goals |

We all have dreams right?

To have a lasting, loving relationship.

To start a business.

To have a satisfying career.

To have absolute health and wellness.

To be wealthy.

To own a home.

To own your dream car.

These are some dreams that many of us have.

So what exactly is a dream?

I personally love this definition: a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal.

But, let’s take a little bit deeper.

When we talk about a dream, there is an underlying feeling attached to that dream.

Usually, it is a feeling we are trying to achieve.

Feelings of stability, freedom, and accomplishment are all feelings that are the most common when we talk about dreams.

Now let’s talk about goals.

A goal is a person’s ambition or effort, an aim or desired result.

Another way to say this is a goal is a dream in ACTION.

So now think about a dream you have.

Is this dream something that you can turn into a goal?

Can you create an action plan of steps to start making this dream a reality?

What would it take to get you there?

I know when I had this dream of being my own boss and being able to help others, I had no idea what it would look like.

I started to ruminate on all of the possibilities of what I could do professionally that would get me to where I wanted to be.

All the time, I was always “coaching” people in their relationships, careers, and life in general, but I didn’t know that being a coach was an actual thing I could do.

I looked into becoming a teacher, a therapist, a guidance counselor, and even looked into various HR type positions.

All of these were definitely doable but I was not prepared to take on any more student loans to get the education I needed.

So I kept searching.

Finally, the idea of being a coach hit me like a ton of bricks so I started investigating.

I looked at what would be required and found that certification was not required so I wouldn’t have to invest a ton of money upfront before I could get started.

So I went to work on my action plan.

The very first thing on my list: hire my own coach so that I could experience it from the other side and also work on my own shit in the process.

From there I listed out the rest of what I needed to just get started.

It was a simple list of things that were cost-effective and attainable actions I could take.

They were small, attainable goals so that I could keep from feeling overwhelmed.

I committed to 2 hours per day to work toward my main goal.

By the end of my coaching package, I had made the decision that I was going to LAUNCH and I did exactly that just a few short months later.

I was officially operating my very own coaching practice!

Was it perfect?

NO!

And it still isn’t.

Because I am still learning and working toward my goals which means things change, including ME.

You see, a dream is just a dream.

Hoping and wishing it to happen is not going to make it happen.

The ONLY way to make your dream your reality is to take ACTION.

And, you can have ANYTHING you desire.

Does it take work?

Sure it does!

But here is the secret:

Decide now what it is that you want to do, commit to yourself and that goal, and show up and do the work to get there.

You are worth every bit of it!

So now, I want to give you some tips on how to set goals and actually achieve them!

So you have this dream, right?

And you are ready to take action to achieve it, but where do you start?

First, start brainstorming. If you are wanting to start a business, brainstorm all of the things that you like or love to do.

Then research what of those things can you actually make money doing? Find people in that industry. Connect with a community that can support you and can provide some guidance.

The next thing you need to do is list out the things that are REQUIRED for you to get started and the things that can wait. You need to focus on the required items first. Again, this will take some research.

Reach out to your community to gain some insight.

Now, these items sometimes have sub-categories or tasks that need to happen in order to complete said item on your list. This is where I pick ONE of the required items and break out each sub-task and then SCHEDULE IT into my calendar. Try not to do more than 3 per day and ONLY focus on these items. This will keep you focused and moving forward one step at a time.

The more you time block, the more you have control over your progress and success of completion. Pretty soon, you will notice that your results of completion have elevated you to a feeling of accomplishment and success!

So let me ask you, now that I have simplified the process, do you think you can get started moving forward turning your dreams into goals?

If you need support in your efforts, let me know! I would love to talk to you more about where you are and where you want to be! I am currently looking to help ladies new to the entrepreneur arena. If this is you and you are ready to launch and grow, book a free 30-minute call with me here: http://bit.ly/TiffenysBreakthroughCall

Well, here we are fresh into the new year and new DECADE! I waited to write about his topic until we were closer to the end of the, what I call, “honeymoon period” that encompasses the “out with the old, in with the new” mindset that we all have when we turn over a new year. What’s unique about this one, is that it’s also a new DECADE. That means 10 New YEARS, and depending on how young you are, you have already made it through a few decades. For me, it has been 4, now in my 5th! WOW!!! That’s a lot! And boy, have I come a LONG way in my life!

I have never been one for “resolutions”. They rank up there with “diets” and I believe setting you up right away for failure because of the stigma just around the words themselves. Generally, people make resolutions like “I am going to lose 50 lbs”, or “I am going to eat healthily”, or “I am going to work out every day”. And then, January 1 hits, and you are off and running, pushing yourself toward the idea of what you think you want and then by mid-February, give up because you are so overwhelmed with the sudden changes that you don’t believe you will ever make it. This same process occurs when we try to make other lifestyle changes and pool them into the “resolutions” category.

So now, let’s look at the definition of “resolution”. It means “a firm decision to do or not to do something”. That’s it. When we make resolutions, we have every intention of doing whatever it is, but we don’t have a plan. We don’t usually have systems set up to help us succeed so, we quit and inevitably, fail. There is also an “all or nothing” attachment to whatever that something is.

Intention, on the other hand, is “a thing intended; an aim or plan” and a goal is “the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result” and goal setting “involves the development of an action plan designed to motivate and guide a person or group toward a goal”. Intention and goal setting go hand in hand. It is the expansion of a resolution because we actually can take action by even implementing small steps that are mapped out in a plan. And because the plan involves steps, you need to be specific.

So, instead of making a resolution of “I am going to lose weight”, make an intention of “I am going to lose 20 pounds this year and I am going to get there by taking these steps….” and actually WRITE out your plan, break it down into daily manageable steps. As you accomplish each step, you check it off the list and receive instant gratification and a feeling of accomplishment. Then you do the same thing the next day.

Now, take it one step further. Think about how you want to FEEL if you accomplish this goal. THAT is the true magic behind the success. We aren’t seeking the outcome, we are seeking how we want to FEEL about the outcome. How do you feel when you are 20 pounds lighter? Do you feel healthier, happier, more comfortable in your body? Do you feel sexy and confident? That is what you are really after!

Lastly, if you fall down, and you will, brush yourself off and try again. There is no “all or nothing” when you are working toward a goal. When you fall, reflect on what happened to make you fall. What can you do differently the next time? This is all part of the journey. And this is where you will grow. You will be able to set intentions and make a plan to get you there. Notice I did not say “fail”. To fail means to “be unsuccessful in achieving one’s goal”. If you are constantly working, falling, getting back up, and starting again, this is not failing in my eyes. As long as you don’t give up, you won’t fail.

I challenge you to sit down and look at the things in your life you want to achieve. Weightloss, conquering your debt, or any behavior you would like to change. Pick the top 5-10 things on that list and decide how you are going to get there. Map out your plan, set your intentions, and start! Taking it one step at a time means progress so don’t try and overwhelm yourself trying to do it all at once.

You’ve got this! I believe in you!

Tag: goals

Turning Dreams into Goals

Resolutions, Intentions, and Goals