Grow With Goals
By Brandon Iurato
Our road to success begins with a fundamental question: Where are we going? Funny thing is, most of us don’t really know. Thinking back to where I began, I am reminded of a popular saying: “most people don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan”. I became a wandering generality and I wasn’t even sure how that happened until many years later.
Having a purpose, or knowing your “why” is the starting point of all achievement. The lack of a major purpose is the stumbling block for 98 out of every 100 people simply because they never defined their goals and started toward them. Without clearly defined goals, we lose focus and obstacles soon appear.
Your goal must be more than a wish, it must be a burning desire. It has to be on your mind constantly. James Alllen, whose works inspired Earl Nightingale and Napoleon Hill said this: "All that you accomplish or fail to accomplish with your life is the direct result of your thoughts". Only by finding your own burning desire will you achieve success. Everyone wants the better things in life, money, recognition, respect, and friends. But most people never go beyond just wishing for them. It's like seeds without soil, nothing will happen!
If you know what you want from life, pursue it with a passion, continuous effort and sound planning. This will give you focus, you will have awakened the purpose, the why, inside you. Friedrich Nietzsche puts it into perspective this way: “For the person who has a strong enough why to live for, they can bear almost any how”. As soon as we gain a clear understanding of the awesome power that this brings, from that point forward, you will be on a mission.
When you know where you’re going, it allows you to be aware of the opportunities around you and inspires you to have the courage to act on them. People are judged not by what they begin, but by what they finish.
Millions of people are struggling to achieve simple goals. This is because their highest aim is only to be in their current situation. They are drowning in mediocrity because of the limitations they placed in their own minds. Although we don’t like to admit it, even to ourselves, this may have happened to some of us. Open your mind, step out of your comfort zone and realize that you are worthy of your dreams and visions. Success is a worthy goal.
Many people never recognize the difference between wishing and believing. Setting realistic goals and committing yourself to them will allow you to accomplish things you once only wished for.
Ralph Waldo Emerson made a profound statement that we can apply to ourselves: “Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong, there are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and to follow it to an end requires courage.”
It takes courage to put your dreams & goals in writing and tell someone about it. Goals are worthless unless we are held accountable for our commitments. For many, making our goals known would mean setting yourself up for criticism and embarrassment if you were to fail. But we know there is only failure in not trying.
The outstanding leaders in every walk of recognize the power of their own minds—seize it and take action. The word “Impossible” has no meaning to them. They turn all unpleasant circumstances into opportunities for positive action.
Take action and make up your mind to be in the top 2% of all high achievers! Write down your dreams and goals and pursue them with a passion.
Brandon Iurato, Toastmaster and member of the National Speaker's Association is a professional speaker, author and trainer whose company, Success Strategies focuses on helping individuals and companies maximize their potential.
Brandon can be reached at biurato@frontiernet.net
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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