Seven Steps to Setting Goals

Todd Bockman originally posted this article on our Main Real Estate Forum.

The following are some excerpts from a training I did on setting goals and achievement. I hope you find it useful.

Setting goals

Perhaps one of the most important things you will do to ensure your success is goal setting. Many people, however, fail to recognize the importance of setting goals and tend to pass it over as unimportant. But nothing could be more vital to your success than learning how to properly set goals.

One element that all successful people have in common is that they set specific goals and have devised a plan for achieving them. This means that they determine exactly what it is they want and know how they are going to get there.

Three basic types of goals

1. Improvement goals: Things that we want to change or make better, such as losing weight, quitting smoking, or having better relationships.


2. Achievement goals: Things that we want to accomplish, such as top salesperson, greatest golfer, or best teacher.


3. Financial goals: Things that we want to acquire, like making a million dollars, being financially independent, owning cars, homes, etc.

Ask a majority of people about their goals, and they will typically give some vague, general answer. If it's an improvement goal, they may tell you that they want to lose weight. While they may be able to lose weight without a clearly defined goal, their chances of really succeeding long-term are slim until they specify how much weight they want to lose and devise a plan for how they are going to do it.

If you don't know where you're going, how will you know when you get there?

The keys to effective goal setting

1. Be specific about your goal. State exactly what you want. Instead of just saying you want a new car, state "I will have a '98 BMW 740i, white with tan leather interior, chrome wheels."


2. Set a date for reaching this goal. "I will have it by May 5, 2012."


3. Devise a plan for reaching the goal. "Through real estate investing, I will acquire at least two income-producing properties a month that will create a net cash flow of $300 per month each, and I will buy at least one property per month that I can fix-up and resell for a $10,000 profit."


4. Indicate where and with whom you will accomplish this goal. Who else will be involved and/or affected?

The seven keys to goal achievement

Once you have written down your goals and developed a clear idea of what you want, you still have to get there. I have put together what I consider to be the seven keys to achieving your goals. They are the crucial elements from start, to implementation, and to achievement of your goals to make your goals a reality. I want to emphasize how important it is to put into action the information that I am giving you here. It is vital to your success. Please don't take it lightly.

1. Desire

It all starts with a dream, a desire to have or accomplish something. If you don't want it, then why bother going after it?

2. Belief

In order to accomplish or acquire something, you must possess the beliefs that it is achievable and worth pursuing. Reaching this goal must not conflict with your values, and no one will be harmed or adversely affected by it. You must possess the belief that you are capable of achieving it, and that you can learn whatever is necessary to accomplish it.

3. Knowledge

You need to acquire the knowledge and information that you will need to accomplish or achieve whatever it is you are attempting. This means learning the "how-to" of what you want to do. You will also need to read about, listen to, and model someone who has already done what you wish to accomplish in order to learn the mental strategies that are necessary to accomplish this goal.

4. Opportunity

The opportunity must exist for you to take action. Is this something that you can do now? If not, when? Are there external (or internal) factors that are getting in the way?

5. Vision

In order to accomplish the goal, you must have a clear idea of what it is that you want, and create a compelling internal representation in your mind that you can "see" vividly. You can also use external pictures of your goal that you review daily. The better you can visualize your goal and its achievement, the better your chances of getting it.

6. Planning

Devise a concise plan for the achievement of your goal setting long-term, short-term, as well as daily goals. Implement the use of a day-planner system to help you plan your time and to "track" your progress towards your achievement.

7. Commitment

Stick to it, no matter what. You must be prepared to do "whatever it takes" (without hurting anyone) to accomplish your goal. Use vision and planning to create such a great picture of your goal that you fall in love with the thought of its accomplishment. Post the following statement up on your bathroom mirror and recite it to yourself every morning:

"I will not give up, no matter how many obstacles I encounter, or how much pain I endure. Because these things are nothing compared to my desire to succeed."