The Power of Why: Setting Intention-Oriented Goals

Everyone ? particularly business coaches like me - talks about goal-setting, and so it is surprising that surveys indicate 97 percent of businesspeople do not set them. Of the people who do set them, 97 percent set reactive goals, 2 percent set proactive goals and 1 percent set intention-oriented goals. Guess which ones create the biggest results?

Most people don't set goals because they have tried before and failed. They set goals to fix today's problems for a better morning tomorrow. They didn't ask the question: Why do I want to achieve this goal? If they had, their goal would have been different, achievable and achieved.

A friend of mine said she wanted to lose 10 pounds. Now, there's a goal designed for failure. I asked her why. She said so she could fit into her clothes well again. That - not losing the weight ? is the goal.

You may have been taught to set SMART goals. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Trackable. These are proactive goals like growing your income by 10 percent over last year's. Again, the question of why is left unasked and unanswered. And another goal is unfulfilled.

Let's get to intention-oriented goals. These are the goals I want you to set; goals that are visionary, that have a purpose and which look beyond the incremental steps and say where we intend to be at some point in the future.

Instead of growing your income 10 percent, let's discover why you want the extra money. Perhaps it would allow you to take a three-week trip to Belize, or pay for long-neglected guitar lessons, or help your daughter buy her first home. Those goals are not about the money, they are about what the money will allow you to do. These are intention-oriented goals. You may not know right now how you are going to get there but you know where you want to end up.

Now, you're going to set up a priority system to help you achieve these goals. This priority system ? a sort of "to-do" list on steroids - is based on two questions: 1. What is the best use of my time right now? 2. Will this activity help me achieve one of my goals?

Activities unrelated to your goals need to be delegated, delayed or somehow eliminated from your list. Activities which will help you achieve your goals now can be divided into "A" and "B" categories. You should set your "B" list first. Ask, "can I postpone taking action on this activity?" If the answer is no, then the activity automatically is on the "A" priority list. If the answer is yes, you must ask three more questions to determine if it becomes a "B".

1. Is this an activity that leads to the accomplishment of a goal?

2. Is this a commitment or a promise?

3. Is this a vital, critical, life-threatening "must do"?

A "yes" to any of these questions and the item goes on the "A" list.

Finally, you rank your "As" and "Bs" 1 through 10. If you have more than 10, you need to find something else to eliminate or delegate. Now, attack the "As".

Once you make this system a habit, your "to-do" list becomes shorter and you'll be more effective. And you'll be on your way to achieving your goals and not just crossing things off your list. It's all possible, you just have to ask "why?"

Brent Dees, president of Brent Dees Financial, is a small business coach and financial planner who teaches the Focus Four system. He helps business owners in the Carolinas set business and personal goals so they can work less and make more. Brent Dees Financial can be found on the web at http://www.brentdees.com.

---

Make 2005 Your Best Year Ever - Its Not Too Late!

We are moving rapidly through 2005, and you'll find previously... Read More

How To Get Real

"What we need most, is not so much to realize... Read More

Focus on Your Goals

Focus is the single most important factor that will determine... Read More

Prosperity, Step-by-Step

Some may think that the change from paucity or 'the... Read More

Got Purpose?

Is your life on purpose? Does just the question stop... Read More

Achieve Your Goal

Have you seen those ads that promise to make thousands... Read More

Goals ? The Forgotten Success Element

Goals are extremely important and are the key to any... Read More

5 Good Ways to Make Steady Progress on Your Goals & Projects

1. Schedule a specific time and day to work on... Read More

Keeping the Dream Alive

Like the song by Linda Ronstadt, "a dream is a... Read More

Fear Factor

Is it possible for an individual to pass a course... Read More

Broken Sleep

For the past several weeks, I have not been sleeping... Read More

Great Goals Make You Stretch!

I began enhancing my personal energy level three months shy... Read More

The Psychology Of Success

Everybody has a dream. A fantasy, if you like. Usually... Read More

Breaking Goals Down To The Basics

One of the primary reasons why people fail to execute... Read More

How to Set Effective Goals That Guarantee Your Success

In this article, I will be sharing with you the... Read More

The Process of Developing Meaningful Goals

DEVELOPING A GOAL-SETTING CHECKPOINT: The process of developing meaningful goals... Read More

Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals

I cannot stress the importance of setting goals enough. Goals... Read More

How To Create Your Very Own DREAMWALL!

A great way of attuning yourself daily to what your... Read More

Writing Goals Down Ties Them Up!

Writing goals describes the act of inscribing on a surface... Read More

Finding Life?s Candles for Dark Moments

Tragedy doesn't make an appointment. It attacks! A terrifying surprise... Read More

Give Your Dreams Substance

Setting goals is wonderful; it confirms that we've taken those... Read More

Go Beyond Goals And Achieve Your Dream!

As important as goal setting is, goals alone do not... Read More

Ten Reasons To Have an Inspired, World Changing Goal

In a nutshell, having an inspired, world-changing goal is the... Read More

How to Handle Getting Caught Off Guard

I remember the time that I swore to myself that... Read More

How To Become A Polished Public Speaker In Just One (1) Day

The fear of speaking in public ranks right up there... Read More

Lessons From the Creek

Everything is in flow here in Northern Michigan. Buckets of... Read More

Ask yourself, So what?

Neil Armstrong made his first moon walk on July 20,... Read More

2003... Got Goals?

Ask anybody on January 2nd 2003 if they have New... Read More

Cheerleaders

This week's article assumes that you have chosen a goal,... Read More

Top 10 Ways to Ensure New Years Resolution Success

Did you know that fewer than 10% of people who... Read More

Make This Your Most Productive Year Ever - 26 Tips

Each year we start the year thinking about our goals,... Read More

Keep Your Attention On What You Want

Have you ever wondered: "How does this 'Law of Attraction'... Read More

Setting Goals for Success

"In any and every given moment of your life, you... Read More