Ready, Set, Goals - Day 12: The GOAL Getters!

Getting after your goals is personal. No one is going to succeed, triumph, overcome for you, but there are champions of success who will work along with you, encourage you and guide you. You have to be a Goal Getter!

Most people want an easy solution. Most people want something for nothing and so they end up with nothing worthwhile. Most people want the results of setting GOALS without actually setting Goals.

You have gone through these 12 modules because you are not most people. You are among the few, the determined, the committed, the triumphant, the asking, seeking and knocking.



“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” Matthew 7:7

The formula it not mine. Jesus gave the formula over 2000 years ago.

Ask: first you have to ask for you want – believe you will receive it.

Seek: Do something about what you want – expect to get or find the answer.

Knock: The way or the opportunity will be revealed to you because you first asked and then sought (took action)

“For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:*

Most people stop right here. But there are other principles you must not ignore.



FAITH:

You must have faith. You must believe that your answer is on the way even thought you have none, zero, evidence that it is coming.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

The key to faith is belief. You must BELIEVE. Most people cannot or will not believe that their miracle is on the way, that their answer is coming, that the opportunity is about to manifest itself, that the door is moments away from opening-

So they sell out. They give up. They settle for the status quo. They sell their birthright. Their dream is negotiable. Don’t negotiate your dreams. Don’t put a price on your dreams.

You can put a time limit on when you want to achieve a goal. You can give a goal a date in which you want to reach it. And whether you accomplish your goal by that date or not, the important thing is that you keep going towards your goal even after that date passes.

With your dreams, you need to have more trust, faith and belief that God has it under control. Trust that you have asked, you seeking and you will find. Trust, believe and expect that the door will be opened.

Your goals are really LANDMARKS telling you that you are going in the right direction. Your goals are your map to your DREAMS. Your goals let you know that you are getting closer to your dream. Your goals keep you on target and moving forward.



SOW GOOD SEEDS

You also must sow good seeds. It is the “Law of the Harvest” If you want to reap (realize) your dreams, you have to plant seeds of faith, goodness, love, forgiveness, kindness, thankfulness, gratitude, peace, joy, etc. These are your SUCCESS SEEDS.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7

Many people deceive themselves into thinking that they can reap good and great things by sowing seeds of strife, gossip, lying, cheating, spite, cruelty and yes even unbelief, worry, doubt, fear, blame, unforgiveness, etc. For most people this is again where they sell out. They sell their birthright, their dreams because they cannot or will not let go. Don’t let any of these be your price.

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” 2 Corinthians 9:6

Your Outcome will equal your Effort. The point here is not that you Give to Get, but that you give bountifully no matter what the reward or benefit. But the cool thing is, you are going to benefit whether you want to or not. It’s God’s promise. It’s automatic. You cannot undo it.

You cannot Re-Negotiate the terms of this Law with God, and you cannot “out give” God either.


TITHING and GIVING

Now this may or may not be one of your key ingredients for success. But the richest and most successful people in history and today understand the importance of GIVING, especially TITHING.

They give not only of their time and talents, but also of their finances. This again, is where most people fail to understand why they are struggling to live their dreams, to have the abundant life that is their birthright. They have sold it for what they think they cannot or do no want to do- give ten percent in tithes. Tithing was their price – don’t let it be your price.

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. “ Luke 6:38



YOU HAVE GREATNESS WITHIN YOU ALREADY

I have not shared anything with you that you did not already know or have heard or read somewhere else. My GOAL in writing this series was to present some motivation, inspiration, projects, exercises and insight to get and keep you on track to your DREAMS.

We all need each other to keep us moving forward. Your comments, ideas and suggestions keep me excited about writing for you. My writing keeps you excited about living a triumphant life – I hope. Your living a triumphant life makes your family, community, city, country and the world more meaningful for everyone.

I touch or inspire you in a meaningful way. You touch someone’s life in a meaningful way, he or she in turn, pay-it-forward, and touch another person’s life in a meaningful way. I hear about it from someone and they touch my life in a meaningful way.

