Students Of Success

Over the years much has been written on the subject of goal setting with most conventional wisdom coming down in favour of the SMART objective setting process.

SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timebound) has been around since the 1960’s and is used by organisations to create effective objectives for themselves and their staff. In fact the SMART objective setting process is taught on many management training programs as the right way to set objectives in any situation.

There is, however, a slight failing with the whole idea around SMART objectives which is, to be fair, not a problem with the process but the wider context in which goals are set. All too often organisations set objectives for their staff only to find that in the final analysis that very few have been achieved or even attempted.

So, what is the problem with this approach to objectives, and why do they so often fail to capture the imagination of employees? The SMART model is missing two very important elements that will nearly always sabotage the take up of any objectives.

WII-FM

Often when organisations impose objectives on their staff the initial question that will be raised is ‘What’s In It For Me?’ and in fact this is a perfectly valid question. A goal or objective whether at the corporate or personal level must be something that is a personal objective. It needs to be initiated, understood and bought-in to the individual for whom it is a goal.

High level corporate objectives by their very nature are impersonal and as such there is rarely significant buy in from employees. Even objectives that are tied in to personal rewards (such as a bonus) do not have a high buy in factor if they are too impersonal. There needs to be a sense of ‘I can make a difference to this’ at a personal level for it to really be taken up by staff.

It can be often be difficult with corporate objectives around profitability and growth to make these personal, and rightly so. These are corporate, high level objectives and unless an individual is tied in to them in some way (as a shareholder for example) then any attempt to cascade these down to lower levels will fail.

The WII-FM issue is for the most part the highest motivator for an individual and a truly effective goal setting strategy takes this into account.

Fascinating Captain

The other and equally important theme missing from the SMART objective setting process is that of interest. For a goal to be really effective and attained it needs to be interesting, exciting and something the individual can get passionate about.

Too many goals, especially corporate ones, are lacking in the area of being interesting. For example, an objective on quality will only be pursued by someone who believes that quality is of interest, for those people who believe it to be important (but not interesting) they will try to ensure that the quality doesn’t drop but it is unlikely that they will go out of their way to ensure quality improves.

Interest in a subject can be generated through corporate reward, however it is rare that this happens as, like the personal side of objective setting, it is outsise the SMART model.

PRISM - the lighter side of objective setting

The SMART model is good and has served for a long time, however in todays modern society, with vast tranches of the working population becoming dissatisfied with their lot a new approach to coporate oblective setting is required.

The PRISM model covers all 5 points of the old SMART process and adds 2 more. PRISM is an acronym for Personal, Realistic, Interesting, Specific and Measurable.

Does this mean that PRISM objectives are not Achievable and Timebound? Not at all, in the PRISM model for an objective to be truly Realistic by definition it has to be Achievable, if it is not achievable then it isn’t and could never really be realistic.

As for the time element of the objective this is covered by measurable. In a science experiment for something to be measurable it needs a start and an end, in life the same applies, if an objective is to be measured it has to be measured against time as well as any other measure, so in the PRISM model Measurable means against all criteria and not splitting out the time elements.

It’s all Me, Me, Me

The PRISM model doesn’t profess to be the ultimate solution for corporate goal setting woes however the addition of the personal and interest features into the process will add new dimension to the objective setting process and will guarantee that the objective has a considerably higher take up than those set with the SMART model.

Corporate goals do not have to be faceless and force fed onto the workforce, by making any objective Personal to the individual and of Interest (with or without reward) then your chances of actually attaining it will dramatically increase.

So, next time there is a strategy session and the subject of goals appears, just ask yourself 2 questions, ‘What does it do for me?’ and ‘Just how interested am I in this?’, if you can’t answer those then perhaps, just perhaps, you need to rethink your goals.

More information regarding staff performance, the PRISM© Goal Setting System and additional tools for improving organisational management can be found at http://www.achievinggreatness.co.uk

L Stuart Avery 2005 © Achieving Greatness Ltd. All rights reserved.

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PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link.

L Stuart Avery is the Managing Director of Achieving Greatness Ltd, an organisation dedicated to raising awareness around personal and management behaviours. Achieving Greatness specialises in offering advice and support to organisations going through change intitiatives and looking to enhance the performance of their staff. It provides training courses, facilitiation services and coaching to business leaders on Leadership, Management and Strategy.

Stuart has over 20 years of experience across a wide range of industries including Government, Charities, Retail, Travel, Insurance, IT Services and Logistics.

