| When Jim Carey was a lad he used to dream | | | | 2. Short term motivation |
| about being a famous well paid actor. So in order | | | | They show you the quickest and easiest way to |
| to make him feel closer to his dream he took to | | | | get from A to B to C to D etc. And when the |
| writing himself million dollar cheques. | | | | going gets tough and you start to have second |
| And before Donald Trump knew what business | | | | thoughts, they will give you the reason to keep |
| was, he stuck a picture of the Empire State | | | | going. |
| Building on his bedroom wall. | | | | And that's not all. They help you to; |
| Then the fast forward button was pressed for a | | | | 1. Focus your attention on what you need to do |
| couple of decades. | | | | and when |
| Guess what happened? | | | | 2. Organise your resources |
| Jim Carey was still writing himself million dollar | | | | 3. Measure your progress |
| cheques. But by now he was able to cash them | | | | 4. Boost your self confidence allowing you to |
| without the bank manager alerting the fraud | | | | achieve progressively larger and more demanding |
| squad. | | | | goals. |
| And Mr Trump still had his picture of the Empire | | | | Goal setting will allow you to improve every area |
| State Building. But it wasn't pinned above his bed | | | | of your life. And, once you know the basics, it's |
| any more. It was hanging behind the owner's chair | | | | easy to harness the power of goal setting. |
| of the aforementioned building looking down on | | | | Rule One: Make them real |
| the rest of New York. | | | | Whatever happens, use your goals to create |
| And my point? | | | | something that will inspire and motivate you. |
| Simple! | | | | Do whatever you like as long as it gives you |
| They knew how to set goals. They achieved | | | | some tangible evidence of your goal. Write them |
| spectacular results. | | | | down, use a photo, make yourself a prop, do a |
| A coincidence? I think not! | | | | dummy run (e.g. write yourself a fake cheque) |
| Okay, they might not have been the most | | | | etc. |
| accurate or detailed goals, but they did the trick, | | | | But whatever happens, don't keep them in your |
| and they highlight the point of this article rather | | | | head. Vague, unwritten goals don't work. While |
| well, which is: If you want to achieve anything | | | | they remain in your head, they're all too easily |
| meaningful with your life, it's vital that you learn to | | | | forgotten or overlooked. |
| set yourself goals. | | | | If Jim Carey hadn't written himself that cheque, |
| Goals are the bridge between what you want and | | | | he might have forgotten to go to drama school |
| what you wanted. They give you direction and | | | | and there would have been a film called "and |
| focus. They allow you to concentrate on the | | | | Dumber". |
| things that you want to bring into your life. | | | | If Donald Trump hadn't had that photo of a tall |
| Without goals, people drift. They fall into low paid | | | | building, his dreams might have been overlooked |
| jobs, form unhappy relationships and they | | | | and much of America's real estate would have |
| certainly don't buy the world's tallest building. Then | | | | had a different name. |
| they spend their lives wondering why other | | | | So get your goals out into the physical world, |
| people appear to have it all. | | | | where they can't be denied or forgotten. Give |
| Cue a life of wandering about in aimless circles | | | | yourself a visible reminder of what you want to |
| without a detailed idea of where they're going or | | | | achieve. |
| how they're going to get there. And how much | | | | Rule Two: Take Action |
| happiness or satisfaction will that bring them? | | | | Making your goals real is the first step towards |
| So if you want to avoid these old age regrets, I | | | | turning them into reality. But that only takes you |
| want you to think of your life as a journey. And | | | | 1% of the way to your final destination. |
| the things that you want to achieve are different | | | | Okay, that might inspire you to join the local |
| locations that you want to visit during the course | | | | drama group or call your lawyer to incorporate a |
| of your journey. | | | | real estate company, but that's as far as it goes. |
| All we need now are some directions. Let's face | | | | Action accounts for 99% of your success. |
| it, you wouldn't begin a normal journey unless you | | | | Great ideas + No action = Nothing |
| knew where you were going, would you! | | | | Poor/Reasonable Ideas + Action = The Chance |
| So why should life be any different? | | | | Of Success |
| After all, it's the ultimate journey. | | | | So with that in mind, make a point of taking |
| And goals are your detailed ordinance Survey | | | | some positive action towards your goals each and |
| map! | | | | every day. |
| They will guide you where you want to go, as | | | | Action builds commitment, it makes obstacles |
| long as you keep referring to them. | | | | shrink and it gets you moving to your intended |
| Goals give you two things; | | | | destination. |
| 1. Long term vision (the world's most expensive | | | | Bon Voyage! |
| real estate, the million dollar payday), and | | | | |