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by Gregory marathonge
For now, I wish to emphasize that all achievement begins with a
goal. Just
the very thought of a goal is enough to trigger off great
achievements in your life.
Think back to the achievements that you have already made. Were you
goal orientated at the time? Probability is that you were. One of
the saddest things in life is that many of us start out with good
intentions. We set a goal. We go out and achieve that goal or we
fail in the attempt. After that one failure many people fail to set
another one. Consequently we drift on the tide of life, instead of
setting our sights clearly on the next target.
Goal achievement is a continual process. You should always have
both a major and many minor goals in your life. Your big goal might
be to own the company you now work for in five years time. That’s
good. It is a positive long-term goal. You should also have medium
goals - say an overseas holiday next year. Even more importantly you
should also have short term and immediate goals.
Whether you understand it or not, you do have a habit conditioned
mind. What you must do is create a new habit that will make your
habits assist you instead of working against you. When people hear
the statement that “There is not much in this world that you
cannot have if you really want it”; most people have an automatic
rejection to this type of statement. They counter with “Who me?
You’ve got to be kidding.” The only reason for this reaction is
the habit conditioning of your mind. You are used to thinking of
limitations. Your habit centres reject the thought that you can have
whatever you want. You are guilty, as we all are, of the deadly sin
of self-limitation. Your mind is comfortable. You are in life
exactly where your mind feels comfortable. It takes a little courage
to get out of that rut and begin to create the new life that you
really want, but that you reject because of your present thinking
patterns.
The first step is to understand the goal setting processes. The
first step is to argue with your own mind. To argue with your own
indifference. To argue with your own laziness, and force yourself
through a deliberate mental process, to set and work towards goals
that you really want.
There can be nothing worse than setting well defined positive
goals - and then ineffectively pursuing them. Many people do this.
It is a tragic waste. Another tragedy is the person who works hard
and pushes and persists without having a clearly defined goal. This
person may or may not succeed. His persistence may push him into
winning situations but whereas the first person knows where he wants
to go and doesn’t ever quite get there, this second person drifts
like a ship without a rudder.
A goal must be set and the first step taken. Set a ten year goal
and begin right away. You may find that you have to make continual
changes in your direction. You may find that you arrive at your goal
in 12 years. What is more likely is that in four or five years, you
will be so well on your way that you will achieve your target well
ahead of the deadline. The only way you will not achieve it is if
you, (a) give up or (b) fail to adapt to changing circumstances and
make the necessary changes.
Achievement is really only taking one step after another. The
hundredth step is a very easy one to take. The hard one is the
first, second and third. Inertia that holds you back from taking the
first step, will work for you in making you take the later steps,
once you are off and running. So take the first step as soon as you
can. Procrastination, the old thief of time, must be dealt a speedy
deathblow. The first step is undoubtedly the hardest. The secret is
to begin whether you are ready or not.
The first step is to decide exactly what you want. Begin by
setting your goals now. Don’t say “I’ll do it tomorrow”. Get
started right away. Where do you want to be in five years time?
Right where you are now? Or streets ahead in money, possessions,
personality and personal satisfaction? The choice is yours today.
Make your goal list today. This really is a vital moment of decision
in your life. When you look back on your life you are going to be
able to say, “That’s it. That’s the moment when I began to put
it all together. That was the turning point in my life”. Don’t
look back and say, “That was another opportunity I missed.” Have
you the courage to set your goals now and be on your way to enjoying
life as it is meant to be - in abundant fulfillment!
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