For more information visit http://www.achievinggreatness.co.uk

Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work. - H. L. Hunt

I am not aware of anyone who has decided on going to the gym just for the sake of exercising. Behind that decision are powerful motiveshaving a great body, becoming fit so that you’ll live longer, to become more attractive, or to increase your self esteem in regards to your body. Similarly, there are very few people, if any, who are living a disciplined life just for the sake of maintaining a discipline. The reason the person maintains the discipline in their life is because of the promise that the discipline holds. It is their belief that their discipline holds the key to the successful achievement of their goals. The pull of their goals demand them to maintain those disciplines. The promise of what that discipline will bring into your life, if followed, is extremely powerful for the person who is hungry for success!

A person begins to go to the gym, not just for working out and getting hurt, but in order to first become and then remain fit. There is an invaluable lesson contained in the previous sentence in regards to the disciplines in the gym and for success in life. There is no use in just becoming fit and then losing out on the discipline. The promise has to contain the sustaining of the achievement as well. There is no use becoming a millionaire for just a day and then getting broke again. Therefore understand that you don’t strive for a goal just to achieve it, but also to sustain that achievement as long as you can. Discipline is the key for sustaining your success, but it is your promise that will make you stick to your disciplines.

The person who goes to the gym sees the promise of their future life in going to the gym. The beginner sees that if he/she continues to go to the gym regularly, they will achieve the fitness levels that have previously been possible only in their imagination. In the same way, the person who wants to be successful in life starts taking on the disciplines that will change their life because of the power of their promise. When you see where you are headed, you have already begun the journey. Now act on it.

In order to craft a new life for yourself, you will have to first create a compelling promise that will urge you to action; a promise that won’t let you off the hook. If you don’t have this promise, then you will stop at the first obstacle. However if you have this promise you will be ready to pay the price. Are you at the stage where you are ready to pay the price? Can you see your promise? These are important questions to ask and to answer. If you haven’t done so, I urge you to do it now. The promise holds the key to the art of the start! If you are serious about creating a new life for yourself, don’t be lazy in clearly defining your promise. Make it so strong and powerful that you will go to bed late and wake up early to work on it just to see it materialize. It is possible! Millions of people have already done it. Are you game? Then create your promise and get ready to pay that price.

If you are having trouble creating your promise, then you should answer the following questions and do the action steps required in the following section. Take some time out for yourself and your achievement because no one else will!

1. If you could achieve anything, what would it be?

2. Why do you want this goal?

3. What will it make of you to achieve it?

4. What will you have to do in order to make this goal real? What action steps will you take right now to start making it real?

5. Write a detailed plan for the one thing you would do today that will take you towards that goal. (Do this step everyday.)

If you don’t have the promise, you won’t have the power to persevere!
- Sukhbir S.

Sukhbir Singh is the creator of LifeApps! Personal Development Institute which is currently running a course called The 9 Doorways to Lasting Change on the LifeApps group at Yahoogroups. He is also the manager of an export business operating out of Bangkok, Thailand. His interest in success came from the study of many personal development books and audio programs that he got exposed to when he was in Sydney for his Masters degree in Business Information Systems.

LifeApps! is currently designing their website and should become active by the end of this year. The purpose will be to offer e-courses that will be developed into public seminars and audio programs. He has recently written a short motivational E-booklet of 20 pages called Success Lessons from the Gym. You can receive the current draft of this E-book by emailing him at suk_b@yahoo.com with the subject heading: SL Request.

Many motivational speakers and self-help books will tell you that you must have goals. I’ve even advocated goal setting myself in the past. You write down your goals and detail them for family life, friends, finances, career, recreation, health, learning, education and your spiritual life.

However, I’ve now come to the conclusion that successful people with strong self-belief don’t do goal setting in this way - why? - Because their too busy doing what they need to do to get what they want to get.

Successful people don’t spend time writing down what they want out of life they just get on and do it. To be successful at whatever it is you want to do, you need to ask yourself - what do I really want to achieve? What are my dreams and desires, what do I want to build, to create and what sort of person do I want to be.

You need to clearly identify what it is you want out of life, what do you hunger and thirst for, what do you really want to achieve?

If someone held your head under water you’d quickly realise what you wanted - oxygen! You need to feel like this to be successful. Most of us experience this feeling when we fall in love. We do almost anything to impress and be with the person of our dreams.

