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19 June 2013

Studying Tips: 5 Steps To Goal Setting Success

By Lachlan Haynes


Goal setting is the true secret to success in any area of life. But although setting a goal may seem simple, achieving it is usually another question altogether. This is because you will never achieve your goals unless you: (1) know exactly what you want, (2) are passionate about your goal, and (3) have a solid, realistic plan of action. This is what makes the difference between vague dreams and wishes - and truly achievable goals! Many obstacles and challenges will fly right in your face when you're going after a goal. But here are 5 time-tested methods that will help get the success you deserve.

1. Know exactly what your goal is. What is it exactly that you want to achieve? What exactly is that goal like? What do you want to have in your life when you achieve that goal? It is advisable to be clear about your goals because this is what separates fact from fluff.

Is your goal focused on trying to get into a certain college? Do you want to make more money? Would you like to become better organized? Once you set your goal, you need to define it clearly and completely. The more detail you include, the more likely your success. Envision how you will be or feel when you achieve that goal, write down steps you need to achieve in order to get there, and try to anticipate any possible road blocks along the way and how you will handle them. This can be challenging for some, but without this clear picture you will not have the proper focus to achieve your goal.

2. Be willing to pay the "entry fee". Success isn't achieved by sitting and waiting for things to happen. Achieving a goal and having a set plan to achieve it by go hand in hand. Think of yourself as an author writing a story. You have a rough idea in your head of the plot line of your next novel (which is going to be a bestseller by the way!) You write that down on paper, and slowly but surely, the plot line develops into a solid story. You start developing the characters, their nuances, and their influence on your plot. You start mapping out the events in your story that will help your novel to develop. The moment that roughly thought out plot line becomes a solid story, it becomes a novel. Now apply this methodology to setting out a plan to achieve your goal. But consider the "entry fee" to this as well.

For example, trying to get into a specific college may mean less time for things you like to do, such as going out with friends. Likewise, wanting to become more organized may mean you have to get rid of some of the clutter in your life. All goals come with sacrifices but they are easily surmountable if you have defined exactly what you want and mapped out as we did in the first step. This step can be hard for many people but it is important that you allow yourself the time and willpower to get past it and make the sacrifices needed to achieve your goal.

3. Focus on your goal every day. I'm sure you probably want to achieve your goal as fast as possible. That's why clear mental focus is so very important. Consistent daily focus is absolutely necessary to "burn in" the new neural pathways you need to create your new goal. Without daily focus, the old mental habits that have kept you from your goal will continue to take over. This happens automatically - since these old habits replay 24/7 deep in your subconscious mind. The only way to override subconscious anti-success messages is to consciously focus on what you do want - and build new neural networks! That's why success is an every-day event.

It's understandable that in the daily grind of life, our goals can sometimes take a back seat. But in order to truly achieve a goal, you must make a conscious effort for life to not get in the way! Always prioritize your goals and your success!

4. Get passionate. One of the most powerful tools in your "success tool box" is having real passion for your goal. Why passion? Because intense passionate desire for your goal will help you burn in those new neural pathways even faster. Many scientific studies have shown that intense emotion (i.e. passion) is a key success tool. Plus (and this is really a big plus), intense passion will also help you rapidly override any inappropriate old "failure messages" stored in your subconscious mind.

5. Take consistent steps. The most difficult step for many people is taking the actual steps to reach your goal. The best course of action is to take one step at a time. Each small step will lead to bigger steps in your success. Think about it like building blocks. We can't create a castle with one big block; we need to take one small block at a time and build up to our ultimate goal. You cannot sit back and wait for that castle to build itself, you need to be proactive and make one small step toward your goal each day.

You are able to achieve anything you want in your life! All you have to do is follow these steps to create success. You must visualize your goal, face sacrifices, maintain focus, feel passion, and make steps toward it every day. Stop dreaming about what you want to do and do it! You are worth every step you take.




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