Always Think on Paper!
Only about 4% of adults have clear,written goals.These people accomplish five and ten times as much as people of equal or better education and ability but who,for whatever reason, have never taken the time to write out exactly what they want.
There is a powerful formula for setting and achieving goals that you can use for the rest of your life.It consists of seven steps.
1.What you want. Either decide for yourself or sit down with your partner/boss and discuss your goals and objectives until you are crystal clear about what is expected of you and in what order of priority.One of the very worst uses of time is to do something very well that need not be done at all.
Stephen Covey says,”If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall,every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster”
2.Write it down.Always think on paper.When you write down a goal,you crystallize it and give it tangible form.You create something that can touch and see.A goal that is not in writing is merely a wish.It has no energy behind it.Unwritten goals lead to confusion,misdirection,and numerous mistakes.
3.Fix a deadline.Set a deadline on your goal.A goal without a deadline has no urgency.It has no real beginning or end.
4.Make a plan.Planning is bringing future into the present so that you can do something about it now.List all tasks in order they need to be done.Organize the list into a plan.Organize your list by priority and sequence.Take a few minutes to decide what you need to do first and what you can do later.
Even better,lay out your plan visually in the form of a series of boxes,mind mapping,trees and circles on a sheet of paper,with lines and arrows showing the the relationship of each task to every other task.You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to achieve your goal when you break it down into individual tasks.
With written goal and an organized plan of action ,you will be more productive and efficient than people who are carrying their goals around in their minds.
6.Take action.Take action on your plan immediately.Do something,do anything.An average plan vigorously executed is far better than a brilliant plan on which nothing is done.An execution is everything.
7.Baby steps.Do something every single day that moves you toward your major goal.Whatever it is,you must never miss a day.Don’t stop.
“How do you eat an elephant?”The answer is “One bite at a time!”