This is how people create success, it’s how new countries were discovered, products were invented, Everest was conquered and man walked on the moon. You may not want to achieve something so dramatic, you may want to have a
successful plumbing business, or be an excellent accountant, or even run a marathon. Whatever it is, once you identify and focus on it you will release the motivation to make it happen.

There is an often-told story of the swimmer, Florence Chadwick. On her first attempt to swim the English Channel she encountered huge waves and chilling temperature. Her trainers were alongside her in a boat. They had greased her body to provide protection from the cold and gave her hot
soup from a vacuum flask. She had everything going for her to ensure she was successful.

However a heavy fog set in and as the fog descended, her vision was limited to only a few feet. The water seemed to get colder, the waves higher and she started suffering from cramp in her arms and legs. She eventually gave up her effort and asked her trainers to take her on board the boat.

What she didn’t realise was that she was only a short distance from the shore. When the reporters asked her why she’d given up when she was such a short distance form the shore. Her answer was quite simple - “I lost sight of what I wanted to achieve. I’m not sure that I had it firmly in my
mind.”

You need to have a clear mental picture of where you want to go. You need to visualise yourself being successful and work towards it, you then have a far better chance of achieving what you want to achieve.

And case your wondering about Florence Chadwick - she did become the first woman to swim the English Channel on the 8th August 1950. It took her 13 hours 25 minutes and I bet her arms were tired!

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Whatever you want in life, you have far more chance of achieving it if you set a clear goal, written down, with a definite time scale.

For example, if you want to lose weight, set a target weight and a realistic date for reaching this target. This way you will be more committed to actually forming a plan to do something about it, and keeping to it. Follow this step-by-step process for your goal.

1. Once you have decided what it is you want to achieve, make sure you have a clear vision. Really see it, feel it, hear it, taste it. If you have a goal to lose weight, imagine how you will feel when you have reached your target weight - how will you feel about yourself? How will you reward yourself? Put up pictures or inspirational quotes that you will see very day to remind you of what your goal looks like.

2. Secondly, make your goal measurable. Something like losing weight is quite easy in this respect - you set a target weight that would be right for your height etc. If your goal is something like ‘be more spiritual’, this is more difficult to measure - but imagine what you would be doing, feeling, being if you were more spiritual. Catch the essence of what it means for you. Think of something specific that you could do if you were more spiritual and make this your goal. This is vital - if you don’t set a measurable goal, your goal will always be vague and you don’t really know exactly what you are aiming for, which will decrease your motiviation.

3. Make sure that your goal is achievable and realistic. If you have a track record of failed goals, have a look to see if you have been setting yourself goals that are too big to achieve within a given timescale, or are outside of your capabilities right now. This does not mean they are not ultimately achievable - but sometimes it is better to start with smaller goals that you know you can achieve. Once you start reaching these goals, you will feel more confident to follow a slightly bigger goal, and so on…

4. Next, set a date for when you will reach your goal. Write it in your diary or calendar. Tell your closest friends and ask them to ask you whether you’ve taken the actions you need in order to reach your goals. If other people know this is what you are doing you will be more motivated to carry out whatever it is you need to do.

5. Decide how you will reward yourself when you achieve your goal. This is very important. We often do not pause to pat ourselves on the back when we achieve something, and often our achievements go by almost unnoticed. Make sure you have a definite reward set out that will be a way of acknowledging yourself and giving yourself a confidence boost.

6. Set out the steps you need to take to reach your goal and work out when you need to do them - put these in your diary or calendar - and then keep to them!

7. There will be days or maybe periods of time when you feel de-motivated, disheartened and perhaps begin to wonder why you thought you could do it. Don’t allow these moments to stop you. This is just your internal saboteur - perceptions you have built up from past experience that have created self-limiting beliefs. Use the following guidelines to keep you motivated:

• If you are stuck, ask yourself the question ‘How can I get round this obstacle’ - you may be surprised how easily you will answer yourself.

• Keep your goal in mind - bring it to life by imagining how you will feel, how your life will be etc.

• Remind yourself of the consequences of NOT achieving your goal.

• DON’T feel guilty if you are not achieving as quickly as you would like - guilt is destructive - just review your goal and re-structure if necessary.

• Ask yourself if you’ve taken on too much - how realistic is your goal? Does it need simplifying, or a longer time period?

• Remind yourself of what you HAVE achieved so far - and give yourself a reward.

• Take a break - stop thinking about it for a few days - and then start again. You might find a few new ideas.

