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Photo Courtesy of Armando Maynez (flickr)

I recently finished reading the book, GOALS! – How to Get Everything You Want Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible by Brian Tracy.  It’s a fantastic book if you’re at all interested in using your time wisely, staying focused, and accomplishing a ton of stuff.  In the book Brian discusses many ways to create goals that really allow you to reach your true potential instead of wasting your time on goals that don’t get you what you want.  If you’re stuck in a job you can’t stand, or are currently in the market for changing your life direction, or you simply want to double check that you’re actually on the correct life path, check out the goal-setting strategy below.  I’ve modified one of Brian’s strategies, so please credit him for this idea.  It’s an incredible exercise in figuring out what really matters and focusing on those things every day.  Let me know in the comments below what you think about it and what you would change.

Awesome Goal Setting Strategy

As you create each of the lists below, always write your dreams, goals, and strategies in the present tense and with a very positive stance.  For example, “I write best-selling books.”  “I run marathons.”  “I weigh _____.”  “I earn $____ every year.”

1^st Tier – Dream List

• Create a document on your computer or get a spiral notebook and title the page Dream List
• Brainstorm the top 25-30 BIG dreams and goals you would love to accomplish in your life and write them down
• Prioritize the Dream List with the most phenomenal dreams near the top

2^nd Tier – Strategy List

• Pick the #1 dream from the Dream List that would have the greatest benefit in your life
• Create a 2^nd document and title it Strategy List
• Brainstorm the top 20 strategies, methods, and tactics you could use to get the #1 dream accomplished quickly
• Prioritize the Strategy List with the most effective strategies near the top

3^rd Tier – Action List

• Pick the #1 strategy from the Strategy List that would have the greatest impact on your dream becoming a reality as quickly as possible
• Create a 3^rd document and title it Action List
• Brainstorm the top 10 action steps to complete the most effective strategy as quickly as possible
• Prioritize the Action List with the most effective action steps near the top

4^th Tier – Goals List

• Pick the #1 action step from the Action List that would have the greatest impact on your strategy
• Create a 4^th document and title it Goals List
• Brainstorm ALL the goals you need and would like to accomplish in the next week
• Prioritize the Goals List with the #1 action step as your top priority

5^th Tier – Daily Habits

• Use the Goals List every single day, all the time.  Look at it, work from it, modify it as you make progress, add to it when you need to, and of course cross things off once you complete them.  This is your planner, your schedule, your daily and weekly goals that keep you focused on what truly matters.
• The rest of your lists will be a reference point you will refer to as needed

BONUS TIP: create the Dream List every single day!  Seriously, sit down and write out, from scratch, your top dreams for life.  What you will find is that your priorities, dreams, and ultimate goals with vary from day to day and week to week.  After a few weeks you will start to see the same things popping up over and over.  These are your ultimate goals.  These repeated dreams are the most important dreams in your life.  These are the areas  you need to focus on and master in the years to come.  Try this exercise every day and see what you can dream up.  These BIG dreams should make you feel empowered and incredibly capable of making them happen.

The Clueless Graduate,



Jeff Sanders

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”