A Fresh Look at SMART Goals

My son Eric shared some ideas about goal setting. He thinks the SMART goals model may fall short. He developed a model that goals should be specific, meaningful, and challenging.

SPECIFIC: Goals should outline details of what will be accomplished. For example,

• Setting a goal to buy a car, may get you a car, but not exactly what you wanted.
• Setting a goal to buy a 2011, 4.3 liter V8, Lexus SC convertible, with the obsidian exterior, the black leather trim with dark walnut accent interior, and the 18-inch G Spider wheels enhances the possibility you will achieve your goal.

MEANINGFUL: We should set some goals that mean something. They should mean something to you. They change your life. They should change the lives of others. They may even change the world.

Ten years ago, I knew a Dr. Christensen. He was a neonatal physician that set a meaningful goal. He wanted to reduce the number of babies dying from respiratory failure at birth. Working with the neonatal physicians association and a non-government organization. He would recruit physicians and nurses to travel to developing countries for two weeks at a time. The teams would teach local doctors and nurses how to resuscitate babies. The teams would train 15-20 doctors. However, each person trained committed to train at least 10 others in their country. More than 30,000 medical teams have received the training since he began. You can learn more about this example at http://lds.org/library/page/display/0,7098,6211-1-3217-1,00.html

CHALLENGING: We should set some goals each year that cause us to stretch to achieve them. They should make us work to achieve them. They should challenge our intellect, our stamina, our courage, and our comfort zone. Yet, too many people set easy goals, just so they can achieve them easily.

Accountability: A Key to Achieving Goals

Recently, people suggested I spend more time on the Synergy portion of the GoalsWork model. They highlighted the power they received from this key element of the model.

The synergy step suggests that you create a GoalsWork Team (others refer to them as mastermind teams). Your team should consist of 4-5 people who also want to work on goals. The team should meet at least once a month for about 90 minutes. The team agenda includes each person

1. Stating the goal(s) they are currently working on
2. Explaining what they did since the last meeting
3. Outlining action they plan to take before the next meeting
4. Asking for ideas if they cannot think of what to do

A GoalsWork Team significantly accelerates success. You will act more on your goal because you know you have to report. You also reduce despair or doubt about your goal because other people confirm or give you feedback about whether your goal is achievable and relevant. In addition, your focus continues on your goal because you regularly discuss it with others. Finally, you progress on your goal because your team will brainstorm ideas when you stall or sputter.

So, act now to create your GoalsWork Team.

• Make a list of 8-10 people, that you know, who believe in improvement and growth.
• Prioritize your list with the people with whom you would like to collaborate on top.
• Contact them and propose you form a team (stop when you get 5).
• Explain the purpose and demands of the team. Ask if they wish to participate.
• Invite those who agree to meet at a specific location, time, and date for the first meeting.
• Follow the agenda outlined above. Keep the meetings to no more than 90 minutes.

Share your efforts with others by commenting on this blog. We'll discuss this important key in later blogs.

Our Trip to the Holy Land

I wanted to share some of the feelings engendered during our trip to the Holy Land. I've explained in previous blogs that I am a man of faith. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe he is the literal Son of God. I believe that he atoned for our sins and that he broke the bands of death through His resurrection. You can imagine how thrilled I was to visit the place of His earthly ministry.

Our trip generated multiple memories. I cannot prioritize them. So, I will attempt to display the kaleidoscope of images I remember.

People surrounded us from all over the world. We encountered tours from Italy, Brazil, Ecuador, India, Pakistan, China, Japan, and more everyday. They came to worship, to honor, and to experience communion with their Savior. Their faith and sacrifice amazed me.

We sang Christmas Carols in a cave in the Shepherds' Fields just outside of Bethlehem. The resonance of the cave echoed the resonance of the spirit. We felt closer to the Babe born in Bethlehem.

We sat in the Garden of Gethsemane among olive trees similar to those when he went their one fateful night. Our faith sets great store on this Garden. We hold it in equal stature to Golgotha and the Empty Tomb. We believe that, among these olive trees, he took upon him the punishment for our transgressions. We believe that the excruciating pain caused him to "tremble and bleed at every pore." We believe that through his Grace, Charity, and Mercy; he gave us the opportunity to return to our Heavenly Father clean and pure. Our choice is whether we accept His sacrifice, repent, and keep His commandments. If we do so, He awards eternal life. All of this we pondered in the Garden.

We visited the Garden Tomb rather than the more popular Church of the Resurrection. Peace pervades the garden surrounding the tomb. Our guide first took us to the overlook of a skull on the mountainside. We contemplated the crucifixion of the Lamb of God. We pondered his forgiveness to those who "know not what they do". We contemplated the anguish when even His father withdrew so that no one could accuse Him of special privilege.

At the tomb, mere yards from Golgotha we met outside a simple door in the rock. Two small rooms proceed from the door. The tomb remains empty. We contemplated the words of the hymn. "He is risen. He has burst His three-day prison. Let the whole wide world rejoice. Death is conquered. Man is free! Christ has claimed the victory." I remained grateful for a faith that does not rely on a cross, but instead focuses on an empty tomb.

We basked in the peace found around the Sea of Galilee. We grew to understand why he loved the people and the area around that surprising small body of water. My wife pointed out that as the Creator of this world, he must have prepared that special spot for peace, renewal, and sanctuary. We fell in love with the area.

