Goalsetting is an extremely powerful tool for personal self development.  Not only does goalsetting enable you to understand exactly what you want from life and the things that are most important to you, but it also gives you a clear roadmap to achieving your ambitions.

If you are serious about changing your life and fulfilling your ambitions then it is time to set some goals!

the power of goalsetting

Before we go any further, it is important to understand just how powerful goalsetting can be.  The following research study highlights this incredibly effectively and has been featured in the book 'What They Don't Reach You in the Harvard Business School' by Mark McCormack. 

The study was conducted on a group of students who graduated from the Harvard MBA program in 1979.  The researchers asked each of the students the following question:

'Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?'

The researchers were startled to find that of these graduates only 3% had written specific goals and plans, 13% had goals (but not in writing) which left a massive 84% without any goals for the future.

However, the most amazing discovery came ten years later when the same students were interviewed again.  The study found that the 13% who had unwritten goals were earning twice as much as the 84% who had no goals - BUT the 3% with clear, written goals were earning, on average, ten times more than the other 97% combined!   It is time we set some goals!

As the example above shows, not having a clear idea of what we want to achieve can have a dramatic effect on how successful we are.  The example focussed on money, however, the principle can apply to all of us, no matter what the goal is.   For instance, your goal could be to learn three new languages in three years, to start your own business, to lose thirty pounds, to run the New York marathon etc. This exercise aims to enable you to think and focus on what you really want; to find out what your passions are and where you want to be.  It is a great exercise for getting you to think positively about your life and to get your mind warmed up for setting some exciting, challenging goals!

developing your vision:The exercise comprises of asking yourself a series of questions, however there are three very simple rules that must be followed:

1. be totally honest, open and unbiased - do not let anyone else's opinion play a part, or worry about what anyone else might think if they were to read it. 
2. do not feel restricted in what you write or let 'reality' soften what you think - there are no boundaries to this and you should not feel that anything is unrealistic as everything is possible, have some fun!
3. do not let your and stop writing for the duration of each stage of the exercise - you never know what will come out if you keep writing do not let your hand stop writing for the duration of each stage of the exercise - you never know what will come out if you keep writing!

1. what are my loves?
   this can involve people, places, feelings, things, emotions, memories - literally anything!
2. what are my hates?
   be passionate!  there can be as many important points drawn from negatives as positives - find out what you don't want!
3. what are my passions?
   what gets you excited?  what would you stay up late and get up early for? 
4. what do I want from life?
   think big - what do you want if there was nothing in your way, if you could have anything what would these things be
   

Spend five minutes on each question and time yourself to make sure you spend the full amount of time writing.  It does not matter if you feel like you are scribbling nonsense, just let it come out!OK, now that you have your answers, go back through each and put a star or circle the five-ten most important answers under each question. 

NEXT STEP > With these in mind, lets move forward to goalsetting: personal goals