• Make sure you have the right people supporting you - if you have anyone putting your project down, don’t discuss it with them.

• Ask your most supportive friends to help - get them to ask you regularly what you are doing to achieve your goal.

• Refuse to listen to any negative thoughts in your head that tell you you can’t do it. Every successful person has these - but their success is result of the ability to ignore these thoughts.

• Remember that your goal IS achievable. Everything comes from our beliefs. The successful person is successful because they believe that it’s possible. The unsuccessful is so because they believe that it’s not. It’s really that simple. So believe that your goal is possible.

Above all, be good to yourself. Don’t give yourself a hard time - there is nothing wrong with you if you are finding it difficult to keep to a goal. It’s perfectly normal. However, if you are finding it difficult, you may be suffering from low confidence, or a self limiting belief - why not discuss it with a life coach?

Ros Bott BA (Hons) FAETC
Life Coach and writer
http://www.rosbott.com

No matter how ambitious your goal, you CAN achieve it. You do it by taking one little step at a time. If your dream seems overwhelming, break it down into small, manageable piece. Make each component easy to attain. Here are a few tips to help you:

1. Visualize Your Goal: The first step is to create a mental picture of your goal. Get very clear on what you want. Are you gaining a new skill? Hitting a new revenue goal? Landing a new important client? See and feel it. Imagine what you would look like in your new position, career, house, relationship, or body. How will your life be different as a result of attaining your goal?

2. Define Your Goal: Be very precise and write your goal down. Outline how much and by when. Add in specific information and resources (money, marketing materials, software, etc.) you will need to acquire to achieve your goal.

3. Make a Plan: When a goal seems too big, we tend to procrastinate because it is too overwhelming. Breaking it down and focusing on one piece at a time makes large goals more attainable. Develop a series of action steps with dates attached. As you finish each task, check it off and acknowledge yourself. Review your progress on a regular basis.

4. Post It: Put your goal in a place you can easily see it: next to your desk, on your mirror, in your wallet. Read it several times throughout each day. Make a timeline for accomplishing each step. This schedule can be drawn onto a large sheet of paper and posted somewhere that is easy to see each day. Don’t allow your goal to fade away - revisit it regularly to assess your progress and any barriers that are coming up to prevent forward momentum.

5. Get Support: Who can help you achieve your goal? Who are your cheerleaders? List the people and companies you will need to contact for assistance. Contact them and ask for their help. Most people are more than happy to give a hand, be a cheerleader, or to mentor someone. If you need to hire someone to help you - a coach, a financial planner, or a trainer - do it. Remember, you are investing in yourself!

That’s it five simple steps to achieve anything. As you move along, enjoy the journey. You are learning, growing, and accomplishing. Take time to appreciate your progress. Reaching a goal does not happen by accident. It is a series of intentional small steps, proper planning, and a stubborn commitment to make it happen.

As Business Author and Entrepreneur Mark Victor Hansen says, “By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands your own.”

ACTION STEP: Why not begin right now? What do you really want to achieve? Write down your goal. You CAN do it!

Wendy Maynard, your friendly Marketing Maven, publishes REMARKABLE MARKETING, a weekly ezine for business owners, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. If you’re ready to skyrocket your sales, easily attract customers, and have more fun, get your FREE REPORT at: http://www.gomarketingmaven.com

Goals are the key to achieving anything in life and so it is with achieving happiness. Happiness comes from a steady progress towards meaningful goals which are highly desirable to the individual. Overall goals need to be broken up into specific goals for each aspect of your life e.g. health, career, relationships etc. Goals must be realistic and achievable, but at the same time they should be attractive enough to excite you and make you enthusiastic about achieving them.

The key to understanding your real goals is to ask yourself these three questions.

• What would I want to do if I had only six months to live?
• What would I want to have or do if an angel had granted me one wish which would be fulfilled instantly?
• Would I be truly happy if I actually got whatever I thought I most deeply wanted and what would I do with it?

To clarify these questions - assume that a doctor told you today that you had only six months more to live. What would be the things you would like to do during those six months? These things would be your true priorities.

If there were no obstacles to your doing or possessing anything you wanted - what would that be? You will have think beyond your self imposed limitations and express your true desires.

Is what you think you want most, really what you want most? What are you going to do with it and will that make you truly happy? Say you thought your most ardent wish was to have a million dollars - what would you do with it? Would doing that make you truly happy? Think of some other millionaires and consider if they are truly happy in the way that you want to be.

