CHAPTER 2: WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT?

Key to setting performance goal plans is the process of determining what it is that you really want out of life.

Did you know that as soon as you change the thing(s) you focus your attention on, you instantaneously change (for better or worse) the quality of your life experience?

With all of the increasing demands in life, things that demand our attention and monopolize our time, it's more important than ever before to become the master of our time.

If we fail to take complete ownership of our daily schedule and place appropriate limits on how other people or things take up our time, then we risk marginalizing the quality of our future.

So how do we determine what it is that we want out of life as we're setting performance goal plans?

First, you should know that whatever your goals are; whenever you think about it, participate in it, or dream about it, the very thought of achieving your goal must spark your ambition.

If you wake up every day wishing you were a painter, and you think about it often throughout the day, and you go to bed thinking about the achievements of famous painters - then friend, you need to pursue that passion.

The bigger question is, "what's stopping you from pursuing your passion?" Many times it is the simple fear of failing that keeps us from taking that first step toward our goal.

In addition, the demands from other people too often become our excuse for not doing what we want to do in life.

Another main thief of our time is our bad habits. Watching too much TV, smoking, drinking, eating, etc. All of these time-wasters can minimize our chances of making significant progress if we allow these destructive actions to dominate our spare time.

In order to determine what you want, complete the following three steps:

1. Write down 3 things that would truly make you happy. The more clearly you can become about each item as you are setting performance goal plans, the more vivid the picture will be in your mind.

   Further define each item by placing a time limit on when you plan to achieve this goal. Answer the question, "I'll know when I have achieved this goal because I'll be able to measure it by __________".

   Ask yourself important questions such as:

   • What truly makes me happy?
   • What do I love to do?
   • Who is the person I want to become?
   • What story do I want my children to tell about me?
   • How do I want to be remembered?
2. Write down why you want to achieve each of the above goals. In other words, determine what the main purpose of each goal is. This purpose is what will drive you or motivate you to complete the tasks involved in achieving each goal.

   A good example of an inspiring purpose might be, "to experience joy and self-fulfillment", "to set a good example for my children", or "to become a better, more well-rounded individual".

3. Write down a quick outline of the resources you'll need and the steps necessary in order for you to achieve each outcome. Make this list as quickly as possible and know that we'll be spending more time to develop a goal action plan as we move forward in this setting performance goal guide.

Learn more about personal and business goal setting with Brian Tracy's step-by-step program, The Ultimate Goals Program. Discover 21 important strategies and techniques to help accomplish your goals more quickly - a recommended leadership tool for setting and achieving goal plans.

Success Lesson #2: How To Realize Your Ambition

"Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success."
- Stephen A. Brennan

It's been said that it is not failure that is a crime. Rather, it is one having a low aim that is truly criminal.

Before any man or woman can enter the success race and be admitted onto the success track, he must first have a definite purpose, a high unwavering aim for setting performance goal standards, and he must have the courage, grit and determination to cling to it no matter what stands in his way.

While all human achievement is the results of man's ambition instinct, there is no quality which requires more watching, guarding or cultivating, than ambition.

Ambition will not live and keep growing if it is not nourished; and the moment a person begins to disregard it his ideals begin to fade.

If your ambition is not thoroughly alive, if it shows up only now and then, especially when you are disappointed or discouraged, you should immediately rise out of your chair, raise your head and muster your courage to take action - begin setting performance goal plans - and work to conquer any downward emotion.

The only way to climb out of a hole is to grasp hold of anything that will pull you up and keep your eyes fixed firmly upon the stars.

Download Free Goal Setting For Success Tool

Receive goal setting guidelines for setting performance goal planning. Learn how to set goal plans for success. The importance of goal setting activity cannot be overstated as setting performance goal objectives will definitely improve your life.

TO RECEIVE THE FREE GOAL PLANNING FOR SUCCESS TOOL: Subscribe to our FREE monthly newsletter. Instructions to access all leadership tools will immediately follow.

Next Goal Setting For Success Chapters

» SECTION 2.1 - Goal Setting In Balance - Focus on measured results, not just goal setting theory when establishing your goal setting plan.

» CHAPTER 3 - What’s Time Got To Do With It? - Make time for your future success. This is about more than just goal setting, it's about creating a quality life.

» SECTION 3.1 - Goals In Priority - Prioritizing your goals is a critical goal setting technique. Focus on effective personal goal setting activities.