In summary, our trip allowed us to visit his places, to see his vistas, and to draw closer to him. The trip did not increase my faith in Jesus Christ. I do not know more than before that He lives. I knew of His divinity before I visited the Holy Land. I knew that, because of His atonement, I will see Him again. The trip, however, allowed me to ponder it even more.

I would recommend everyone try to make the pilgrimage.

How I Achieved a Major Life's Goal

GOAL: I didn't post a blog last week because we were touring the Holy Land. I set a goal to visit the Holy Land more than 45 years ago.

Our family visits the Holy Land. My father taught Sunday School for more than two decades. He could draw free hand maps of the Holy City. People who visited the Holy Land swore his drawings were accurate. He had never been to Jerusalem. He visited the Holy Land with my mother in the 1990's. My grandparents visited the Holy Land in the 1970's when they were in their seventies. I visited it last week with my father, my wife, my brother, my sisters, and our spouses. My mother could not come due to health reasons.

OTHERS: My mother and father helped us achieve the goal. They paid for all of us to go. They put together a private tour when our original tour cancelled four weeks before our departure. They worked with the tour guides to make the tour great.

ACTION: We worked hard to prepare for the trip. My wife and I read several books about the Holy Land and the life of Jesus Christ. I listened to Cd's of the Old Testament to understand what happened anciently. We watched three documentaries of more than 16 hours each. We acted to mentally prepare. We also prepared physically by walking more, climbing more stairs. and eating less. Our actions made the trip more meaningful. My wife, who suffers extreme motion sickness, tested some medical patches, that helped her travel well.

LIMITATIONS: We recognized several limitations to our trip. Carol suffers motion sickness. We wanted money to spend. We wanted to be able to physically keep up with the others. We overcame these real solutions by testing patches, exercising, and saving money. My parents resolved how to pay for the trip. We also encountered several limitations in addition to real limitations. My wife suffered a windmill in her fears of sickness, allergies, and not sleeping her own bed. We dealt with them through prayer, psychology, and illogical methods.

SYNERGY: Finally, we met frequently to review other people's pictures and experiences. We exchanged multiple emails to keep one another informed and motivated. We reported our preparations to one another.

I loved our trip to the Holy Land. I treasure the memories stored in my mind forever. I'm grateful to my parents, especially my mother, for making the trip possible. Finally, I appreciate that GoalsWorked to make it happen. I will add another blog about the trip tomorrow.

Stephen Covey One of the "Others" Who Will Help You Succeed

The Utah Valley Chapter of the BYU Management Society awarded Dr. Stephen R. Covey its Pioneer in Leadership Award last night. He shared his current research with us. We rediscovered why Time Magazine called him one of the 25 most influential Americans in the 20th century.

My father first introduced me to Stephen Covey in the 1960's. My wife took several classes from Dr. Covey while she was in college. I attend every presentation I can. I changed my behavior and focus in life each time I read on of his several books. His 7 habits helped me achieve professional and personal success and satisfaction.

Last night Dr. Covey explained our need to grow as a whole person. He defined four parts of our being: the body, the heart, the mind, and the spirit. Each part strives to fulfill an imperative. The body strives to live, the heart to love, the mind to learn, and the spirit to leave a legacy. He reviewed how using industrial age management styles of control and restriction will deflate organizational performance. He highlighted how using management styles that release the human potential enhance both human and organizational performance.

He illustrated how the first three of the 7 habits of highly effective people (be proactive, begin with the end in mind, and first things first) lead to a private victory. He demonstrated how the second three habits (seek first to understand then to be understood, synergy, and seek for win-win negotiation) lead to the public victory. He told how sharpening the saw circumscribes the other six habits to keep us alert.

Then, he emphasized how the 8th habit transforms our effectiveness into greatness. He showed us children in Singapore, Alabama, and other locations who discovered the Leadership in Me. His work includes giving children a new vision of their potential and inner strength.

I don't have room to describe all that he shared with us. I suggest you visit his web site www.stephencovey.com to learn more. Dr. Stephen R. Covey is definitely one the others who want to help you achieve your goals.

Action Achieves Success

Achieving success requires action. While apparently self-evident, many never achieve success because they never act.

Small, consistent action yields best results. For example, making 10 phone calls a day to current, future, and past clients can generate far more sales than 2,000 mailers. Yet, the phone call seems too mundane. The mailers require pondering the promotion, writing the copy, designing the mailer, overseeing its printing, and ensuring it gets mailed. After all that work, you just sit and wait for the sales to pour in. We become enamored with the glamorous project.

The small, successful actions get ignored. For example, I have to sit down and write this blog. I spend a lot of time pondering the message I wish to share with you. Sometimes, the message expands to a long blog. Short blogs carry more clout. Yet, whether the message is expansive or simple, nothing happens until I sit down and type it.

Consider your goals. Examine what you have done to achieve them. Are your planned actions overwhelming your actual actions. Try simplifying them. Small consistent actions achieve success.

The Windmill of Focusing on Failure

A friend reminded me this week that "GoalsWork for Success." Is it that simple?

Studies show that setting goals improve work, productivity, families, and lives. Setting goals increases success. No hype, just fact. We accomplish more when we set--and write down--our goals. We feel better when we act on our goals. Others help us identify useful action when our reservoir of ideas goes dry. Our success accelerates when we our report our actions to others. We achieve more when we set and work on goals.

We may not achieve all our goals. That is acceptable. Several people focus on the goals they did not achieve. They let the failures pull them down. They feel like failures. They allow despair to shadow their lives. Some vent anger at themselves and those around them. Many become fatalistic and surrender to their feelings.