Identify goals for all the aspects of your life that impact your happiness. These include relationships, financials, career, health, attitude etc. Then you can prioritize these goals so you work on the most important ones first. Once you know the goals most desired by you, develop the sub goals which will need to be achieved in order to achieve the primary goals e.g. if the primary goal is to develop strong family relationships, then one of the sub goals could be to develop reasonable financial security so as to afford more free time with the family. For each area you also need to develop intermediate goals - what you will achieve in five years/one year/six months/one month. These goals need to be specific and written down. To simplify the task of setting your goals you can follow the process given in “Ways to Happiness” at http://www.myhappiness.com .

Next you need to assess your present status on each one of the areas where you have defined goals e.g. if your financial goal is to have a hundred thousand dollars in five years and twenty thousand dollars in one year, then you need to assess what you have now. If you total up your savings and find that you have ten thousand dollars today, then you need to save ten thousand dollars more in the next twelve months. If that is totally impossible in today’s circumstances, then see if you can change your circumstances e.g. get a second job, or learn a new skill and get a higher paying job or reduce some non critical expenses. If even this is not feasible then revise your goals to make them achievable within the constraints you define for yourself. It is important to get in the habit of achieving your goals. You can revise them upwards after you get more confidence in your abilities. You must be totally convinced that you can achieve your goals.

At the end of this exercise you will have a set of achievable goals which are highly desirable to you. Visualize yourself achieving the goals - having a loving spouse, being rich and famous etc. Then draw up a specific and time bound plan to achieve the goals and fix benchmarks to measure your progress.

Since these goals are achievable and also highly desirable to you, you will discover that a deep sense of satisfaction and lasting happiness will come merely by making steady progress towards your goals.

Copyright © My Happiness 2005-2006- All Rights Reserved.

Sanjiv Sahay is the editor of My Happiness-Making Life Happier www.myhappiness.com , a website that helps you to find your own path to sustained happiness by using Happiness Information, Directory of Resources, online tools and the help of an online community of your peers. He can be contacted at editor@myhappiness.com .

DEVELOPING A GOAL-SETTING CHECKPOINT: The process of developing meaningful goals and objectives can be a challenging task for any manager. There is a method to make this process easier, however, and it involves following a few general guidelines. The Goal Setting Checklist for the first-line supervisor has been specifically designed with two main objectives in mind: (1) for specific use in translating general (or possibly unclear) goals into a workable structure; and (2) for use as a worksheet (or checklist) to write meaningful goals and objectives for employees. This two-step process should enable the supervisor to translate ideas, “rough thoughts,” and wishes into goal statements of a much more practical nature. Over the years, experience has shown that while it is relatively easy to teach the concept and theory of goal setting, many supervisors and managers have found it quite difficult to translate the theory into actual practice. Step-by-step use of the goal setting checklist should provide a constructive aid in this regard.

HOW WILL THIS GOAL OR OBJECTIVE BE MEASURED? This question places immediate focus on the measurement side of accomplishing the goal or objective. It puts the spotlight on whether the goal or objective to be assigned is easily measurable in terms of quantity (output), whether there are also qualitative factors involved. Just as important, it automatically addresses the criteria that will be used for measurement something which can be easily overlooked, even with the best of intentions.

WHAT IS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED? It is possible for a supervisor to have a generally clear idea of the way a goal or objective is to be measured, but fall short in specifically identifying what is to be actually accomplished. Nothing can be more de-motivating to an employee than never being certain when goal accomplishment is actually achieved. An employee’s motivational level has a direct link to accomplishing a stated task; where this crucial element is missing in a person’s performance, job satisfaction will usually suffer.

WHEN SHOULD IT BE ACHIEVED? While everyone usually agrees that a supervisor must be as flexible as possible in goal setting, it is quite easy to inadvertently establish a vague or unrealistic time frame for accomplishment. Time frames should be realistic and definite with some flexibility taken into consideration. For example, many times within the work environment, a situation will arise that could not have been anticipated during the time that the goal was actually set.

Copyright AE Schwartz & Associates All rights reserved. For additional presentation materials and resources: ReadySetPresent and for a Free listing as a Trainer, Consultant, Speaker, Vendor/Organization: TrainingConsortium

CEO, A.E. Schwartz & Associates, Boston, MA., a comprehensive organization which offers over 40 skills based management training programs. Mr. Schwartz conducts over 150 programs annually for clients in industry, research, technology, government, Fortune 100/500 companies, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. He is often found at conferences as a key note presenter and/or facilitator. His style is fast-paced, participatory, practical, and humorous. He has authored over 65 books and products, and taught/lectured at over a dozen colleges and universities throughout the United States.

