." Would you do it? Probably not. If you tell yourself "I am going to weigh 125 pounds in 10 weeks" you add a bit more pressure on yourself and you force yourself into taking action.

3. Use Towards Motivation. There are two types of motivation. Towards Motivation, and Away From Motivation. Away From Motivation is the act of doing something for the sake of NOT doing, being, or feeling something else. For example, If you tell yourself "I want to lose weight because I DON'T want to be fat," your mind focuses on what you don't want, because the human nervous system cannot process a negative though without first focusing on what it is you don't want. For example, "Don't think about Benjamin Franklin's face on the $100 bill." Did an image briefly flashed through your head before you forced it out? Away From Motivation usually ends up in us doing just enough to not have that feeling. You might lose 15 pounds and feel 'not fat,' and that will end up keeping you satisfied enough, but not completely satisfied. Instead, use Toward Motivation, as that will allow you to set a positive standard that you are continually trying to seek out and make better. "I am going to weigh 125 pounds in 10 weeks so I can look great, be healthy, and feel more energetic." Which sounds better to you?

4. Put yourself in the future, when you've achieved your goal. This is an exercise that you can use every day to help motivate you towards achieving your goal. Look at your calendar, and find out the exact date 10 weeks later. Close your eyes and tell yourself "Today is December 5, and I am 30 pounds lighter. I look a lot better, and I feel great. People have complimented me on how I look healthier and am a more enjoyable person to be around. I can now participate in activities I've always wanted to do but felt limited by my weight." Imagine that picture in your head of that skinnier you, and associate yourself with that image as if you are seeing the world through your own eyes as people are complimenting you on the 'new you.' Take a moment to feel that excitement and energy. Smile. You will get there.

5. Write down your new goal from step 4 and display it where you can see it. Personally, I like sticky notes. I like to write my goals down and place them on my computer screen, so I end up looking at them many times a day. So write down your goal, and make sure you place it somewhere it can be easily viewed at least once a day. "Today is December 5, and I am 30 pounds lighter. I look a lot better, and I feel great. People have complimented me on how I look healthier and am a more enjoyable person to be around. I can now participate in activities I've always wanted to do but felt limited by my weight." Now, whenever you see your goal, you will be able to revision your experience from part 4 and it will help energize and excite you.

Congratulations! You have just concluded part I of the Goal Achievement System. Remember, 'a problem well stated is a problem half solved.' You might not have lost any weight yet (or whatever it is that you are trying to achieve) but you are already half way there. Trust me. An NFL coach who goes into a game without a game plan will have lost the game before the opening kickoff. In part II, I will show you how to pick all the right plays from your play book so that you can take your newly defined goal and make it into a reality.

Business Strategy Coach - How to Build a Vision for Yourself

If you are someone that needs to find a vision for yourself you will want to make sure that you are following through with what life has in store for you. There are endless possibilities for everyone. If you are looking to make something great of yourself then you will need to set some priorities and goals for yourself so that you are well on your way to a better and bigger future.

When you are looking for something to keep you motivated, you need to first think, about what you are doing for your own life. What are the most important things to you? Are you satisfied with everything that you are doing? Are you ready for a change in your life? If you are answering these questions truthfully, you will soon realize that maybe you are not living life to your full potential and maybe there is something better out there for you.

Make sure that you are thinking about your goals and dreams in life. You need to think about what you want to do in your future. Setting goals for long term and short term is going to be one thing that makes your life so much better and easier because you are going to have something to look forward to in the end.

Never give up on something that you really want. If you have goals set for yourself you will want to make sure that you are doing everything possible that you can so that you can feel good about who you are. Be prepared to work hard at your goals. There is nothing that should ever stand in your way. You need to recognize that you are the one that is going to be in control of your life. When there is something that you really want to have, you should try to find different ways to go about them. Finding motivation is one part of it. When you are energized and motivated to make something happen you will get there.

Think about what you are doing and then you can move on to something else. You can build up your own goals in life by thinking about what you need to do in order to improve your own goals. Thinking about something that makes you happy will help you get to where you need to be. There is nothing wrong with making choices that fit your needs. Do not be afraid to go out there and make things work for you. It is going to take time but you will see in the end that you are going to improve your life by a lot and find ways to make things different. You have to be willing to provide yourself with a set of goals that are going to work for you and all of your needs.

Try to find a way to see into your future. You have to be ready to take on challenges that are going to help you become stronger and more together. You should always know that you are going to be in control of a situation. When you are not happy with something that you are doing you should go out there and make your life just how you want it to be.

Do not be afraid of who you are and what you do in life. There are so many good ideas out there for you to choose from. Make sure that you are creating the goals in life that are going to help you be more productive and more enthusiastic about what you have in mind. There is nothing out there that should stop you from being who you want to become in life.
Think about your attitude and how far it has brought you. There is nothing in the world that you should think about more than where your life is going to end up. Success is something that you should always have on your mind. It is up to you to go after your dreams.

