Have you ever been on a course or read an article about goal-setting, thought ‘great, I can do that’, set yourself some inspiring goals, maybe even taken some action … and then let them all drift away? You’re not alone. Thousands of us start with good intentions, then get caught up in the day-to-day and soon forget what it is we really want out of our business and life. Now’s the time to get over those goal-setting barriers and achieve the success you want and deserve! Read on ... or click here for a brief version of this article as featured in Go-Woman! magazine What’s your block to Effective Goal-Setting?  1) I tend to focus on what I don’t want 2) I don’t know what I really want 3) My goals are very general – I want to be successful, happy, confident and improve the world 4) I’m very realistic and base my goals on my past experiences … but I’ve never been good at anything! 5) I don’t know where or how to start on my goals 6) I keep my goals to myself 7) I’m too busy to bother with goal-setting 8) I don’t really believe my goals are attainable 9) I’m not motivated by my goals 10) I have goals in my head, but have never written them down 1) I tend to focus on what I don’t want Many of us do this. We say to ourselves ‘I don’t want to put on weight’, 'I don't want my business to fail', or 'I don't want to be stuck in this job for 20 years' … the list is endless. The law of attraction states that like attracts like. What’s going on in our inner world – our mind – is reflected in our outer world. Did you know that our unconscious mind only processes positives, and doesn’t understand negatives? What do you think would happen to someone who focuses on the thought ‘I don’t want any more debt’? That’s right, they bring more debt into their life: they get what they focus on! Consider your own life – your career, health, relationships and environment – how much time do you spend thinking about what you’re not happy with? Solution: Turn it around! Focus on what you do want. If you do have debt, decide how much credit you want in your bank account, and write this amount onto your bank statement; if you want a particular income, write yourself a cheque for that amount – and look at it daily. Decide what it is you do want, and focus on achieving it! 2) I don’t know what I really want The big stumbling block for many of us is creating a compelling vision for ourselves. It seems so daunting. It’s a lot easier to focus on the day-to-day and ignore the bigger picture. Solution: Take some creative time out. Ask yourself: what do I really want to be, do and have in my life and career in the next 5 years? Take 3 pieces of paper, and write ‘Be’, ‘Do’ and ‘Have’ at the top. Then let your imagination run riot! Write without judgement until your ideas run dry, and when they do, ask yourself the same question again, adding ‘if money was no object’, then ‘if time was no object’ and so on, until all your blocks are covered, and you have 3 pages full of inspiring goals! 
3) My goals are very general – I want to be successful, happy, confident, and improve the world Yes, we all do! But in terms of achieving your intended outcomes, these goals are not personal, specific or measurable enough. What success means to one person is very different to another. Solution: Get clear about your goal – what, when, how much, and with whom? How will you know when you’ve achieved success? What will you see, hear and feel? Is success is getting 10 clients every week, having your own website or doubling your income? If being confident means giving presentations fearlessly, how will you know when you’ve achieved this? 
4) I’m very realistic and base my goals on my past experiences … but I’ve never been good at anything! This feels, and is, self-limiting & unfulfilling. Yes, the comfort zone may be cosy, but growth and success come through stepping out of it! What would you do if you could do anything? If you had no doubts, fears or self-judgements? If you knew you could be good at anything? Solution: Think in terms of what’s possible, rather than what’s probable. Get in touch with your most positive vision for yourself. Then choose a goal that’s both challenging and achievable for you. When you get the right balance, the goal will feel exciting, motivating and just a little bit scary… 5) I don’t know where or how to start on my goals  Being faced with a large goal, like setting up your own business, changing your career, or starting a healthy living programme, can create a feeling of overwhelm, and many of us deal with this by procrastinating. We do anything other than work towards our goal! Watching TV, sorting out paperwork, calling friends and even housework suddenly seem so inviting! Solution: If you have a long-term goal, break it down into manageable portions. What do you need to do this year, this month, this week, and today, to move forwards? Take daily action, and reward yourself for achieving these small steps. 6) I keep my goals to myself Fear of failure stops many people from being open about their goals, but it’s a lot easier to neglect them if nobody knows! Keeping your goals private reduces accountability, and with it, your chances of success. Solution: Get a Coach – someone who can keep you on track, challenge you to achieve your targets, motivate you during tough moments and share in your successes. 7) I’m too busy to bother with goal-setting The question is, what are you busy doing? If you don’t know where you’re going, how are you going to get there? We are often so busy doing, we lose sight of where we’re going! Solution: Set a clear and compelling goal, and judge your to-dos by it. How many of your daily actions are taking you closer to your goal, and how many are red herrings, sending you off in the wrong direction? Focus on the actions that’ll get you where you really want to be. 8) I don’t really believe my goals are attainable For many people, there is little difference between goals and dreams – they’d like to achieve them, but don’t really believe they can! You might want to be more successful in business, more confident in social situations or reach your ideal weight, for example. But a part of you thinks ‘I could never do that…’ Solution: Change your state. Rather than thinking and acting as someone who can’t achieve their goal, act as if you are already achieving it right now! Whether you want a full appointment diary, a fit and healthy body or unshakable self-belief, imagine you have it now. This not only attracts and influences others, it programmes your own unconscious mind that your goal is achievable and within your grasp. 9) I’m not motivated by my goals Are they really your goals? In childhood, many of us are programmed to do things to please our parents, teachers and peers. This trend often continues into adulthood, as we fall into careers that please our parents, take up hobbies that suit our partners, or simply do things that seem to be expected of us by society. No wonder we’re not motivated! Solution: Take a look at each of your goals and ask yourself: Am I doing this only for me? If not, and somebody else enters the equation, ask: If that person wasn’t in my life, would I still want to achieve it? If you do, great! Make sure your goal is positive, specific, measurable, and exciting. If not, and it’s not really your goal, it’s time to decide what it is you want, for you. You’re the only one who can create the life you really want! A coach can help you to define this vision for yourself.  10) I have goals in my head, but have never written them down A famous study of graduates of Yale University in the USA found that 3% had written goals, 13% had unwritten goals and the remaining 84% had no goals at all. 10 years later, the 3% with written goals earned 10 times more than the other 97% put together! Why leave it to that 3% to gain all the success? Solution: Write down all your goals, display them where you’ll see them, such as your desk, computer or bedside table, and review them daily for maximum focus. And when you’ve achieved them, write up some more! And finally – whatever your barrier was, once you’ve set yourself a compelling, exciting and challenging goal, act as if you’ve already achieved it. This sends a message, to yourself, other people and the universe, that you can do it and deserve it. Enjoy the journey!  Goal Setting Checklist: Is Your Goal…. ü Positively stated? ü Specific & measurable? ü Written down? ü Referred to regularly? ü Shared with a Coach? To ensure your goal achievement, sign up for a coaching programme with Get Coached. For a head start, book your FREE coaching strategy session NOW on 0845 226 0082 or email results@getcoached.co.uk Get Coached operate a 30-day full satisfaction money-back guarantee. Love Joanne & Robert | 