I call false limitations appearing real windmills. My reference comes from Don Quixote who thought he fought giants, when in reality he fought windmills. All of us face windmills in life. All of us see limitations that don't exist.

Focusing on our failures is one of the windmills that limit our success. I've met people who achieved several goals. They lived better lives. They moved their careers upward and more satisfactory. They took their family to amazing places for vacations. They eliminated debt, increased savings, and grew investments. Yet, for all their successes, they could only see their failures. Their windmill, focusing on their failures, overwhelmed any joy of success.

One method for defeating this windmill is to print each success on strips of bright red paper. Print failures on pale yellow. Put them both on the wall, refrigerator, or tack board. Your eyes will be drawn to the red papers first. You will naturally start seeing your successes. It sounds irrational, but since windmills are irrational, we must defeat them irrationally.

Give of Yourself

Our model teaches that "Others will help you achieve your goals." Recent events emphasize that point. When we give of ourselves, even a little bit, we can make the world a better place to live.

I witness the power that others bring to making GOALSWORK. I would like to share a few for your benefit:

• A mother who sacrificed her own money to pay for her children and their spouses to go to Israel for a week. The preparation and anticipation for the trip bring all of them to Christ and together.
• A woman who invites friends, family, and others to enjoy a retreat at her weekend home. These annual events bless those who attend with peace, happiness, and respite.
• A business owner asks three members of a professional association to help him resolve a conflict with a long-time employee. Their advice helps him find a solution that resolves the problems and strengthens the employees resolve.
• A cousin with skills in business development sits down with another cousin to develop a plan to grow the business to $10 million in four years.
• A professional association sponsors board members from around the world to attend a conference where they learn how to grow their chapters lifting tens of thousands of professionals around the world.
• A neighbor brings enough meals to feed a family for 3-4 evenings when the wife has surgery.
• Colleagues rally together to share ideas, successes, and resolve problems. As a result an additional 3,000 people find jobs, enroll in school, start or improve their business.
• A friend provides a wonderful experience to a man and his son, by taking him sailing at a time that the man needs a lift and to forget unemployment and school challenges.
• Church leaders share their insights, counsel, and witnesses to millions across the globe. Their messages increase giving to others, strong families, personal growth, and service. They inspire, lift, and strengthen their fellow beings.

I could list a score more examples. Yes, others will help you achieve your goals. Remember, however, that you may be the "other" that will help someone else achieve their goals. It doesn't have to be a big task. Just look around you and you will see what you can do.

Act on 2-3 Things Each Month

Action is an important part of the GoalsWork model. A nineteenth century sage once wrote "Behold, he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and keepeth a commandment with a doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness. The same is damned." Damned in this context refers not to rotting in hades, but being stopped in one's progression, like a river is stopped by a dam.

I suggest that you plan 2-3 actions that will get you closer to your goal each month. Avoid overwhelming yourself. One lady set a goal to go to school. It terrified her. So, she set a goal one month to read about 3 different school programs on the Internet. The next month she visited the admissions, financial aid, and placement counselors at each of the three schools. The third month she completed the application for one school. Some point out that she could have done all of that in one month, but that was too much for her. It overwhelmed her. She broke it down into small steps spread over three months. It took longer, but she still achieved her dream of going back to school. She found scholarships to pay for all of it too.

You can schedule some actions to occur each day, week, or month. Two business owners each wanted to increase sales. They used Bryan Pope's (architect of The 7 Pillars of Successful Marketing http://www.msicommunity.com/) suggestion 9 at 8. He suggests that you plan how many calls you want to make "9," and set a certain time to make the calls "8am."

One owner decided to call nine current or potential clients each day starting at 8am. That generated 40 sales calls a week and increased his sales by 23% in two months. The other owner chose to call nine current or potential clients at 11am on Friday morning each week. He only wanted two additional sales per month. Both achieved their goals within two months.

An interesting thing happens when you start acting. The forces of the universe begin to act in your behalf. Success comes from your actions--and from other sources because you acted. I believe that our Divine Father opens the heavens to help you achieve your worthy dreams and goals. I join with millions of others, including Napoleon Hill and Earl Nightingale, who have witnessed this phenomena.

Remember, you don't have to do a lot, just select 2-3 new things to do each month. Then, act. Act with belief and excellence.

Do You Elevate Your Thoughts?

I attended two days of great elevation, inspiration, and enlightenment. I listened to messages that opened my understanding. They lifted my vision to see beyond what I usually see in my day-to-day work and toil.

How often do we take the time to elevate our thoughts? Stephen Covey referred to this as sharpening the saw in his master work 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Many of us go about our daily lot. We listen to music. We watch TV, DVDs or cable. We may surf the web to connect with friends, research information, follow sports or news stories, of more. Many seek the onslaught of hate and fear from many of today's talk show hosts.

How many of the things we do, however, lift us or improve us. Try an experiment. Take 15-20 minutes 3-times a week to listen or watch something that elevates your thoughts and lifts your attitude. You may watch some of the excellent lectures on http://www.ted.com/. You can listen to a short lesson through http://www.msicommunity.com/, http://www.getenoch.com/, or http://www.pandora.com/. You can get a free download from www.Nightingale.com. You can listen to religious programs, good music, or more.

My friend Dick Bolles mentioned in his blog that watching classic movies from NetFlicks generated more thoughts and new ideas. So, try watching some great movies. Avoid the shoot em up, curse em up, or depress em down genre. Seek for things that lift and elevate the soul. Try Singing in the Rain or some other uplifting piece.

