An Overriding Goal

What is it you want more than anything else in the world? What is the "dream" that you carry with you on a daily basis? If an idea for your entire life is too much, what do you want to see happen in the next 6-12 months?

There is so much talk of goals that they can get diluted. The fact is that an overriding goal is what provides passion in our life. It is the basis of all obsession. People who feel that strongly about something will do whatever they can to make it come true. That is a person who cannot be stopped.

Sadly, few have this in their life. Instead, they drift through life with each day resembling the next. Over time, no progress is made because there lacks a direction. Circumstances are the director of life. It is a reactive way to live.

A large part of taking control of one's life is to have something that is desired more than anything else. This serves as motivation to move forward. Everything else becomes secondary because of the tremendous focus we are able to produce. Centering our life around this outcome is what guarantees success.

Robert Kiyosaki, author of the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series, writes how he wanted to run his own business more than anything else. At the time, he was a salesperson working for Xerox. He used the desire to be financially free as motivation to succeed at his sales job. He poured all his commissions into investments which afforded him the opportunity to leave that job. His overriding goal was realized in only a couple of years.

It is time for you to put some passion in your life. Those who have a dream wake up each day seeking to fulfill it. If it is something that is not possible today, having this outlook offers direction. Over time, one can see the progress that is being made. We become like children looking forward to Christmas. The anticipation builds the closer that we get.

Failing to do this will create a life that feels listless. Each week will drag along drearily. I remember working with a person who was at a company for over 30 years. Each Monday, he was looking forward to the weekend. His entire life was spent looking forward to another time. It was sad to see someone throw away his entire work career. This man lived a passionless life.

Avoid that trap. Get something to look forward to. Do you want to live in another country? Learn another language? Become physically fit? Run a marathon? Start you own business? Whatever your dream is, recapture it. It will instantly give you something to be passionate about. And, it is the moment when you will start living.
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A Time Of Optimism

We are approaching the new year. This is the time of year where optimism is the greatest. Whatever occurred in 2008 is in the past. It is done. Whether it was positive or negative, you cannot go back and change it. Life moves froward regardless of the results you achieved.

If you are one who achieved all the goals that you set out for the year, I congratulate you. However, for those of us who fell short in a few areas, there is the tendency to dwell upon those unrealized dreams. Now is not the time to engage in that activity. We are programming ourselves to look forward.

Everyone achieves something. There are lots of wonderful things that you did over the past year. Make a list of some of them no matter how insignificant they might seem. Each time you gave someone a smile, you lifted their spirit in that moment. Write that on the list. List everything you can think of that helped yourself or someone else. You will soon realize that you did a great deal.

We are all going to make the next year the best we ever experienced. The media wants to put us in a negative mindset with all the activities which are occurring globally. We are not going to listen to their garbage. Their fodder is food for all those who are going to be trampled in the new year. We are not part of that crowd. Instead, we are the ones who know that in each crisis there are lots of opportunities. Now is the time that we are going to forge our way to success. The only thing that stands in our way is the mindset we have. Success is first achieved in the mind then manifests itself in the physical world.

In closing, I hope you enjoy your Christmas holiday. Spread good cheer wherever you go over the next few days. Perhaps this might create a habit that you do throughout the year. That is a wonderful goal to have for 2009.
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What will the next year bring?

We are closing in on Thanksgiving here in the states which means that Christmas is just around the corner. It is unbelievable how quickly a year passes by. Before we know it, it will be 2009. This means that it is time to look ahead at what we want to accomplish in the next year.

I know what you are thinking: here comes another post about New Year's resolutions and goal setting. You betcha! Failing to plan is a recipe for disaster. We need to look at doing things differently if we are to attain greater heights in the next 12 months.

To start, we need to look back reflecting on how we did. So, how was your 2008? Did you achieve the major goals you set out for the year? Or did you not even set anything down in writing that you wanted to achieve? The answers to these questions reveal how much work you have ahead of you.

If you set something down as a goal and worked towards it, congratulations. The next year will see an increase in the heights you attain since you are already in the habit of going after something. On the other hand, if you failed to set anything out, this usually shows that you lack the clarity in your mind as to what you want. The first step for you is to determine what you want out of life. Omitting this process is like planning a vacation without ever choosing a destination. The chances of you ever getting anywhere are slim.

Therefore, begin with the question, what do I want in my life? I wrote an article titled "What do I truly want" that might offer some insight into what you need to determine. Basically, it is time to uncover the dreams that you have. Most people settled into an existence. They do not spend their days in a profession they love. Instead, they fell into something in an effort to pay the bills. If you are going to reverse course in 2009, it starts with the dream.

You can make the next 12 months the best year of your life. It is possible to achieve all of your dreams. Life can be a spectacular journey if we are willing to put the effort in. What is insane is people are already putting in the work, just it is focused in the wrong direction. Uncover the dream that is within you and then you can lay out a plan to achieve it. But it all starts in your head.
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5 Things To Change Your Life In The Next 90 Days

Today is October 1st. There are three months left in the year. Before we know it, people will be making their New Year's Resolutions for 2009. Unfortunately, we all know how those can turn out. Most fail at them before the end of January. Thus, the time to start developing the momentum to change your life is now.

