Do you have difficulty setting goals that are more than just to-do lists? That actually excite and inspire you?

Did you know only 3% of people set clearly, articulated goals or any goals at all? And…

Did you know people who set goals earn 10 times as much as people who don’t set goals?

Many studies over the years support this fact, including a study done by the Harvard Business School with a group of their business graduates.

(Now I don’t know about you, but I want to be in that 3% group of goal-setters who earn 10 times more than the average Joe. I know money isn’t everything, yet it can sure make life easier!)

Here’s the thing: Without clearly-articulated goals, you create a default future where…

Life just happens…
………….You float along with the current…
……………………..All of a sudden it’s the future…
…………………………………..And it’s not what you wanted your life to look like.

Sound familiar? Are you headed for a default future? Yikes!

Sometimes it’s hard to know what you really want…how to set inspiring and effective goals that energize and excite you.

As a success strategist and personal mentor for almost 20 years, I have helped hundreds of clients create inspired, powerful goals and a positive mindset to achieve the success and results that matter most to them. Now it’s your turn…

In this video, I share four tips to inspired, effective goal-setting. Are you ready? Tune in!

Tip 1. Getting Started: Know what you want.

Getting started can be the hardest part. Use your imagination to discover what you want. Let these exercises get your creative juices going. Don’t think…just write your first thoughts…they come from your gut and heart.

• Imagine that it’s 12 months from now and you’re sitting at your desk. Pretend you’re writing the annual Christmas or Holiday letter to your family and friends. Make a list of all the good things that happened the past 365 days AS IF they already happened. Write them as bullet statements like headlines in the morning newspaper.
• Hmmm…Christmas or Holiday letter writing not your thing? Then make your Bucket List for the next 12 months of all the things you’d like to achieve or experience. Write them as bullet statements like headlines in the morning newspaper. How would it feel to achieve everything on your Bucket List?
• Still having trouble knowing what you want? Then make a list of what you don’t want! Flip those to the positive and now you have an idea of what you want.

Tip 2. Checking it twice: Get clear on what’s yours and what’s not.

Now that you have your list of what you want, make sure these are your dreams and not someone else’s. Let this exercise bring you clarity and focus:

• Look at your list with an eagle eye. Make sure this is what you want and not what someone else wants for you. Cross off anything on your list you don’t want.
• Take a second look at your list. Check in with your gut and intuition to be clear that you really want these. As you read each item on the list, do you get a heavy, trapped or overwhelmed feeling? If yes, cross it off the list or tweak it.
• Take a third gut-and-intuition look at your remaining list. As you read each item, do you feel light, expansive, and/or inspired? If yes, these are winners.

Tip 3. Write clearly articulated goals: Follow the V-S-M formula.

Now it’s time to take the winning items on your list and turn them into clearly, articulated goals.
Zig Ziglar says “A goal properly set is half-way reached.” Let me tell you…if you don’t write down your goals, they’re not going to happen. Let these exercises set you up for success:

• Write your goal in a way that inspires you to take action. Make it results-oriented. Follow the V-S-M formula: Start with an action verb. Make it specific. Make it measurable.
• Let’s say one of your items from Tip 2 is “I want to lose 25 pounds.” Turn that into a goal: Lose 25 pounds by December 2016. How does that feel? Let’s upgrade that goal: Weigh 140 pounds by December 2016. Both are good…which one inspires you more?
• Let’s tweak that goal once more: Fit into a size 10 dress by December 2016 and look and feel fabulous at our company holiday party.
• All of the above goals meet the V-S-M formula. Each has a different flavor. Each one would work. Which one inspires, excites, and empowers you the most? Which do you find to be the most effective for you to get the result you want?

Tip 4. A word of caution: Weak vs. Powerful – Verify your goals meet the V-S-M formula.

I find without training, most people set weak goals vs. powerful goals. Here’s an example of what I mean:

• Take a highlight you identified from your Christmas / Holiday letter: “I earned more money this past year than I’ve ever earned in my entire sales career!” Turn that into a goal: Earn more money this year.
• Does it fit the V-S-M formula? Does it start with an action verb? Is it specific? Is it measurable? Barely.
• You could earn $1.00 more and you would have achieved your goal. Is that what you intended? No!
• Change that weak goal into a powerful goal to meet the V-S-M formula: Earn 20% more in sales commissions by December 2016. Much better.
• Let’s upgrade that goal: Qualify for the 2016 Millionaire’s Round Table for outstanding achievement in sales performance. Powerful.
• Two of the three goals above are powerful goals that follow the V-S-M formula. Which of these three goals inspires and excites you the most?

Congratulations!

You now know how to create your own inspiring, effective goals. If you followed along with me and set your goals…great. Otherwise, take 20- 30 minutes now to create your new goals.

By doing so, you’re off to a good start on designing your future…rather than heading for a default future. Now the next step is to achieve your goals, which is a topic for another article.

In the meantime, check out these success tips:

• Keep your goals visible…post them near your desk where you can always see them
• Brian Tracy, personal development and sales trainer guru, says to read and write your goals every day
• Share your goals with someone who can hold you accountable
• Ask for help when you need it

Remember…know what you want…write down your goals…keep them visible…you’re now well on your way to inspired, effective goal-setting and achieving the life and work you want!