Exercise 14

You can start Paying It Forward by telling others about this Series.
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In this way we are all so busy giving to one another, we don’t have time to think about ourselves, and yet the blessings and miracles will start pouring in, so much so, that we will not be able to contain them. So we will give more, and more will be given to us. And we will give yet more, and more will be given us.

Are you getting the picture. Do you see why you cannot out give God.

God starts the whole thing off. By trusting, being thankful, and having faith in God miracles will begin to manifest in your life.

I understand that life can get to be a bit much and you can easily get side tracked. That is why I have made it possible for you to continue to stretch out towards your dreams through my newsletter, “The Goal Getters”

If you have not singed up for it yet, do it right now. Most people will try to go it alone. Even I have those who I look to for inspiration and guidance.

Each week you will get a reminder with motivation, inspiration, tips, etc. to get and keep you on track to your goals and dreams,

T.E.A.M. Together Everyone Achieves Miracles

Here’s To Living Your Dreams!

Ready, Set, Goals - Day 10: Are You a Soaring Eagle or a Circling Buzzard?

Eagles are goal-oriented birds. They are success minded and use their various skills toward a specific aim or purpose.

Buzzards on the other hand are weak-minded, opportunistic birds. They too have aim and purpose, but their intent is to get what they can by the efforts of others – to take advantage of others.

The masses choose the buzzard lifestyle. Think about a buzzard (aka. Vulture). It is of the family of eagles and hawks, but is far from the majesty and grandeur of an eagle. Why? Because buzzards spot something that is dying and then circle above it waiting for it to die so they can eat.



The Mentality of the Buzzard

Why doesn’t the buzzard kill it itself or finish it off? Because of fear. Buzzards have weak claws. They live off the hard work of other animals. They live a life of hoping and waiting for their next meal to be served up by some other animal.

Most people are the same way. They won’t admit it, but it is true. They need someone else to provide for them whether it’s the government or an employer.

The culprit is fear. Fear will keep you in bondage to a so-so life. But there is an undercurrent of fear. People simply sell their birth right of an abundant and prosperous life because of fear of the unknown, or more simply put, hunger. We’ll get deeper into fear and overcoming fear on day eleven.

The Mentality of the Eagle

I don’t know of any country that has chosen the buzzard for their national symbol. When people see an eagle whether in person or in a picture or on a movie screen their reaction is always one of awe. Why? Because the symbolic power, strength and freedom associated with the Bald Eagle in particular, resonates deep within our spirit - which is why they were selected as the U.S. national symbol.

The eagle has a certain presence, especially when in flight. The eagle while in flight can see its target from a great distance and can see another eagle soaring nearly 50 miles away.

Notice that the vulture (aka. Buzzard) does not get the same reaction. Why? Because they only eat what something else had already killed. They are incapable of seeking out their own means of subsistence. They have weak claws and live chiefly on "carrion" (dead and decaying flesh).

Eagles have a different mentality altogether. Eagles are birds of opportunity. They get out there and look for what they want and need. Eagles are powerful and courageous and skillful hunters.

Do you remember those National Geographic documentaries? I remember seeing one on eagles and they showed an eagle zero in on its goal – in this case a fish swimming in the ocean. That eagle was able to spot it’s goal (target) from miles away, head towards it, swoop down and pluck it out of the water with it’s claws and hardly lose any momentum. They can do the same thing with small animals on land.

You have to have that kind of determination about your goals and dreams if you are ever to capture them. Imagine that the ocean is full of all the goals and dreams of every living person in the world. Your goals are in this vast ocean of possibility. In order for you to obtain your goals and realize your dreams, you first have to identify them - you have done that part already.

Take Action

Now comes the part where most people fall short…taking action. Now you must possess relentless determination and skill and knowledge and passion. It is all within you already, but it is up to you to develop it, refine it and bring it out. You must align yourself with other eagle-like individuals and groups.

As you begin to think of yourself as eagle-like, and you begin to hang out with and learn from other eagles, you will your claws getting stronger, your eyesight for spotting opportunities getting sharper, your ability to soar towards you goals improving and your outlook on how great life can and will be expanding. You will see farther than you have ever seen before – beyond what the physical eye can see.

You must take action. Take flight to the ocean where your dreams and goals are swimming around just waiting for you to take hold of them. You have to recognize them and swoop down and grasp them and soar with them to the land of fulfillment. That abundant life is for everyone, but God will not force it upon you.


