The power of written goals

SACRAMENTO (JobJournal) -- One of the common characteristics of highly successful people is that they are intensely goal-oriented. Successful people know where it is that they want to go in life, and they have a clear plan to get there. Their 'roadmap to success' is the list of goals that they have written down.

Goal setting is certainly not a new concept. We have all heard about the importance of having goals. For example, we know that Olympic and professional athletes have goals, and constantly strive to achieve them. Amazingly though, less than 3 percent of the population has a written set of goals. Furthermore, less than 1 percent review their goals on a regular basis.

Here are several reasons to have written goals for your life:

Written goals increase your odds of success. An architect would not think of proposing a building project without a blueprint. A commercial pilot always has a flight plan. Few movie producers would begin filming without a script. Why? Because the blueprint, the flight plan and the script are all 'roadmaps' that help people achieve the results that they want to create. Without those plans, the process would be far less efficient and probably unsuccessful. The same holds true for written goals, as they relate to your success.

Written goals increase your motivation to achieve them. By knowing your specific outcome, you will be able to measure progress toward the achievement of your goals. As you notice your forward progress, you will be inspired to continue the actions that have caused this progress. The process will continue to motivate you as you take more action, then notice the positive results from doing so.

Written goals build self-confidence. As you take action that causes you to move toward your desired outcome, you will become more confident in your ability to do so.

Written goals provide clarity of purpose. With written goals, and an action plan to support those goals, you will know precisely what you need to do to achieve your desired results. This crystal-clear picture will help you to be more efficient, thereby avoiding an unnecessary waste of time, money, and effort.

Written goals move you steadily toward your goal. Creating written goals often seems like holding a magnet underneath a sheet of paper filled with iron filings. Randomly scattered bits of iron suddenly 'come to attention' and take on a recognizable shape as they are drawn to an irresistible force. Like the magnet, your written plan will pull you toward the accomplishment of your goals. This often seems effortless, as if the only action necessary was to write down the goal.

Goal setting is a very powerful technique that can help you achieve significant results in every area of your life. Begin today to write down goals for your success!

Courtesy of JobJournal.com
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