GOALS

Set Your Goals, Change Your Life & Celebrate!

Studies tell us that only 3% of people in the USA set goals, and they are among the
wealthiest people in the nation! Worldwide the percentage is probably lower. Why so low?
There are several reasons, but the one that concerns us the most at Ziglar Training
Systems is lack of know-how. When we ask people why they don't set goals they often
say, "I don't know how."
Isn't that remarkable? We send children to school for 12 years in America before they
graduate from high school. Many of them go on to trade schools, colleges and
universities. We teach them many important disciplines including history, economics,
literature, science, and so forth, but we miss one critically important skill: goal setting.
We award them their degrees, pat them on their backs, and send them into the world full
of wisdom, but ill-prepared, almost always, to design and pursue the lives they really
want.
And all that's required to change this deficiency is a single semester, even half a
semester, devoted to teaching goal setting. It doesn't seem likely that we're going to
change the American educational system any time soon, or the world's educational
system, but that's not going to stop us from teaching you how to set goals.
The letters and phone calls that we receive at Ziglar Training Systems are social proof
that our goal setting programs work. We know that goal setting will help you change your
life for the better, it will help you get what you really want from life. And when you do,
that's reason for all of us to celebrate! So for the next several weeks we are going to help
you set goals. Whether you're already a goal setter, you used to set goals and quit, or
you've never set goals, these lessons will help you build a better life. They'll also help
those you share them with, so don't be shy about forwarding this information!

Lesson 1.
Dream! Let your imagination run wild while you fill up a blank sheet of paper with
everything you want to be, do or have. Many adults have lost their ability to dream and
tha2t's unfortunate. By dreaming you instill hope for your future, and with hope there's
possibility. So your assignment this week is to dream. During this next week devote at
least two private sessions to dreaming. We want you to create a Dream List filled with
ideas. Your list should include at least 25 dreams about what you want to be, do or have.

Lesson 2.
After you complete your list, wait 24 to 48 hours and read each item on your list and
answer the question: Why? If you can't verbalize in one sentence why you want to be, do
or have this dream, then it's not a dream and it won' become a goal. Cross it off your list.

Go ahead now and start dreaming!

Lesson 3:

Ask the following five questions of every dream on the Dream List you created last week.
1. Is it really MY goal?
2. Is it morally right and fair to everyone concerned?
3. Is it consistent with my other goals?
4. Can I emotionally commit myself to finish this goal?
5. Can I "see" myself reaching this goal?

You must answer "yes" to all five questions for each goal, or cross that goal off your list.

Here are some points to ponder: Is it really MY goal or is it a goal someone else wants me
to pursue? Is it the right thing to do? Will achieving this goal distract from achieving other
goals? Goals are often difficult to achieve. Are you sure you can make the commitment to
pursue this goal and see it through? If you can't "see" yourself reaching this goal, you
probably won't.
Take time during this week to think about the questions above and answer them. Once
you're finished, your Dream List will probably be a bit shorter than when you started out.
That's okay because you're now closer to identifying the goals that you really will pursue
and can achieve.

Lesson 4:
Ask the following seven questions of every dream that remains
on your Dream List (or goals list).
Will reaching this goal . . .
1. make me happier?
2. make me healthier?
3. make me more prosperous?
4. win me more friends?
5. give me peace of mind?
6. make me more secure?
7. improve my relationships with others?

If you can't answer Yes to at least one of these questions for each goal, eliminate that
goal from your list. Be sure to consider your family when you answer these questions.
And do not confuse pleasure with happiness!

Lesson 5:
After asking the questions posted in Lesson 4 you will have eliminated some of your
goals. Actually, they were not goals, just thoughts or desires at this point, so you're better
off without them.

Separate your remaining list of goals into one of three categories: Short-range (one
month or less to achieve this goal), Intermediate (one month to one year to achieve this
goal), or Long-range (one year or more to achieve this goal).
This lesson will help you quickly determine whether or not you have a balanced
perspective between what needs to be done now, versus your dreams for the future.
Remember: Some goals must be BIG to make you stretch and grow to your full potential.
Some goals must be long-range to keep you on track and greatly reduce the possibility of
short-range frustrations. Some goals must be small and daily to keep you disciplined.
Some goals must be ongoing. Some goals (i.e., weight loss, sales success, education,
etc.) may require analysis and consultation to determine where you are before you can
set the goals. Most goals should be specific. A "nice home" is not as good as a "3,000
square-foot, Tudor-style home with four bedrooms, three full baths, and two living
spaces."

Lesson 6:
Look at your list of goals and prayerfully select the four goals which represent the most
important things you need to work on right now. If this is your first goal-setting
experience, you may want to begin with just two or three short-range goals.
In your daily planner it's important to list the goals that you chose to work on. Keep them
visible and make time to work on these goals every day. If you're using Zig's Performance
Planner, enter the goals you selected in the My Goals For This Week section of your
Weekly Activity Record.
Now, record your selected goals on the General Goals Procedure Chart, which is part of
Zig's Performance Planner. You can receive a free copy of this chart by sending a blank
email message to mailto:[email protected]?Subject=GoalsChart. Be sure the word
"GoalsChart" is on the Subject line of your email.
Final lesson:
After tracking your first few goals on the General Goals Procedure Chart you are likely to
have many additional goals that remain to be charted. Take time now to chart those
goals. If you need a copy of the chart, send a blank email to mailto:[email protected]?
Subject=GoalsChart. The word GoalsChart (as written) must be on the Subject line of your
email!
Be sure to work each goal through the process of the chart. Be selective. You may not be
able to work on all of your goals at one time! Don’t over do it. If you only have time to
complete one or two goals for the remainder of this year, don’t apologize. Do a little bit
more than you can, but do not overextend your time to the point that you don’t complete
any of your goals. Do not get frustrated by the process! Work the system and it will work
for you. We can fill a book with the number of letters that Zig receives about the
effectiveness of his simple goal-setting
program. Trust the system.
Once you have charted your goals and plotted the activities that you intend to do to fulfill
your goals, pat yourself on the back! You have just spent more time planning your future
than most of your friends, relatives or associates will ever invest! Good for you.
Thank you to the hundreds of readers who have requested the General Goals Procedure
Chart and who have followed this series on goal setting. We believe this is one of the
most valuable series we could present to you. We look forward to hearing about your
results in the coming months and years.

General Goals Procedure Chart

Use one copy of this chart for each goal you set.

___

Goal #___

1. Identify Your Goal:

2. My Benefits From Reaching This Goal. List the benefits:

3. Major Obstacles and Mountains to Climb to Reach This Goal. Identify what's standing in
your way of completing this goal:

4. Skills or Knowledge Required to Reach This Goal. List everything you will need to learn,
do or acquire:

5. Individuals, Groups, Companies and Organizations to Work With to Reach This Goal.
Many people will help you reach your goal if you ask them. List them here:

6. Plan of Action to Reach This Goal. Identify each step that you will need to take to
accomplish your goal. This becomes your Plan of Action. Follow it until you reach your
goal:

The General Goals Procedure Chart is part of The Performance Planner.