Our T4D friend Daniel from way down under sent me this brilliant bit on goals… that totally supports Brian Tracy’s claim about the power of “writing things down.”

Brian Tracy says that he has found that even people who write their goals and lose them or never look at them again…. have greater achievement at the end of the year than those who never wrote them at all. I can attest that he is right! There is something magical about goal setting and clarifying your thinking and deciding what you want and putting it down on paper.

Kirk,
You shared a few weeks back about taking some time with the New Year upon us and looking at some goals with the family. Well recently Danielle and I have done the same. It started when we were on a long drive to the beach/coast for our holiday and the usual ‘what shall we do/talk about now’ was kicking in on the long drive. I pulled out a notebook and said, ok what are we going to do in the next year or so. It was good fun not only to plan some things but to find out what each of us thought was important.

This has also lead to us sitting down and making lists of the things we have to do around the house on a whiteboard that sits on the fridge and also refining and getting serious about our budget. The most amazing part about any of it is that even before you have made the first steps to achieving any of it, you actually feel like you have taken some steps. I feel an energy there and greater connection with the family and most importantly Danielle. It’s great. Of course now we have to make sure we do take steps and move forward else we fall by the wayside and fulfil this little gem:  “Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is simply passing the time. Action with Vision is making a positive difference.” - Joel Barker
The best part about that though and something we witnessed ourselves last year is the power of writing something down. We had made lists like I mentioned above and had kind of kept track of them but not religiously. I had looked at the list we had made on the whiteboard towards the end of last year and realised we had completed every single task, some of them without even really realising, powerful stuff - writing things down. Looking forward to ‘06.
Oh, one last thing to add to my ramblings, I was looking for a quote I loved and struck upon another (funny how that happens) that I had to share. It reminded me of the quote you sent the other day about problems:
We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds. Aristotle Onassis

Cheers Kirk,
Daniel.

 I’m finding alot of people who still haven’t set their goals or put together even a basic plan for improving their approach to the year ahead.  If you need a little help I might suggest a wonderful little book by Phil Gerbyshak called “10 Ways to Make It Great” - Each wonderfully concise chapter ends with some questions - or should I say some invitations to ACT.  I think it’s a great way to build a plan…. you can get a copy of the of the book at http://www.morebetterbooks.com/

10 Ways to Make It Great! is packed full of ways you can take control of your life, stop having a nice day, and make it great. At the end of each chapter is one or more action steps you can take, TODAY, to Make It Great!

Look what just one reader had to say about Phil’s GREAT book -

Phil Gerbyshak’s “10 Ways to Make It Great” is an excellent addition to anybody’s business library. He’s taken the best of human nature and condensed it into an easy-to-use handbook of knowledge, anecdotes, and thought-provoking exercises which can be digested over an airplane ride or over months of self-assessment, whichever the reader chooses. Gerbyshak’s humble approach to life partnered with his energized quest to make things constantly better pours over into his writing. The reader cannot help but come away with a great sense of self and a renewed purpose for what to do next. This book is the cross-section of Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Warren’s Purpose-Driven Life, condensed to fit into today’s schedules, yet powerful enough to pack the punch of a message that people still need to hear. Well Done!!! ~ T.L. Johnson

Again - I think it’s a great way to build a plan…. you can get a copy of the of the book at http://www.morebetterbooks.com/

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