You choose how you will elevate your thoughts and lift your attitude. Just try doing it at least 3 times a week for about 3 weeks. Then, see how your attitude responds. Please let me know what happens by posting a comment on this blog. I'd like to hear your stories.

The Great Other Who Helps Us Do All Things

The GoalsWork model declares that "others will help you." I would like to focus on the Great Other. He who goes by many names: the light, the way, the living water, the Lamb of God, the great I Am, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

I am a man of faith. I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe that He took upon Him the sins of all mankind, of every continent, every world, every race, every gender, and every epoch. He answered the punishment for all of them. He died and resurrected on the third day. He put off His mortal body and took it up again, glorified, perfected, and immortal.

I know that when He broke the bands of death and came forth from the tomb, He broke death's hold over me and every creature that has lived, now lives, and will yet live on this world and numberless others. I cannot, however, deny what I know. I also cannot remain silent on this Easter Sunday from declaring my belief. I know He lives today. I know he continues to love and teach us today.

A father once came to Jesus. His daughter was sick. He asked the Savior to heal her. The Lord taught him, and all of us, a key principle. He said "All things are possible to him that believeth." The man replied "Yeah, Lord, I believe." Then, I can see the Lord's eyes penetrating the man's soul, so that the man added "Help thou, mine unbelief."

I know that the Lord's atonement goes far beyond cleansing us from wrong-doing. It gives us more strength and ability. His atonement provides us with the power to do more than we can do by ourselves. He told modern prophets that "Men (meaning male and female) should be anxiously engaged in a good cause. For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves; and inasmuch as men do good, they shall in nowise lose their reward."

Christ gave us the power to do good. He gave us the choice to use the power. He promises us that if we use the power to do good (like supporting a family, giving to others, improving society, and so much more) that we shall achieve our desire.

So, this Easter Sunday rejoice that He is Risen, that He provided the grace that makes us whole, but also that His atonement allows us to do all things that we righteously desire. I know these things to be true. I hope that you find the same confirmation to know for yourself.

Your Future Remains in Your Control

More than 87% of the American workforce dislike their jobs. Many put themselves into that position because they never set career goals, but expected someone else to do so.

We sponsored an education expo this week. We invited 30+ colleges, trade schools, military, apprenticeship, and other vocational training programs into one room for youth and adults to explore appropriate post-HS training. I talked to more than 50 of the people who attended, asking them "What field do you want when (or if) you decide to grow-up. All but 7 astounded me with "I don't know" or "I'm not sure." What made the answer worse, they literally did not have a clue.

I could understand a 16-19-year old not settling on one choice, but to not even be able to describe anything (I asked deeper questions to truly find out). I also talked to several adults (30-68) who were trying to discover what they would like doing. How sad that people get to middle age or older and still haven't found themselves. Especially when so many free on-line tools exist to help.

I've listed some of the on-line career tools that I like. Try them to see if you discover a new possibility for your life.

The tests and inventories section of Dick Bolles site JobHuntersBible.com
Dick Knowdell's values card sorts offer by Stewart, Cooper, & Coon
Dick Knowdell's motivated skills card sorts offered by Stewart, Cooper, & Coon
The Party Game from Missouri University
Occupational Outlook
Occupational Net
Talk to people who work in occupations that interest you

Remember: Your Future Remains in Your Control

An Apology and an Offer

I apologize for not posting anything for the last four weeks (one month today). I offer no excuses. I worked 60 hours a week for the last four weeks. We held one of our quarterly conferences. I attended three days of training. I worked seven days a week on my job and full Sundays for my Lord (last week I spoke four times in one Sunday).

I was exhausted, fatigued, and drained. I had nothing to give. No ideas. Nothing.

I don't think I am alone. I sense that their are hundreds of thousands of you doing more work with less resources. We know that hundreds of thousands of jobs disappeared. How much of the work being done by those people disappeared? How much of it was assimilated into the lucky few who stayed behind. Most of us who are working are doing jobs that others used to do.

The other half of us face the mind-numbing, dejecting, and humiliating task of find a new job because we lost the old one. The grief for our old life, the grind of looking a new job, and the despair of rejection leave many exhausted, fatigued, and drained.

So, here is my offer. Let's help each other out. Let's help get more people working sharing our loads. Let's help management realize that worn out workers produce less. Let's help others see the wisdom of hiring again. Then, let's connect the great people we know who are out of work, with the managers who need new workers.

I know it sound simplistic, but some simple ideas generate the greatest success. Remember the guy who told Coca-Cola to bottle it. Simple idea. Great idea!

Protecting Personal & Family Time

I read a posting by one of my favorite authors, Orson Scott Card, titled Fun Need Not be the Enemy of Good (http://mormontimes.com/mormon_voices/orson_scott_card/?id=13517). He recounted a lesson taught to his children by a wise teacher. She taught them to use three index cards. On one they wrote the things they wanted to accomplish by the time they were 21. On the second they recorded all the things they enjoyed doing and made them happy. On the third they recorded the things that got in the way of doing what was written on the other two cards. He appreciated the approach of including the things we like to do (fun) with the things we want to do (goals) and controlling the things that get in the way.

