Persuasion Tool #13 – Key to Guaranteed Success
Remember, I’ve said it before. If you can’t influence yourself, you’re not going to be able to influence other people. I want to ask you – what do you really want? What do you want to accomplish? What is your objective? What is your purpose? Or just let me say it, what are your goals? You can moan all you want, but every book on success, every motivational speaker you’ve ever heard talks about goals. The challenge is that no one has ever taught you how to do it the right way. That’s the key to your success and happiness.
Imagine you want to learn how to go snow skiing, and you’ve bought a ski pass and rented the skis. You are thinking you don’t need lessons, and that you can figure it out on your own. If you went to the top of a large mountain and began to ski down the mountain, you’re going to hit a tree, break your leg and say, this is a terrible sport. I don’t like it, and I’m never going to do it again. That’s what most people have done with their goals. Let’s fix it. Here are the studies. Dominican University did a study and found that those who are setting their goals and putting their goals in writing earn ten times more than those that don’t. We’ve heard that before.
There are countless studies that talk about the top 3% to 5% setting their goals, earning and achieving more than the other 97% combined. It’s true. Success expert Brian Tracy says it will triple your commitment level and it increases your happiness. So when you have goals that you’re going after, it guides you. You’re happier. You achieve more. It’s all in your brain. In fact, when you achieve a goal, your brain produces dopamine. It’s a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure. When you think about the happiest time of your life, you were pursuing worthwhile, exciting goals. As humans we need that–we need to be going after a goal, otherwise, we’re going to be broke and miserable.
So let me give you 4 steps for goal setting to work. I can spend all day on each one of these, but let me give you an overview so you can see that each one of these will increase your commitment to achieving your goals.
1. What is your goal? Be descriptive, make it in the present tense, and decide what you want.
2. Have a deadline. You need to get some type of countdown app on your phone to let you know how much time you have left.
3. How are you going to do it? Are you going to get a coach? Are you going to read a book? Are you going to go to a seminar? What you don’t know will hurt you. How are you going to do it?
4. What is your why? What are the reasons? Why are you working so hard? How’s it going to change your world? How are you going to make your “why” stronger than your fear? You’ve got to have a why. That’s what is going to keep you going when you don’t feel like doing it. You have to have a why.
Next, there is the motivation towards your goal. With every goal, there is an inspiration and a desperation. If it’s a goal to diet, maybe the desperation is you don’t want to die versus the inspiration you want to be healthy and live longer and give back to the world. If your goal is to make a million dollars, the desperation, if you don’t you’re going bankrupt, versus the inspiration is giving to charities and helping out and having a more comfortable life. Every goal has an inspiration and desperation. You identify each one, and you use them to motivate you.
Application
Now realize that your progress might be like the stock market, a little bit up and down, but as long as you’re going up most of the time, that’s okay. You have to keep score. Know that you are winning. So this is what I want you to do. Set a goal. It could be physical. It could be intellectual, it could be social, it could be financial, or emotional. Pick a goal. Use the four steps. Map it out. Review it daily and keep the score. As long as you’re shooting towards that target, I guarantee you will be successful.