It is natural to be satisfied with the way things are; but the moment we settle for how things are, we give up the opportunity to experience how things could be. Life is evolutionary, but only if we allow it to be. If we choose to, we can get stuck in the comfort of the status quo and miss the real opportunities that require us to step into a bigger life.

Many people in business are comfortable with things being the way they are. People will even say, “It has always been that way.” Just because it’s always been “that way” doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. Things must change in order to grow. We must change. To stay the same means to never grow and develop, and never reach our full potential.

Life is about change. Nothing ever stays the same. There are times when people resist change and become comfortable and attached to the status quo. The key is to always be discontented with the status quo and search for new opportunities.

Are you discontented with the status quo? If so, you are right where you need to be. Becoming contented means that you stop looking for opportunities and are not open to new possibilities. The status quo will lull you into thinking things are fine, but that isn’t true. The true nature of life is change, so if you are not changing, you are not fully experiencing life. This doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the moment you are in. Most certainly you should enjoy where you are, and be excited about where you are going.

Coach Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, PhD, is a Certified Master Coach specializing in working with business owners and professionals in being more profitable and productive while staying sane and balanced. Coach Lee is the publisher of the award winning e-zine, 365 Days of Coaching. Her first book, 365 Days of Coaching - Because Life Happens Every Day (Universal Publisher, 2004) was named a finalist for Best Book 2004 by Publish.com and has a five star rating on Amazon.com.

Visit Coach Lee at her websites http://www.coachlee.com and http://www.365daysofcoaching.com

True Direction, Inc. Copyright
>>>This article along with byline attached may be freely republished<<<

In his multimedia “Unleash Your Greatness Success System” Mike Litman gives his audience a virtual “kick in the butt” - albeit nicely. In this program he pushes hard to get the reader past their desire for “feel good” motivation; instead he offers a plan that, if followed, should result in the listener making strides towards achieving his or her goals.

The first time I listened to Mike Litman, being a somewhat reserved person myself, I was - to put it mildly - taken aback. The level of energy conveyed in his presentations is comparable to that of a category 5 hurricane. I have to admit that in the first few seconds the thought did cross my mind as to whether his energy levels were artificially high because something else was lacking, but that concern disappeared quickly as I began to absorb the principles being conveyed.

Mike became widely recognized when his co-authored book “Conversations With Millionaires” became a #1 bestseller. He intimates that after spending several years seeking and studying success principles, he finally captured the essence of what was required to really make it. In the following four years he was able to practise a simple - but often overlooked - strategy that propelled him to the success he is today.

Included with a digital copy of the acclaimed bestseller and other valuable texts are audio interviews with such personalities as Jim Rohn and Tony Robbins. What I found particularly helpful in these interviews is the practical, concrete advice on conquering mediocrity and the honest insight into what it really takes to be an achiever. Some of these nuggets of wisdom seem to have largely disappeared in between our busyness and fixation with technological solutions.

While the quality of sound in a few of the audio clips leaves a bit to be desired because of background noise, my attention was captivated. I don’t know at what point I tuned out the noise while intent on absorbing each word. Audiophiles may find the interference on some sections annoying, but the positive impact of the classic, powerful audio content on the listener’s way of thinking should be significant.

If you already know that there’s a lot more you want to achieve in this life you probably know as well that you need a plan, and you need to stay motivated to work that plan. You’ll need proven steps - strategies and tactics that have created millionaires but that are uncomplicated enough that regular people without a lot of resources can apply to their lives and drive themselves to success.

I think the “Unleash Your Greatness Success System” does a very good job of directing our focus back to the uncomplicated core principles of cause and effect in life. If you are passionate about achieving your goals and want success to be your end result but need your mind de-cluttered, someone to help you take stock, point you in the right direction and help you get going a personal mentor, whether in person or via recorded media, is a good start.

As Mike says, “You don’t have to get it right, you just have to get it going.” Don’t look back over your life years from now and regret not even trying to reach for your dreams. Be secure in the knowledge that you at least gave it your best shot. Start today.