Mr. Card reminded me of some great council given to me in 1985. I had just been appointed to a leadership position in a community service organization. A friend of mine, in a higher position in the same organization, gave me council that changed my life. He said

"This position can consume your life. Take time at the beginning of each month to mark your calendar with all the time you want to spend with your family and on yourself. When someone asks to meet with you at a time you already reserved. Don't change what you already reserved. Instead tell them 'I'm sorry. I already have something marked for that time. Would XX be alright for you?" "Don't think" he said "that your alone time or family time is less important than the time you give others."

I have practiced that counsel ever since. I started taking my children's and my wife's birthdays and our anniversary off as annual leave. I reserved times to attend any game or performance my children had. I set aside time to "sharpen my saw" as Stephen Covey would say. I set aside times to "go to beautiful places to ponder, meditate, and recharge."

I carried the advice a step further. I block out family times at the beginning of each year--and confirm them each month and week.

It changed my life. I didn't lose those precious moments that pass too quickly as our children grow. I spent time building a relationship with my wife that keeps growing as our children move away and start their own families. I rejoice that one of the legacies I gave them was my time. I thrill to see them putting the same counsel into practice in their own lives.

Setting the time aside didn't lessen what I accomplished. I look at my career with a few regrets of things I would have done differently, but mostly I feel I accomplished something worthwhile. I gave back to my community by serving on several boards including the United Way and others. I reached out to others to lift them and try to improve their lives with my time and money.

I don't hold myself as an example of what you should do. Each person needs to live their lives as they see fit. I just want to share some great advice that was given me by a man who wound up living his life the fullest, even though he died in his early 50's. I want his example, his counsel, to help you improve your life as it did mine. Thank you Keo.

Others Will Help--to a Point

I help people find jobs. I've been doing it for more than 30 years. People think I'm pretty good at it. I've helped people in 22 countries. This blog, however, is not about me. It's about other people being willing to help you achieve your goals. More to the point, this blog will focus what to do--and not to do--to keep those relationships strong.

As I said, I help people find jobs. This economy increased the number needing help. Traffic in our center rose from an average 360 a month to an average of 1,100 a month. People in my church congregation ask more assistance finding jobs. One Sunday five people stopped me in the hall asking for assistance. I felt completely overwhelmed. I wanted to run away and hide.

What they asked me to do, and what they were willing to do, impacted my desire to render assistance. So, I would like to share some simple rules for asking others to help.

1. Ask for small assistance at first
2. Ensure that they know you are doing more than them
3. Follow-through on the help they give you

Ask for small assistance at first so others don't feel overwhelmed. Many times people unnerve helpers by asking too much up front. Let me share two examples,

• One person asked me to help him find a job. He wanted me to do everything from finding the job openings for him (he didn't have Internet), call the people to see if they were interested (he feared rejection), and drive him to the interviews (he didn't have the car and felt the bus ride was too long). He gave me no incentive at all to provide assistance. He didn't want assistance. He wanted someone to do it all for him.
• A colleague asked me to help her husband find a job. I found a company looking for someone with exactly his skills. I emailed him the information and called him to give him details. His response was to request that I review and edit his his cover letter and resume. Neither one reflected the "insider" information I had provided. It was his stock resume and cover letter. No action had been taken on what I gave him. Just another request. A black hole of requests loomed before me dissolving my interest in helping. So, ask for small assistance at first, and always thank the person for what they did. Don't automatically ask for more.

Ensure they know you are doing more than them to avoid reluctance and irritation. A small-business owner recently requested assistance from members of Marketing Success Institute. He wanted to create a marketing survey on a possible new venture. The group spent about 60 minutes helping him create survey questions, refine them, and edit them. He did all the typing. He did the initial editing. He created the survey, using Survey Monkey, before the meeting ended. He tested it. He refined it again, and retested it. He sent a thank you to every person who helped him create it. Everyone felt good about accomplishing something good. They felt better, because he only asked them to do something small, but everyone recognized that he did most of the work.

Follow-through on the help they give you so they realize they didn't waste time. One person who asked my assistance getting a job did it perfectly. He started small by asking me to spend 3 minutes checking his on-line profile. I spent about 5 minutes and emailed him some suggestions. He thanked me immediately upon receiving the email. The next day he sent me the new text and asked if he had captured my suggestions. He had. His action stimulated me giving him additional suggestions on his profile. He acted upon them and sent me the results. His small requests, followed by prompt action, kept me interested in helping him.

We can't achieve our goals, in today's world, without the help of others. Others are willing to help--to a point. Abuse their willingness, and lose their help. Show sensitivity by following these three guidelines, others increase their desire to help.

Travel Goals: Why Not?

My youngest daughter flew to Long Beach, California today. She and several of her friends will cruise the Mexican Riviera next week. She and some other friends will travel to Las Vegas he weekend after she gets back from Mexico. This is the same daughter who traveled to Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic in 2008. She also worked as a youth counselor for a year on the ship that cruises the Hawaiian Islands. She pays for some of her travel, and gets others to pay for other travel.

Many people love to travel. Many have the money and the means to travel on their own. Most do not. Yet, travel does not have to be out of your reach. There are several ways that you can do the travel you desire:

1. Find a job that pays you to travel

2. Share the costs of traveling with others

3. Plan ahead and save the money you need to travel

My mother loves to travel. She and my father have been to every continent. They shared a small road with a lion in Africa. They walked the great wall of China and the pavement of Red Square. At one point, she worked as a mystery shopper for PSA Airlines (now Southwest Air). She flew all over California and got paid to do it. She even helped the company realize that she would look more like a real passenger if she had a child with her. She flew my first three children with her (one at a time). They were ages 5, 4, and 3.