Business Strategy Coach - Plug In...With a Purpose

Imagine that each person on this planet carried with them a teaspoon of soil or rock from Mt. Everest. Certainly Mt. Everest would shrink! Those individual teaspoons of material from the tallest mountain on Earth now in the pockets of billions of people also wouldn't mean much. Well I suppose each of us could put that small amount of mineral material into a bottle and keep it as a souvenir. But like most souvenirs we collect, we get tired of dusting them and they become added to the already crowded drawer or box of meaningless, useless items. A teaspoon of dirt, in a jar, in a drawer, that by itself, means little.

But, wait a minute…. What about it's P-0-T-E-N-T-I-A-L?

From Webster's Dictionary:

"Contribute": to give or supply in common with others

What if each person on this planet brought their teaspoon of Mt. Everest to the site where it used to stand and contributed it? What would happen? Why, we would build the highest, mightiest mountain on Earth…TOGETHER.

Good thought! Doubtful it would happen. Why not? Let's explore that. We can start by applying this Mt. Everest metaphor to our own lives.

Modern times finds we human beings have, at least in the developed world, become rather insular (just think of the word "insulate"). We cocoon in our homes. We don't have time, we don't have enough money, we are tired. We don't have any time to ourselves, we go to work and slave for someone else's goals and often receive a pay check for much less than we feel we are worth. We provide for our families, do the myriad of tasks and chores in and for the home. Sacrifice for and fearfully protect our children. We amass debt to do many of these things. We feel trapped in a vortex of stress. And yet, with all this striving for what we think we want, if we are honest, we still feel unfulfilled and probably guilty for feeling that way!

Something elusive is still missing.

We are living our "separateness". We are not acknowledging our "interconnectedness".

We avoid asking ourselves "Who am I, why am I really here?" because we already know that we don't know or are afraid the answers will jolt us out of what we think is our comfort zone. Finding out may take more of that precious time we don't' have or take more of that effort we are too tired to perform! It's one of those conundrums: we want to know, but we don't want to know because it may shake up our lives, it may cause our lives to….here it comes…..CHANGE! Human beings don't like change, yet it is the one thing we can all count on. So there we are, unfulfilled vs. having to change. Yup, it's scary. But so worth it!

Have you ever listened to Nelson Mandela, Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Mother Theresa, the Dali Lama or so many other highly spiritually evolved human beings? And I mean really listened to them? Would you say all of them know "who" they are? And are they living their purpose, their passion? Of course. We can 'feel' that they are. All of them have their roots in different countries, all of them teach the same message, which is, we are all interconnected. We were not put on this earth to be separate, we are all teaspoons of the Whole. And the way we can come together and build a "Mt. Everest" world of harmony is through contribution.

We likely think of ways in which to contribute as the usual volunteering our time or donating our money. Heck, we receive unsolicited begging for money via telemarketing phone calls and the postal system on an endless basis! Of course charitable organizations do need our donations of time and money, but there is another, more intangible way to "add your teaspoon". It is through fulfilling your life's Purpose. This means:

Living life intentionally, not by accident

Capturing the essence of what it means to be fully alive

You have a powerful direction in your life

You make choices that increase the value of life to yourself and others

Being fulfilled today and every day

Living your life based on your values

Due to our spiritual interconnectedness, there is no true life Purpose that does not include contribution. There is no contribution that does not include reward for you, tangible or intangible. You are here to make a difference on this planet. Wouldn't you like to know what you will leave behind, the difference you will make in the lives of those you touch?

Your life Purpose is an underlying theme to your life, not a specific job, parenting or partnering. Your Purpose can be fulfilled through these, but it is not these. Your life Purpose is not to be a title, it is to do something, something that contributes. Never underestimate your power, your "teaspoon" has the potential to become Mt. Everest! You can be fulfilling your life Purpose with as little as an acknowledgment, a warm touch, a phone call, a letter, a kind smile or word, lending an ear, anything that contributes to the mental, physical or emotional well being of another living soul. Or conversely, refraining from judgment, harsh words within or without the presence of the target, anything that you know, deep in your heart, would be hurtful to another.

The special wording of your purpose is uniquely yours. Certain words have specific meaning to each of us. When you speak your purpose, something physical happens to you, you know this is you. Others hearing it may not feel that power, because it is not theirs, but it is not meant to impress anyone else, it is the Universe speaking to your heart and that is all that matters.

Who Rae is and what I am here to do is the following:

"I am a strong and courageous woman, leading and inspiring people to overcome their limiting beliefs and step into their God-given destiny."

When I say this I feel an angel kiss my forehead, my heart is full and I have such a peace and understanding. And even better, I know I am contributing to the lives of others.

Up to now, I have been fulfilling my life Purpose to about 80% potential in the career aspect of my life. It is through Business and Personal Life Coaching that I know I am fulfilling my life's Purpose 100%. I know the potential of my 'teaspoon' and through my Purpose I hope to touch as many lives as I can reach to enable them to know their potential as well.

You are not separate, you are connected, just Plug in with a Purpose!