Ten Myths and Realities of Goal Setting

Posted: April 07, 2009

In my twenty plus years in the direct selling industry I have seen it all. But there is ONE thing I've never seen....

In all my years of experience, I have NEVER seen a leader that did not set goals, write them down, refer to them, and work specific plans to meet them. Knowing how to set and work goals is, quite literally, a requirement for success in this business. And in the spirit of that, I offer ten clarifying statements to help you assess where you stand with regard to this critical skill....

Myth #1: Goal Setting Is Not That Important
Reality: Success Requires Goals—End of Story! A life of meaning needs goals and specific plans to achieve them. Success does not happen by accident.

Myth #2: Goal Setting Is Difficult and Takes Too Much Time
Reality: Performance is accelerated by time invested in strategy. The game of life is won behind the scenes, in time spent on preparation.

Myth #3: New Years Is the Best Time to Set Goals
Reality: There’s no better time than now to take control of your life. Goal-Setting is not about timing, it’s about decision. This life is not a dress rehearsal; it’s the only one you’ve got.

Myth #4: Goals Don’t Need to Be Written—Keep Them In Your Head
Reality: Written goals clarify thinking, objectify their potential, and reinforce commitment. The palest ink is better than the strongest memory. Goals once out of site, soon become goals out of mind!

Myth #5: Long-Term Planning Is a Waste of Time
Reality: Your Future deserves consideration. It will someday be your present reality. It’s worth considering seriously.

Myth #6: A Good Plan Is All You Need to Be Successful
Reality: Success is active, not passive. All plans require action. Preparation is no substitute for action. Commit to the philosophy of implement now—perfect later.

Myth #7: The Best Way to Achieve a Goal Is to Just Begin
Reality: Action without planning is the root cause of most failure. Success is a choice. With a plan to lead, you can figure out how to get where you are going.

Myth #8: All It Takes Is Hard Work to Achieve Your Goals
Reality: Hard work is important, but working smart is mandatory. Quit trying harder, look for new solutions, and you will accomplish far more in far less time with only a fraction of the effort you have been giving.

Myth #9: I Can Do It On My Own—I Don’t Need Help
Reality: Success requires cooperation. Nobody does it alone. In order to achieve more you must learn to help yourself. Success requires the cooperation of others.

Myth #10: Goals Only Need to Be Reviewed Once a Year
Reality: Inspect what you expect. Everything changes. Your goals must keep shaping, shifting and flexing to fit these fast-changing times. Adopt a regular and consistent review process.

My name is Craig Bradley and I am Agel!