Having Clearly Defined Goals Can Lead to Greater Profits

It's easier to hit the bullseye once you have clearly defined your goals.

In 1979, Harvard MBA grads were surveyed regarding their goals. Here’s how they stacked up:

* 87% had no written goals, they simply wanted to enjoy the summer after graduation

* 13% had goals that were not written

* Only 3% had committed their goals to paper

After 10 years, they went back to survey this same group. The results were astounding:

* The 13% were earning – on average – 2X as much as those with no goals at all

* The 3 % were earning – on average – 10X as much as everyone else

So why is it that so many of us are reluctant to take the time to determine what it is that we truly want, and then to commit those desires to a carefully designed plan?

There’s something about the passion that’s released in the process of getting clear about what’s really important to us. In this world of cell phones, instant messages, email, and a host of other factors that pull for our attention, it’s no wonder that we find ourselves busy, but unfulfilled. Why? Because without a radical commitment to those priorities that keep us connected to our values, we can become lost in the quicksand of endless activities.

One of the pillars of my role as a coach is to make certain that my clients’ agenda doesn’t get lost in the midst of them moving from point A to point B.

If you have not developed a plan of attack for your dreams (business and personal), do this today:

• Take 15 minutes and begin to ask yourself, “If I only had six months to a year left to make my greatest contribution in life, what would it be?” (Here’s a clue…it needs to tap your passions, your strongest gifts, and how you are wired to perform in terms of your personality. When I speak about how you are wired, I mean…do you thrive in groups as a team player, or as one who flies solo most of the time?)
• Assess where you are, what resources are at your disposal (people resources, intellectual resources, financial resources, etc.), and what it will take to get from where you are to where you want to be.
• Look for an accountability partner who will not let you off the hook for fulfilling your dream. This should be someone who has demonstrated a sincere commitment to your well-being, and one who is goal oriented themselves. People who are goal-oriented are much more likely to be an asset to you.
• Set a time line for making a reasonable amount of progress in a realistic time frame.
• Let me know how you are progressing. Send me an email, or write me a letter. It’s my dream to equip people just like you to realize your dreams. I want to hear your success story .