Achieve Your Goals

To plan the work, start with your stated goal and add the specific steps you need to take to achieve it. First add the word "by" to the phrase you developed earlier, then begin each specific step with another action word followed by a specific, measurable description.

For example, if your stated goal is, "I choose to lose twenty pounds," you might change it to the following statement: "I choose to lose twenty pounds by exercising thirty minutes every day, adding three portions of vegetables to my diet each day, and reducing my intake of chocolate to one candy bar a week." Notice how each of the three specific steps begins with a verb and is very specific about measuring the action described by the verb.

If possible, next break down your specific steps into even more specific sub-steps, and include these in your plan. For example, after your goal statement, you might add, "To exercise thirty minutes every day, I choose to alternate between following a thirty-minute aerobics video; walking for thirty minutes; or lifting weights to tone my abdomen, arms, and legs." With each step or sub-step, get as detailed as possible. Put each specific, detailed action you choose to take in your plan.

As an incentive, some people might prefer to set a time limit on when they will reach their goal. Others might find that placing a time limit produces too much anxiety to take the necessary actions. If you want to put a time limit in your plan, add to your goal statement a sentence such as, "I will lose twenty pounds by my birthday this year." If you don't want to give yourself a time limit, then don't.

Work the Plan

To work the plan, read your plan every morning and every night. Doing so will keep you motivated. Also perform each specific step or sub-step in your plan.

It sounds simple, and if you keep up your motivation and follow through with your specific steps and sub-steps, you will achieve your goal. But sometimes, things don't always go as planned.

WHEN PLANS GO AWRY

Adapt-that's the key to achieving your goals when your plans to reach them go awry. Adapt the specific steps or sub-steps you need to follow, adapt your goal statement, or adapt your whole plan if necessary. After all, you're choosing to bring your desire to fruition, and if you still have the desire, you now

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