Here are 5 things you can do in the next 3 months which will change your life.

1. Lose 10 lbs.

This is a number that most people can hit. It requires dropping 3 pounds per month for the rest of the year. Changing your diet while adding some exercise will accomplish this feat. Will 10 lbs make a difference for many people? Not necessarily. However, developing the habits will carry forward into 2009. In addition, most found that they lost more than 10 pounds in the first 90 days.

2. Read 3 books.

That equates to one book a month. Choose subjects that can enrich your life. A book such as Your Easiest Million offers many ideas on how to set yourself on the path to an improved financial life. Knowledge is an invaluable tool if it is applied. However, it first must be acquired. Reading is a terrific way to expand our knowledge base. It is one of the most beneficial habits to have.

3. Create goals for the next 3 years.

This can take some time. A life without a plan is apt to spin out of control. The chances of arriving at a destination are increased if you know what that destination is. Sadly, people spend more time planning a vacation than they do their lives. It is time to create a set of goals for yourself and a plan for achieving them. This is how you will lead a fulfilled life.

4. Take a weekend for yourself.

We are all overwhelmed with life. The era we live in is one of hustle and bustle. That is not going to change. Most people have gone the entire year without taking some time for themselves. Taking a weekend away will recharge the batteries. This need not be something expensive. The key is to leave all work, chores, and responsibilities. Go camping, rent a cabin, or an inexpensive motel in your hometown. Just relax for a full 48 hours.

5. Start saving and investing.

The recent financial crisis shows us what happens when we over extend ourselves. Start setting a few dollars a week away. Developing the habit is invaluable for your future financial success. I discuss in Your Easiest Million paying yourself for some of the chores that you do for free. For example, each night that you prepare dinner, pay yourself a dollar. This will put $30 a month into your savings. I would suggest that you read some books (suggestion #2) on investing to become familiar with the world of investing. It is important to have your money make money.

Doing these 5 things will help you develop momentum going into next year. It is crucial to create the habits now. Whatever you desire in the coming year will be more likely to be achieved if you can do it automatically. The next 90 days is the time to lay the foundation.
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What Have You Been Up To?

How often are we asked this question? This is the natural question that is asked when two people have not seen each other for a while. It provokes a conversation where the two parties catch up with each other. Unfortunately, most times there is nothing new to report. Today, we are going to focus upon changing this routine.

When you are asked this, what is your common answer? If someone came to you and asked you what went on in your life the last 6 months, what do you say? Most come up with the proverbial "nothing much" or "same ole, same ole". In others words, this person is saying that my life is just as boring as it was when you saw me last. Somehow, I managed to accomplish nothing worthwhile in that entire time. This is the existence of most people.

Of course, sometimes people offer up what the kids were up to. "Johnny entered high school" or "Jamie won the dance recital". These people live vicariously through their kids. Since they have nothing to report, the accomplishments of the kids are provided as an answer. Again, nothing worthwhile is transpiring in their lives.

What is the solution to this dilemma? It is simple: create some talking points that you are going to give to someone 6 months from today. This is a primitive, yet effective, form of goal setting. List some things that you want to tell to another when you are asked "what is new with you". Think of all the wonderful answers you can develop.

Here are a few to stimulate your mind:

-I got a promotion at work.
-Recently I took a class on ballroom dancing.
-I learned a foreign language.
-We took a cruise (or any type of trip).
-I lost 25 pounds.
-My gold handicap is down to a "X"
-We started skydiving.

You can add to this list as much as you want. The idea is to create noteworthy objective for yourself. Too often people allow life to pass by. They exist rather than live. This is not how life needs to be. You can decide this moment to alter that reality. It is a matter of setting some things out on paper and getting started.

Today is the end of the regular baseball season. For those teams that did not make the playoffs, the process of preparing for next year begins tomorrow. We will see some managers (and general managers) fired in the next few days. This is the first phase of the process. The leadership for the different organizations will meet to decide on payroll and other off season moves they intend making to improve their clubs. There will be a noted difference by next April in all these teams.

What is your life going to be like by the first pitch on Opening Day (April 2009)? There is roughly 6 months for you to create those changes. It begins right now by sitting down and putting some ideas on paper. What did you always want to do? Omit activities such as cleaning the garage unless that is a lifelong dream of yours. Think of hobbies or other recreational things that you want to get involved. There is surely many topics that you want to learn about. Begin to set out a path to study them. Whatever your desire, get after it now.

To help motivate you, I will tell you that, on Opening Day of the next baseball season, I am going to ask you what you have been doing with yourself the last 6 months. Try to come up with something better than "not much". I want everyone to have a huge list that is really inspiring.
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