Exercise 13:

What is Your Mentality?

Write out you answer, response or reaction to each statement below.

How do you spend your Days? Time? Life?...

On the lookout for opportunities or hoping for one?___________________________________________

Expecting greatness or accepting the status quo?_____________________________________________

With love in your heart or bitterness and contempt?___________________________________________

Expecting success or anticipating failure?___________________________________________________

Giving of your time and talents or using others for your own gain?________________________________

Loving people and using money or using people and loving money?_______________________________

Being a Go Giver or being a Go Getter?___________________________________________________

In gratitude and thankfulness or in selfishness and being un-thankful?______________________________

In prayer and meditation or in wishful thinking?______________________________________________

In finding ways to serve or in finding ways to be served?_______________________________________

Going the extra mile or stopping short of a mile every chance you get?____________________________

Building value-rich relationships or shallow “what’s in it for me” relationships?_______________________

Appreciating what you have or complaining about what you don’t have?___________________________

Sowing seeds rich in giving or sowing seeds of me and mine?____________________________________

Developing a more meaningful me, or this is who I am so whoever doesn’t like it, too bad?_____________

I look for the positive in every situation or there can’t be a positive in every situation?_________________

Growing, improving & manifesting or stagnant, under-developed & unclear?________________________

Setting goals or hoping for the best?______________________________________________________

Keeping physically fit or I’ll get in shape someday?___________________________________________

Eating healthy foods or I worry about that after my body starts falling apart?________________________

Keeping my home & work areas clutter free or I know where everything is?________________________

I am Happy or I will be happy when XYZ happens?__________________________________________

I smile more often than not or there’s not much to smile about these days?__________________________

I speak mainly high-energy words or I say whatever comes to my mind?___________________________

I look for the good in everyone or I can’t see past other’s faults?_________________________________

I have ways to motivate myself or I went to one of those motivational things once?____________________

I am passionate about my goals and dreams or I’m only in it for the money?_________________________

I live my life with purpose or the only purpose in life is to survive the best you can?____________________

I tithe or give 10% of my earnings or I barely have enough to take care of my own?___________________

I accept responsibility for where I am in life right now or it’s not my fault?__________________________

As much as possible I think positive thoughts or who can keep that up all the time?___________________

The glass is half full or half empty?________________________________________________________

I read non-fiction books for personal development or I prefer to watch television?____________________

I find inspiring and creative ways to unwind or I need a drink (alcohol) to unwind?____________________

I network with success-minded people or I network with whoever I can pitch?______________________

What I do today determines my tomorrows or I might not be here tomorrow so who cares?_____________


**Write a few of your own and share them in the comment section below.

Again I ask the question…

Are you a soaring eagle or a circling buzzard?

You do not want to get stuck going in circles day in and day out, month after month and year after year. Buzzards fly around in circles but are going nowhere. Most people are living their lives the same way – circling around mediocrity.

I know that saying, “Birds of a feather flock together” is cliché and over-used, but nevertheless, it is true.

Have you ever seen an eagle flying around with a bunch of buzzards?

I know someone is thinking, yeah, but what if you’re married to one?

Go back to the above list. You’ll find your answers there. Each situation is different. Each person is different. So far, we as a nation have not gone out and shot all the buzzards in the world because we think they are useless or lack character or skill. If we look for the good in them, we’ll surely find it.

Stop circling and focusing on your problems and fears. Get out there, soar, and you’ll find solutions and opportunities that will blow your mind and blast your problems and fears right out of your life.

Keep working on your projects:
Project 1: Your Vision Board
Project 2: Your Success Notebook

Copyright© 2009 Anita Crawford Clark       All rights reserved worldwide

Ready, Set, Goals - Day 9: Your Potential for Greatness

What is Your potential for Greatness? By now you should have clearly defined goals and dreams. So what is the next step? Now you have to start working on a plan of action to accomplish your goals.
Project 2:

Your Success Book

First, you need to get some materials. I want you to get a three-ring binder and some lined paper for it. You will also need dividers for each month of the year. You can buy these already labeled or buy the kind you have to write on the label yourself.

