You Can Get There. Here’s How.

From our program this past Monday, below is the comprehensive process for setting goals, laid out by Zig Ziglar in his program, “Goals:  Setting And Achieving Them On Schedule.”

It is a fantastic distillation of the thought processes and steps required to undertake, to get what you want.

Rest in peace, Zig.

Steps To Setting And Achieving A Goal

1. Labeling the document “Wild Ideas Sheet,” print everything that I want to be, do and have.
   1. After completing this list, let it sit for 24-48 hours.

a.  It is okay to add to it during this time.

1. Remember that you have to be before you can do, and you have to do before you can have.

1. Ask yourself why you want to achieve each particular goal.
   1. You need to be able to articulate the answer in one sentence.

1.   After the resting period, remove from the list all entries that don’t meet the criterion in #2.

1. Classify the goals under the following seven categories
   1. Career
   2. Family
   3. Financial
   4. Mental
   5. Physical
   6. Social
   7. Spiritual

1. Explore the “Basic Six” questions:
   1. Will reaching this goal make me happier?

a.     Note that there is a distinction between happiness and pleasure.

1.  There is a short-term nature to pleasure
   1. Can I, for example, each chocolate-almond ice cream three times per day, and still be happy?

1. Will reaching this goal make me healthier?
2. Will reaching this goal make me more prosperous?
3. Will reaching this goal make me more secure?
4. Will reaching this goal earn me more friends?
5. Will reaching this goal bring me peace-of-mind?

a.     If I have a family, will reaching this goal improve my familial relationships?

1. If I can’t reply “Yes” to at least one of these six questions, then I need to strike from the list that   particular entry.

ii.   If you can say “Yes” to at least one of these questions, but still feel that this is not the right time to

attempt to achieve it, do not remove it from your long-term list.  That achieving this goal is not realistic now does not mean that it would not be a realistic time to meet this specific goal.  On the other hand, it might be two, five or ten years from now.  You might need to experience some growth in order for this to make sense.

iii.  The underlying objective is total success: quality of life, as compared to standard of living.

1. Remember that some goals must be big.
   1. “We’re going to be dead a lot longer than we’re going to be alive.”
   2. You don’t have to change your decision to go, but you might have to change your direction to get there.
   3. There is trouble in front of me; will it be a pebble on the beach, or the entire ocean front?
   4. Go as far as you can see, and when you get there, you will always be able to see a lot further.
   5. Still need to have small, nitty-gritty, daily goals, as well.
   6. For larger goals to be achieved, you will have to achieve smaller goals, along the way.
   7. Some goals need to be on-going (i.e., maintaining your health, and a good self-image).
   8. Some goals have to be set in consultation with others.
   9. Some goals have to be very specific.
   10. Check goals for negativity.
       1. A goal is negative if it is too. Big.

a.     Out-of-reach is one thing; out-of-sight is another.

b.     “Unrealistic expectations are the very seedbed of depression.”

1. A goal is negative if it is out of my field.
2. A goal is negative if I have to rely on luck to get there (“Pluck however, is a different story.”).
3. Ask Another Five Questions:
   1. Is it really my goal?

a.     Remember that, as an employee or member of a team, often someone else will set some of my goals.  It is okay to go along with this, but it also is crucial that I have my own goals.  Major goals in my life should be determined by me.

1. Is this goal morally right and fair to everyone concerned?
2. Will the achievement of this goal bring me closer to my major objective(s), or further?
3. Can I emotionally commit myself to start…and finish…this project?

a.     Nothing happens without emotional commitment.

1. Can I see myself reaching this goal?

a.     This goes right to the heart of our self-image.

1. Work Your List Down To Four Goals
   1. At any given tie, we can work only on about four goals (down from an initial list of seven or eight)
   2. Identify the goal.

a.     Write down goal
b.     List the date by which you want (expect?) to accomplish it.
c.     Identify the benefits to be derived.

1. Ask yourself, “What’s in it for me?”
2. List the obstacles to be overcome, in order to reach this goal.
3. List the skills or knowledge required to reach it.
4. List the individuals, groups, companies and organizations whose help you’ll need to reach this goal.

a.     Remember that Mozart learned the scales from someone.

1. What is my plan of action?

a.     Some goals simply are not practical, right now.  With that in mind, in deciding on a goal, doesn’t it make more sense to give up on a goal after working on it for an hour-and-a-half, than to work on it for six months, and give up out of frustration?
b.     Zero-in on what is important right now, and work to accomplish your objective.
c.     Details are critical.
d.     “A goal properly set is half-way met.”