You can start a part-time job or business to earn money for travel. I sold light bulbs door-to-door when I was 13-17. I used the money to attend the Boy Scout National Jamboree in Idaho. We traveled to Canada as part of that trip. I also went to the Boy Scouts world jamboree in Japan. I climbed Mount Fuji in a typhoon, toured Tokyo, Nara, and Kyoto. All from money I earned selling light bulbs.

You can get other people to pay for the travel. In addition, I have been to 32 countries on four continents. Someone else paid for almost every trip. I made sure I found a job that paid me to travel. When 60% travel became too much--I changed jobs.

I know a lady who watches travel inside advice web sites. She recently found one-way air fares to Hartford, Mass for $125. She knows a web site where Priceline shoppers share the deals they got, so that others will know what to bid. She usually shaves 40-70% off her travel costs using these methods.

Other people can help you find the way to travel. You can google them. You can read their blogs. You can send out questions on LinkedIn or Facebook asking people who travel how they pay for it. While I would ignore the ones who encourage you to go into debt and pay for it with a credit card, you may find several other great ideas.

Share them as comments to this blog. Let others see the possibilities.

Get Enoch for Technology Training & Ideas

I want to share a valuable "other" if you want to understand, move in, and prevail in this technological world. I highly recommend you visit www.GetEnoch.com.

I first met Enoch 5 years ago. We were presenting at a regional business conference together (happily we've both been invited back each year since). I was glad that I wasn't speaking opposite Enoch. I felt sorry for the other 3 breakout speakers that were speaking opposite him. He completely dominated his time slot. I'm guessing that he had 85% of the conference attendees in his room, his wall, and his hall. Everyone got Enoch that year.

It's been the same for the last four years. Enoch's presentations so dominate the conference that other speakers wouldn't accept assignments during his time zone. Not only do we not want to speak to empty rooms while everyone attended his sessions, but we want to get Enoch too.

He speaks to a whole range of technology issues. The first year I thought he was "the gadget guy." He completely covered an 8'x4' table with PDA's, cell phones, small laptaps, slate computers, and all kinds of other gadgets. In 45 minutes he explained, demonstrated, and wowed us with gadgets. He was so much more than "the gadget guy" however. His topics help business owners, executives, managers, and all those who want to become any of those things. See for youreself at www.GetEnoch.com.

His breadth of topics amaze me. It really took me five years to get Enoch's vision. Last year he tied the Meyers/Briggs Interest Inventory into making your web site more appealing to the different types of people who will see it. The year before he taught us how to improve our presence as experts in our field in ten minutes a day. He also entertained us with his Peruvian flute and guitar (which he used to teach at a major music school). He created an entire field he calls "social media." He helps people understand the Internet, social networks, and mainstream programs like MS Outlook. His tips truly help you run everything faster, better, and more effectively.

That's why I was thrilled to see that Enoch created an on-line community. He offers free stuff that change all the time. I am hooked on his 10-minutes-a-day ideas. They really allow me to expand what I'm doing, making it more effective in only 10 minutes a day. Want some free stuff www.GetEnoch.com.

He also offers a low cost $19.95 a month membership that provides 3 5-7 minute interactive learning segments, step-by-step technological instructions, twice monthly on-line training sessions, access to other decision makers discussing technological issues, and more. I've seen what he offers. I think you will find it well-worth the $20 a month. It's already returned enough good ideas to pay for my entire year's investment.

If that isn't enough you can buy CD's of his presentations for just $14.95.

I know I sound like I'm Enoch's sales rep. I'm not. I just like to see people accomplish their goals. I suggest you www.GetEnoch.com right away. Look at his free stuff and 10 minute ideas. Sign up for his monthly membership. Enoch is one of those "others" that can help you reach your goals.

Giving as a Goal

The past few weeks the world witnessed the devastation of Haiti. Rocked by an earthquake tens of thousands died, hundreds of thousands suffered injuries, and millions experienced despair. The world rallied with telethons, food, water, and medical help. Donations flow to Haiti through the selfless giving of the world.

You can establish goals of giving, donating, and volunteering without focusing on one specific disaster. You can establish an annual goal to give something. Ted Turner, the media mogul, set a goal to donate $1 million a year to worthy charities. John Huntsman Sr. determined to give away $1 billion a year for as long as his money held out. He's still giving. Bill Gates stepped down as CEO of Microsoft to work full-time on the charitable foundation he and his wife created. In addition, Gates encouraged others who reaped the benefits of Microsoft's financial harvest to establish charitable foundations of their own. More than 120 did.

Giving extends beyond the wealthy. All people may donate their time, talents, or financial means. A $10 a month donation to the United Way provides a homeless family one night under a warm roof. Two hours a week volunteering for Big Brothers and Sisters changes a child's life. Six hours on a Saturday once a month cleans and restores dignity to a struggling neighborhood. I know of a women's conference that each year assembles 15,000 hygiene kits for survivors of disasters. Each woman spends 1-2 hours a year working with other conference attendees. Little donations build to significant good.

I encourage you to a SMART goal each year to give. Ensure that your goal is

• Specific in terms of what you want to give


• Measurable as to how much time, money, or goods you will give


• Achievable given the financial, time, and other demands on your personal resources


• Relevant to your personal values and to the people in need


• Timely with a deadline to give each week, month, quarter, or year

Your donations multiply when combined with others through well-run charitable organizations. Seek for organizations that pass at least 75-80% of the donated money, goods, or time to those in need. Well-run organizations need less than 25% for administration. I donate my funds to one that passes along 100% of all donations to those in need. Several charity watchdogs can help you explore organizations' financial administration. Try http://www.charitywatch.org/ or Google "charity watchdog groups."

