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There is no such thing as unrealistic goals, only unrealistic time frames.

Some experts believe fully that 80 percent of all problems in personal and business life come from a lack of clarity with regard to our objectives and goals.

The word "goals" can be intimidating--it can feel so overbearing that it keeps people from beginning the process. This is why it is helpful to pretend you are a kid again when you are thinking about your goals. What kid do you know who doesn’t have a million things he or she wants to do?

Many people will tell you to write down your goals but not have 100 as your target number of goals--however you can't have too many goals. Here's why:

• Goals have different gestation periods. Some are accomplished quickly, some take many years.
• When we reach a goal, it loses power and importance for us. We need plenty more to keep our conscious and subconscious mind at work!
• The rule of the universe is abundance. Since you can have almost everything you really want, why settle for less?
  

Do your goals have to be accomplished tomorrow? Next week? This year? Of course not! Your goals can be added to, subtracted from and achieved as you move through life.

Create Your Own Dream List

Let your mind float freely. Imagine that you have no limitations. Imagine that you have all the time, money, all the resources, intelligence, all the education, all the experience and all the contacts in the world. Imagine that you could do, be or have anything in your life.

Write down everything you would want in your life if you had no limitations whatsoever on your potential, as if you have had no fear of failure at all.

It is helpful to imagine that whatever you write down you are guaranteed to receive. Be sure to decide what you want before you limit yourself in advance by thinking of all the reasons why it is not possible. Put the word possible aside for now and just allow yourself to dream.

You might also imagine that you had just been given a check for $10 million (tax-free). How would you change your life? What would you buy?

It might help if you also consider the following two questions:

What makes you unhappy? "In what situations in my life, and with whom, am I not perfectly happy?" Force yourself to think about every part of your day, from morning to night, and write down every element that makes you unhappy or dissatisfied in any way. Remember, proper diagnosis is half the cure. Identifying the unsatisfactory situations is the first step to resolving them.

What makes you happy? In looking over your life, where and when have you been the happiest? Where were you, and what were you doing?

Goal Guidelines

Here is a checklist to ensure you're using a successful framework to set your 100 goals:

Your most important goals must be yours. Not your spouse's. Not your child's. Not your employer's. Yours. When you let other people determine your definition of success, you’re sabotaging your own future.

Your goals must mean something to you. Your reasons for charting a new course of action give you the drive and energy to get up every morning.

Your goals must be specific and measurable. Vague generalizations and wishy-washy statements aren't good enough. Be very specific! The more details and precise adjectives and timing you insert the more likely it will occur. Please be sure to use as many features as possible.

Write down your goals in positive terms. Avoid saying I will not be. Your subconscious is very specific and it filters out the negative and will attract like a powerful magnet all the negative things you write down.

Your goals must be present tense. Avoid saying I will have. Write down your goals as if you had your dream today and right now. This will help keep time from sabotaging your achievements.

Your goals must be flexible. A flexible plan keeps you from feeling suffocated and allows you to take advantage of genuine opportunities that walk in your future door.

Your goals must be challenging and exciting. Force yourself to jump out of your comfort zone to acquire that much-needed energy and edge.

Your goals must be in alignment with your values. Pay attention to your intuition and your gut feelings. God gave you these feelings for a reason, please be sure to honor them. When you set a goal that contradicts your values, something inside will twinge.

Your goals must be well balanced. Make sure you include areas that allow time to relax, have fun and enjoy.

Your goals must be realistic. Be expansive, but don't be ridiculous. If you're four feet tall, you'll probably never play in the NBA.

Your goals must include contribution. Unfortunately, many people get so wrapped up in pursuing their goals that they don't have time in their lives to give something back to society. Build this into your goals program.

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