You have an overall goal for 2010 or the next 12 months.

Let’s say your goal is to have drive more traffic to your website. First of all, that is too general. Be more specific. How much more traffic? 100 visitors per month? 200? 500? How many.

Secondly, what do you want them to do or experience when they visit your website? Spend time there? Sign up for your free offer? Buy something? Be specific.

Third, do you want them to visit once or over and over again? Do you want to refer their friends? Sign up for membership? Have fun? Learn something? What will be their experience as a result of visiting your website.

Along with this line of thinking you may be thinking, wow, I never thought about all of those aspects concerning people visiting my website. I just wanted to drive more traffic to my site.

You see, this is where you put action and energy behind your goal.


Example:

Goal: Have 300 visitors per day to my website or something better

Why: To sell 100 XYZ items each week (be specific) or something better

When: In 60 days or less

Education: Resources/Training needed to accomplish a specific goal. (You can learn this yourself, get a coach, take a class, read a book, search online, or outsource it.)

Personal Development: Read How to Win friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie; listen to motivational and inspirational CDs while in my car; subscribe to a personal development newsletter; exercise, healthy eating, prayer and meditation.

Expectation/Plan: (Implement strategies on-line and off-line that will direct and drive people to my website.)

     1. Use video to up my rankings in the search engines

     2. Start a blog or write for some article sites to drive traffic

     3. Build a presence and following on Twitter and Facebook

     4. Go to networking meetings

     5. Pay-per-click ads

     6. Etc…

Again the key with your plan is to be very specific. How many videos? How often? On what sites? How many followers do you need on twitter to see an increase in traffic to your website? How many friends or fans on Facebook? How many networking meetings do you need to go to? You get the idea.

In the front of your binder put your worksheets from all previous exercises.

For your January (or your first month) write out what you “Expect” and plan to accomplish for this month towards your goal or dream. If you have more than one goal, use a separate sheet of paper for each one.

Goal: (State your goal)

Why: (Why is it a goal or dream? Why is it important?)

When: (when do you expect to have accomplished this goal?)

Education: (what resources, training, etc. if any, do you need?)

Personal Development: (What are you doing to grow as a person? To develop a can win attitude? To develop an attitude of gratitude? To develop and become the greatest you, you can be?)

Expectations/Plan: (You get what you expect. You take action by implementing plans for those expectations. Then doors will begin opening that were not even a part of your plans…this is where the miraculous kicks in.)

Repeat this at the beginning of each month.

You will then further break this down to weekly and then daily goals.

What do you expect for this week?

What do you expect for today?

Write it down.

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Again I ask the question, What is your potential for Greatness?

Everyone has the potential for greatness, but not everyone will search for, I mean really seek out a great life and lifestyle. Instead, most people will actually seek out and settle for a mediocre life and lifestyle.

What is the difference between life and lifestyle?

We will refer to human life here, specifically, your Life as a vital or living being. Your Life is further defined by the physical and mental experiences you have during the period from birth to death. In other words it is the written history of your life – your biography. Whether it is written down or not, you are writing your own biography everyday of your life. How you live your life, your way of living is your lifestyle.

Your life is the duration of your existence and your lifestyle is what you do and how you live during your existence.

So let me give you some definitions here:

Mediocre: of moderate or low quality; common, indifferent, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, second-rate, so-so.

Greatness: the quality or state of being great; markedly superior in character, quality, or skill; being beyond the average; excellent, fabulous, splendid, adept, masterful, proficient and accomplished.

"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential."

~ Ellen Goodman

Most people accept mediocrity because the path is easier – or so it seems. The path to mediocrity has been traveled by the masses. The journey is familiar. The road is clearly laid out. The outcome is known. Most people choose this path because there are fewer surprises.

You Decide…

Greatness or Mediocrity?

Ready, Set, Goals - Day 8: Get Passionate About Your Goals

Your goals are your goals and it is up to you to get passionate enough about them to succeed. Realizing your dreams and achieving your goals take passion and you will need to fire up that passion again and again.
Here is an affirmation to help keep you passionate about your goals...

I am passionate about my goals.