Your joy will increase when giving becomes a goal. You recognize the bounties you possess. Your heart fills with compassion for others. Start small, but let your largess increase each year. You can change the world--at least for the beneficiaries of your donations.

Act, Act in Faith, and Act with Excellence

Let me preface this blog by saying my last few blogs were too long. I will ensure this one is shorter.

You must act to achieve your goals.
I know this seems obvious. The number of people who think they can get what they want without doing anything would surprise you. Then, they gripe and complain when they don't achieve what they wanted.

A great teacher once said "He that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with a doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned." I believe he outlined the only three things that can prevent you from achieving our goals. First, don't do anything until you have to. Second, act doubting that you can achieve anything. Third, act slowly and poorly. Your inaction, doubtful action, and sloppy action will stop you.

The reverse is also true. If you act, and act with faith, and act with excellence; you shall achieve your goal. It's that simple. You must believe that you can achieve your goals. You need to believe that effective actions create success. You should believe that you deserve good things to happen to you, or that you can do good things for others. If faith can move mountains, then faith can surely help you achieve your goals.

Others Can Help You Act Effectively
Other people probably already achieved your goal. They can share what they did to achieve the goal with you. In fact, many people already shared what they did in books, blogs, articles, and other publications. Others may not have written what they did, but would be happy to share their ideas with you. You can find them on social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. You can also find them in professional associations and service clubs.

You can discover what works by studying their actions. Usually, they describe the successful actions and the less successful ones. Studying what they did helps you prevent making the same mistakes they made. Following their advice can save you time and frustration.

Others can also brainstorm ideas of actions you can take, even if they haven't accomplish the same goal.

Try this experiment.

1. Get 2-3 friends together. Pick creative and outgoing friends.
2. Tell each friend to come to the meeting with at least one goal they would like accomplish.
3. Explain to them that each person will share their goal with the others.
4. The others in the group share ideas (as quickly as possible) how achieve the goal.
5. The person writes down all the ideas without criticizing or commenting.
6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 for the next person until everyone has had a chance.
7. Examine how the exercise changes your feelings about achieving the goal.

Select 2-3 actions to do in the next 30 days

Many people fail to achieve their goal because they try to do too much all at once. They can't sustain the actions and soon give up. I recommend, instead, that you limit your actions to 2-3 a month. Do a little bit each month. Let the momentum build. Evaluate the consequences of your actions. Refine what you want to do. Persist with your plan.

Soon you will find that you move forward at an accelerating pace. Your pace accelerates even more if you synergize your actions with a GoalsWork team each month. We'll discuss more about actions in later blogs. I suggest you try the experiment. Choose 2-3 actions you will do this month. Then, act, act in faith, and act in excellence.

Limitations: Scope, challenges, and windmills

Limitations happen when you set goals. That is why Limitations constitute the fourth step of the GoalsWork model. All goals contain limitations. You can classify almost all limitations into three main categories: limitations you want, real limitations, and windmills (false limitations appearing real). Let's review each type briefly. We will also examine how to deal with each type.

Limitations You Want to impose on your goal. You establish certain limitations when you set your goal. You may define the limitations you want as the scope of your goal. Typical limitations include

• Time is one of the obvious limitations you set. You determine when you will accomplish the goal. You set a deadline. You should also define the limitations or the amount of time you will spend on achieving your goal. You may want to define how many hours a day, week, or month you devote to the goal.
• Money is another limitation you should establish for your goal. You call the financial limit you set a budget. The budget not only limits how much money you use, but how you will use it. Quicken and other accounting software programs eases the budgeting and accounting process. Too many people don't create or follow-through on this vital limitations. Sadly, the joy of achieving their goal reduces because of the cost or debt incurred achieving it. So, set financial limitations.
• Quantity also limits your goals. You may limit you goal to only purchase one car this year instead of six. You may also set a limit on how often you do something. For example, you may say I want to go to Disneyland once every two years (or two months). You may set a goal of how many books you want to read or write.
• Geography typically applies to vacations or trips. Geography definitely impacts where you work or live. Storefront businesses limit their market populations by the geographical location of the business. Hence the oft repeated warning that the three most important things in establishing your business are location, location, and location.
• Other limitations include whatever may impact your goal. Businesses set market niche goals limiting their business goal to a clearly defined client. You may wish to limit your goal to a specific purchase, trip, character trait you wish to develop, or charity to which you wish to donate..

Real limitations you didn't establish frequently deter you from achieving your goal. Ignoring real limitations doesn't help. You can overcome real limitations. In fact, the ability to overcome them defines the difference between real goals and windmills (which will be discussed later). Resolving real limitations requires planning. Others help you find the resolutions and create the plans. Frequently, they encountered the same limitations when they achieved the same goal. Let me share the three most common limitations and options to solve them.