About the Author

Sabrina Hinds has a professional background implementing and supporting technology in corporate environments. Her technical expertise was honed as she worked her way through helpdesk, desktop, LAN and internet specializations. Now, she enjoys freelance writing on technology and a multitude of other topics. More information about “Unleash Your Greatness Success System” is available at http://www.consorts.net/UnleashYourGreatness

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Years ago, people came to America in pursuit of their dreams and still do to seek a better life. Work hard, stay focused and you can achieve the American Dream. But our nation, in fact our world, changed on September 11, 2001. Our hearts and spirits were broken, fear and cynicism crept into our collective consciousness, and many are still in need of restoration.

To prove that we are still a country that dreams, I launched the Great American Dream Challenge. Nationwide, people are pledging to use the next twelve months to embark upon new dreams, demonstrate our belief in these dreams and to actually attaining them. What is unique and exciting is that we have forged a community with a common bond dedicated to helping each other realize these dreams. It’s called My Dream Circle.

Here’s How It Works

• Identify a dream that you are passionate or excited about. Find something that matters to you.

• Put it in writing, tell another person, or post it on my website.

• Join a community like MyDreamCircle.com that is committed to helping you overcome obstacles and achieve results.

• Learn to make specific requests and share your resources.

• Create a system for support and accountability.

• Take serious action.

Even if you tend to be overly realistic, you still have dreams or things that you want for yourself and others. During tough times or those days when there is no evidence that your dream is possible, much less a good idea, it’s essential to have a place to turn. In our community, help is available 24/7 via our website, phone calls with me, other experts and coaches. Members have a cadre of specialists on hand to provide the gentle or tough nudge needed.

Throughout the entire year, we will keep abreast of stories, obstacles and wins, but then we’ll gather to commemorate something more substantial than just our personal accomplishments. We will have raised the proverbial bar because when we see that our dreams can come true, we are willing to dream bigger dreams.

The Reality

Many of us think, “I’ll believe in my dream when I see that it’s a sure thing or at least when there’s proof that it’s likely to happen.” But the secret to living a “dream come true” life is to believe in your dream simply because it matters to you. In other words, looking for certainty “out in the world,” is not the place to begin. The place to look is in your own heart. Choose to believe in your dream. Then, take action to demonstrate (to yourself and others) that you really do believe.

The reality is we all have good days and bad. Personally, there are days that I forget to trust, days that I get distracted and forget my dreams, and days when the doubters and dream killers (internally or externally) become so overwhelming I want to give up. That’s when I turn to My Dream Circle, to others who help me remember and reclaim my belief in myself and in my dreams. This community has assisted me through hard times and I continue to do the same for them daily.

Now, with members from all over the world, My Dream Circle provides support through ongoing encouragement, coaching, inspiration and most importantly, accountability for taking risks. There is even a Dream Fund available. We are finding new dreams, partners, investors, volunteers, answers, creative ideas, mentors, friends, and fellow dreamers. But beyond networking, educating, challenging and celebrating, we are a community with a shared commitment that is profoundly impacting lives.

Your Invitation

If we bring our intentions, offer support and resources to aid each other, what could happen? Just reading this might activate a healthy cynic, but during a time when many have lost hope, are afraid of dreaming or taking risks, this is the essential time for us to be bold. What would you do if you believed in yourself? What might you change if you believed in your dreams? And how would you alter your life if you knew people would stand by and help you to achieve your heart’s desire?

Find out by going to www.dreamcoach.com where you can get what you need to achieve any dream. You don’t have to go it alone. Even if you are in need of a new dream, we’re here to offer a hand. Our goal is that everyone who participates in the Great American Dream Challenge will be successful in reaching their dreams.

It’s unheard of and outrageous! Yes, it’s a dream. We intend to prove that as a nation we still have faith and dreams. And we demonstrate that our dreams are important by pursuing them. The conversation about dreams will change from one of fear, uncertainly and doubt to one of hope and possibility as we dream out loud for all to hear.

Marcia Wieder is a best-selling author and speaker who is known as America’s Dream Coach®. She’s known for giving inspiring and moving talks to AT&T, The Gap and American Express. She appeared several times on Oprah and The Today Show. She’s also a syndicated columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle.

For more information, to receive a free audio e-book, “Jump Start Your Dream”, or to join her community of Dreamers, visit http://www.dreamcoach.com.

Come Experience a Powerful Weekend Designed to Help You Exceed Your Expectations & Achieve Your Dreams, visit http://www.dreamcoach.com/dream_weekend.htm to register for the event.