In nearly every training program that I have ever conducted that has to do with creating increases in income, wealth or prosperity, we end up talking about setting goals. This is probably a no-brainer for you. You KNOW that you have to set goals if you want to improve and win.
Yet, most people don’t set them or if they do, they don’t write them down. Why? Because if you don’t set them or don’t fix them into the physical universe, you never have to worry about failing. It’s the same thing I talked about in the accountability piece. If you do not set goals, you become part of someone else’s goals.
Achievable Goals
But that is not why I am writing this message. I usually ask participants, “What are the characteristics of a goal?” The initial answers that people give are very simple and accurate: 1. It has to be measurable. (Not just to be rich… but how much money in what account, from what sources…) 2. It has to have a time limit on it. (By when?)
Yet, nearly every time I ask, a third characteristic seems to come up.
It’s the idea that goals have to be “achievable”. Maybe I come from a different planet, but in my book, achievability has little to do with it.
If you want to grow, be rich, be successful, then you have to set goals that are somewhat out of your reach. Goals that are unachievable by today’s standards. When I go to the gym, my running goal is definitely not achievable to me today. But each session, I get closer. Each time I get stronger.
Unachievable Goals
By setting an “unachievable” goal, it forces me out of my comfort zone to create, condition and push myself into areas that are new and unfamiliar to me. That is how you grow! Not by setting achievable goals.
If you can afford to invest in a 3 bedroom, 2 bath income property, go for a 12 unit apartment building instead. The worst that will happen is that you will get smarter and will learn what you need to learn.
I am NOT saying that to be delusionary! There are some goals that need to be achievable, predictable and sequential. A case could also be made that anything is achievable! Yet, the power of goals is the size of the spirit that it can generate inside of you. The bigger the task, the bigger the spirit to go for it!
I watch as people set great goals for themselves and then talk themselves out of them because they seem “unachievable”. The minute your brain does that, it discounts the goal and you have already lost the battle. Everyone lives in the world of “achievability” and “probability”. It’s that sedated zone of life where there’s lots of agreement and collusion around you.
Look – you may not even achieve half of the things that you set out to do. Don’t worry about it. The bigger the stretch, the more you learn, grow and expand. The purpose of the goal is not to even get it. The purpose of the goal is motivate and push you to the next level of who you want to be or how much you want to earn. You may even find out that the goal you were going for is not really “it” anyway. But if it’s big enough, your next task or goal will present itself along the way.
Be your Own Visionary
Do you set goals that you “know” that you can achieve or do you create outrageous visions that force you into new worlds of development? By creating goals that are “over the top” you will be introduced to whole new circles of associates, advisors and resources. Stay with achievable ones and you will stay in your current world of reality and mediocrity.
One word of caution – if you choose to be outrageous and set outrageous goals – don’t wimp out. Otherwise you discount your efforts and compromise your growth. There is a time to move on. You may not win every battle. But each campaign into the realm of possibility creates a wave of inspiration, power and personal wealth.