• Time can limit your goal. You may not find enough time to work on the goal. You may not feel that you can accomplish the goal in time. Overcoming this limitation usually requires managing or reallocating your time. For example, I have to give up some television and reading time to write my blogs and books. You many need to sacrifice evening entertainment to finish college or to build your boat. Time is one of the easiest limitations to overcome--on paper--but difficult to overcome in reality. A good time-management course or tool can help resolve this real limitation.
• Money definitely limits goals. Careful budgeting can frequently reallocate money from paying debt to accomplishing goals. I do not advocate delinquency on debts. I advocate setting a goal to get out of debt. Dave Ramsey, Clarke Howard, M-velopes, and others can help you start spending your money the way want to. Businesses can still find money for expansion during these difficult times. Many credit unions, for example, still offer business loans. Micro finance and other sources give small loans (under $10K) to help businesses grow.
• Expertise limits many goals. Frequently, you can't achieve your goal because you don't have the skills. The easiest answer to this limitations requires learning the skill. Several options exist for learning skills: you can read books, go on-line, take a class, or ask someone with the expertise to teach you.

Windmills (False Limitations Appearing Real ) haunt most people. I refer to them as windmills based on Don Quixote's experiences. He and his compatriot Sancho Panza traveled the road. Sancho Panza saw several windmills along the side of the road. The disoriented Quixote saw giants with huge arms waving a challenge to the knight errant. Many times we falsely perceive a limitation. Frequently, we exaggerate the limitation into a giant. Usually, the limitation only exists in our head.

You may discern whether a limitation is real or a windmill by observing how it responds to a plan. Real limitations become manageable with a plan. Comfort and reassurance replace frustration when real limitations encounter a well-laid plan. Windmills resist plans or any kind of resolution. If no matter what you do, the limitation remains usually consider it a windmill.

May I share an example. One woman had a life-long goal to write. She wanted to write short-stories, books, and articles. She heard "You can't do that." every time she mentioned this goal to her mother and father. They firmly established "You can't do that" in her psyche. One day, in her 30's, she quit her job at an advertising agency (where she did not write copy), went to the family cabin, and wrote. She supported herself working freelance as production assistant on commercials. She wrote over 100 short stories, 3 books, and about 50 articles over the next two and half years. She never published them because publishing was not her goal. Writing was her goal.

Now comes the windmill. Every three months during the entire 30 months she called me. "I can't do this" she would say. I responded "OK. Let's talk about it. Are you writing? [Yes] Are you getting freelance jobs? [Yes] Did you earn as much money in the last three months as you would have at the ad agency? [Yes. In fact, I made more money than I would have at the agency. BUT I CAN'T DO THIS]" At this point I would invite her to come to my office and we would discuss what she wanted to do. She never came to my office. She faced the windmill in our conversation and stepped around it without defeating it. As a result she would call me three months later when she met it again, and we would repeat the process. That is how she dealt with her windmill. By the way after writing for 30 months, she left the cabin and went back to work at the same advertising agency as a copy writer. Having achieved her goal she move on with her life.

Since windmills are irrational and illogical, then irrational and illogical methods work best on them. I will share some of the common windmills and the illogical tools to defeat them in a later blog.

In summary
Limitations occur when you try to change your life. Limitations raise their head when you set goals and begin to work on them. Limitations come in three flavors: limitations you want, real limitations, and windmills. Don't ignore limitations face them, deal with them, and resolve them. Others can help you do so. Actions make it so.

Good luck dealing with your limitations. List some of your limitations as comments on this blog and see how others can help you resolve them.

Special New Years Blog--Let GoalsWork for You

I believe in goals. We accomplish amazing things in our lives, our families, our careers, our organizations, and our communities when we set and work toward worthy goals. The GoalsWork model drives us to just that. In fact, the GoalsWork model generates so much success that we warn people to be careful what goals they set.

 

Goals include all aspects of life. You can set a goal to buy something, to go somewhere, to give something, to do something, to become something, and more.

 

Let me share some examples. Allen set a goal at age 11 to animate for the Disney Company. He now animates for the Disney Company. Dave wanted to support himself making stained glass. He tripled his profits in six months and supported he and his with stained glass for the last six years. Stephen found a great job in New York paying $250K with $1 million in annual bonuses. Carol wanted to take her family of 8 to Disney World for a week. Her family talks about that as one of the best vacations they ever took. A professional organization wanted to grow. In three years it doubled its membership, tripled it revenues, and opened new chapters in 4 countries. The GoalsWork model enriches thousands of people and organizations.

 

The model uses the word Goals to remind us of the steps. While the graphic illustrates the model, let me provide a little more detail:

1. Goals: Write your goals. Review your goals to ensure they are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time limited (SMART). Read your goals and monitor your actions each month. 
2. Others: Other people will help you achieve your goals. Some others already achieved your goals and will share how they did it. They will tell you which actions were successful and which were unsuccessful. Many write books, articles, and blogs about how they did it. Others will synergize to motivate, encourage, and help you overcome limitations to your goal. 
3. Action: You must act to achieve your goals. Your first act should be to review progress on your goals each week and each month. Outline your action after consulting with others. Act appropriately, decisively, and wisely. Don't waste time floundering in non-productive action. Don’t despair when some actions don’t work. 
4. Limitations: Establish your own limitations when you set the specifics and time portions of your goal. Act to overcome unwanted limitations. Recognize the windmills (false limitations appearing real) and act appropriately to resolve them. 
5. Synergy: Meet once a month with 4 others goal-seekers. Report your actions and consequences for the past month on you active goals. Brainstorm solutions to limitations preventing success. Outline actions you will take in the next month.

 The GoalsWork model structures my blog. You will see different aspects of the model each week. You will learn more about SMART goals. You may discover others who can help you. You will read about actions others took. You will explore limitations that inhibit your success--and how to overcome them. You will see synergy accelerating successful achievement of your goals.

 

So, don't set New Year's resolutions this year. Set goals and make your GoalsWork for you.