My passion drives me forward to live the life of my dreams. I know what I want in life and set goals to get me there. I know that each goal I achieve brings me in union with what I desire. I feel truly invigorated with each success!

Meeting a goal, no matter how big or small, strengthens my confidence and self-esteem. I enjoy these feelings and strive to receive them as often as possible.

Setting and achieving goals is a never-ending circle of positivity that fuels my passion even more. My passion encourages me to persevere over obstacles and it is replenished and increased with every goal I complete.

My passion enables my success. I use tools to ignite and refuel my passion on a daily basis, even when I face challenges that try to smother it.

My tools include affirmations to transform negative thoughts into positive ones, meditation to relax and rejuvenate my energy, prayer to connect my spirit with the Highest Power Source - Jesus, and notes and pictures to inspire and remind me of my goals.

Today, I choose to feel inspired by my passion and let the excitement propel me forward to achieve my goals, regardless of any challenges that may arise.


Action Questions:
Don't just read them, answer them and then put action behind them. DO Them!

Do Something. Do Anything, but don't just sit there hoping your goals will be achieved...See That They Are!


1. Am I passionate about my goals?


How badly do you want change?

What are you willing to give up (what bad habits) to achieve your goals?

What is the alternative if you do not reach your goals and live your dreams?

I’ll repeat it here again, but in a different way.


We talked about the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" with James Stewart where he got a chance to see what the world would be like if he had never been born. This time I want you to imagine what Your Life will be like if you do not go after your dreams and reach your goals.

"Your most valuable asset can be your willingness to persist longer than anyone else." ~ Brian Tracy

"At the worst, a house unkept cannot be so distressing as a life unlived." ~Dame Rose Macaulay,


2. Where can I find additional inspiration?

I would start with the BIBLE!

Then there are quotes to inspire and encourage.

"We can draw lessons from the past, but we cannot live in it." ~Lyndon B. Johnson

“If 2009 was the year to survive then let's make 2010 the year to thrive!” ~@leadtoday

"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom." ~George S. Patton

“Do not be afraid of tomorrow; for God is already there.” ~ Author Unknown

“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person s determination.” ~Tommy Lasorda

"People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents." ~Andrew Carnegie


I could go on and on. But do you feel the motivation starting to rise within you? Just reading those quotes you start to thinking, “Yes, I can do this. I will succeed.”


And so you shall!


Motivational, inspirational and educational CDs are great to listen to, especially while driving. Turn your car into a university on wheels.


Other like-minded, success striving, abundant living people. Careful here though- stay clear of negative people who will pull you down to where they are and where they intend to stay - mediocrity. You are above average. You are an Over-Comer. You are an Abundant Life Living Person. Why would you take advice from your broke and dead-end job friends and family?

A great place to meet other people realizing their dreams are networking groups and seminars.


3. What task can I achieve today to fuel my passion and get me back on track toward my goals?

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” ~Robert Collier

Make up your mind you WILL Succeed! It first starts with a decision. Then you must believe it is going to happen. EXPECT IT!

Write down your goals and review them often, at least once month. Tweak, adjust, modify, change, and re-purpose your goals as often as you need to.

Get training and/or coaching from those who are where you want to be.

Pray! And if you Pray, don't doubt or worry. If you are going to worry-no need to pray because you are showing that you do not really believe "That With God ALL Things Are Possible"


4. The Greatest Motivator of ALL!

I have found that the greatest motivator of all is to GIVE. Go out there and be a blessing to as many people as you can, as often as you can. Helping others, especially people who cannot in any way contribute to your business or help you in reaching your goals, will set in motion events that will help you in your business and in reaching your goals.

It's the Law of the Harvest: You will reap what you sow. So sow goodness and kindness.

"An effort made for the happiness of others lifts us above ourselves." ~Lydia M. Child

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." ~Ann Landers

BE a Go Giver!




Exercise 12:



Over the next several days I want you to go over or complete your previous exercises. I know I keep harping on being crystal clear on your goals, dreams, purpose, because the last four sections of this series will be dedicated to action steps. You do not want to put action behind something you do not desire to do.

Get out there, get out of the nest of comfort and ease, spread your Wings and Soar to the Land of Possibility!!!



Go for the most Amazing Life you can. Period.