In my last blog, I wrote about the Ten Basic Rules For Successful Goal Setting. For the next 10 days or so I’d like to take a few minutes to discuss each rule separately. Let’s get started.

Every goal, big or small, has to be written down.

This first step is so important yet people always fail to do it. I don’t think they fail to do it purposely, I think they don’t do it because they really don’t think it’s that important. They say, "I know what my goals are. I’ve got them all in my head." Sound familiar? It does to me too! We’d be better off writing them on a piece of paper and taping them to our heads!

I learned a long time ago that the simple act of writing down your goals sets your mind to begin working on the goal without us even knowing it. Your subconscious mind begins to make things happen in the background. You’ll meet someone by chance, so you thought, and 2-3 years down the road that person has an integral part in your business. And it all started because you wrote down your goal.

When you write your goals you have to be very specific. You should begin the goal with these words: My goal is to - and then write the goal. But don’t be general. Don’t say write "My goal is to be financially free someday." You need to be more specific: "My goal is to make $250,000 a year by making one new contact per day."

Then, most important, you date the goal. The goal I just mentioned above actually has a sub goal. This goal would be "My goal is to make one new contact a day." This would be a "step goal" to the ultimate goal of making $250,000 a year. Nevertheless, you still have to date it. So you write the date you want to make $250,000 a year by, and then you write the date of the step goal of making one new contact a day. As you’re doing all of this your subconcious mind is working on ways to make it happen.

Always make sure to take some time to do this. Writing goals shouldn’t be a once a year project where you write them then stuff them in a drawer somewhere to never review again. It should be done daily, weekly and monthly. But set aside time in your calendar to make it happen. You won’t be disappointed.

Here’s an assignment for you: Write a list of everything you’d like to be, do, have or change. Once you make this list it will serve as your goals list from which you’ll pull ideas for your regular goal setting sessions.

Tomorrow we’ll discuss number 2, "Small goals are just as important as big goals."

I believe in you!