Dear Success Seeker,

Goal setting is the cornerstone of business and personal success and yet in my 21 years as a coach, I have found very few people who understand how to set goals effectively. Even experienced entrepreneurs who've been in business for years don't seem to have a clue how to set goals that work.

Frankly, most of the advice and goal-setting content I've seen is a bunch of hogwash. The majority of goal-setting "experts" suggest the following to achieve a goal:

1. You must be crystal clear about what you want and describe it in detail.
2. You should imagine yourself with your goal achieved; feel it emotionally, experience it through your five senses, etc.
3. You should write your goal out every day and carry it with you.
4. You should post it somewhere where you can read it every day.
5. You should do affirmations.

Have you tried this? If so, how's it working for you? It sounds great but in my experience it simply doesn't work in the real world.

To start with I suggest that you shift your focus from goal setting to goal achieving.

Next you need to distinguish between your long-term vision and shorter term goals. A long-term vision provides a sense of direction regarding what you want to experience ten or more years from now. The ten year span enables you to disconnect from what seems 'reasonable' given your current circumstances. Let's face it; you can achieve almost anything in ten years, no matter where you are now. Maybe you want a million dollar net worth in order to feel a greater sense of freedom and possibility. A long-term vision is not intended to be any more specific than that. It does not need to be "crystal clear."

Goals are different. They are best set within a time frame of three years or less. Goals are very specific in nature because they are components that lead to your vision.

Once you have a goal, break it into a shorter term action plan because action commitments provide tension to propel you forward.

Ultimately the only thing you need to know is your next step. You want to increase your income? Setting a goal to "earn $100,000 in the coming year" won't get you there. It is too far away to create tension and doesn't identify what actions you need to take. A far more useful goal would be "to bring in two new clients each month."

What actions must you take in order to bring in those clients? Where will you find them? How will you engage with them? Who can help you? How many calls or presentations do you need to make? By what date do you intend to have these clients in your database?

These are the kinds of questions that create tension, awaken motivation and drive you down the road of success.

To summarize:
1. Identify your long-term vision - in general terms. How will it feel? What will you experience when you achieve it?
2. Determine some short-term goals that are important components of your long-term vision.
3. Make a written action plan for achieving your short-term goals.
4. Identify your next steps and set deadlines for completing these actions.
5. Follow through!

To increase the all important tension, add some accountability. Work with a support partner, broadcast your intention on Facebook or bet a friend $100 that you can achieve it.

By taking action, you do yourself a favor in several ways. You move a step forward toward your vision. You get feedback as to what works and what doesn't so you can course correct if needed. You also build momentum, which is essential.

Most important of all, when you successfully achieve what you set out to do, your confidence increases. Taking action transforms you, one step at a time, into the person you need to be achieve your goals.

Hours spent creating a detailed vision will never transform you. At best, it's a time-waster, and at worst, it's a dream-killer.

I've coached a number of clients who've gone from a zero or negative net worth to a net worth of over a million dollars in less than three years. I promise you they didn't do it with fancy dream boards. They did it by motivating themselves with specific actions and by doing whatever it took to achieve them.

Here's to your success as a goal-achiever in 2015!

Your Coach,

Andrew Barber-Starkey, Master Certified Coach
Founder and President, ProCoach Success System