Zig Ziglar on Goals

Setting them and achieving them.

Howard Hill won 287 times out of 287 archery contests in his life. He could split an arrow at 50 feet. You could shoot better than him in a matter of a few hours ... if he was blindfolded and spun around. How can you hit a target you can�t see? Even better, how can you hit a target you don�t have? You must make targets in your life. The problem in life is not the lack of time, but the lack of focus or direction. Everyone has the same amount of time.

Goals help you dispel depression. They get you through the tough times. Don�t be like processionary caterpillars walking in a circle, who confuse activity with progress. There is a certain amount of danger in setting goals. You might not reach them. There is more danger if you just sit around. Planes and ships deteriorate faster in harbor than in use. They are made to be used anyway. The same applies to people.

FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real.

7 steps of goal setting:

  1. Identify what the goal is. Be specific and clear. Be able to know when you have reached it.
  2. Set a deadline. Have a timetable for accomplishment with milestones and sub-goals. Be able to measure your progress over time.
  3. Identify the obstacles needed to be overcome in achieving the goal.
  4. Know what people or groups of people you will need to work with.
  5. Identify what knowledge or skills you need to have to accomplish the goal.
  6. Develop a plan of action - written down.
  7. Know why it is you want to achieve this goal. List the benefits to you.   This may be more motivating than the goal itself!

Japan did this in the 50�s in textiles, 60�s in steel, 70�s in cars (one year late), 80�s in computers and electronics. If you had a race horse, would you let it stay up late listening to rock music eating junk food and smoking cigarettes? Are you or your children worth more than a race horse? Of course!

You need big goals and multiple goals. Multiple goals provide balance and diversity. Big goals allow us to utilize our potential. Remember the story of the fisherman who threw the big fish back and kept the small ones because his frying pan was too small? Get a big frying pan!

Whatever your goal is, do it now. You will be able to come up with excuses all year long - good ones, too. Don�t listen to them, just work on your goals now!

You must be able to answer these five questions successfully:

  1. Is it really my goal?
  2. Is it morally right and fair?
  3. Are my short range goals consistent with my long range goals?
  4. Can I commit myself emotionally to achieving this outcome?
  5. Can I visualize myself reaching this goal?

Who do you share your goals with? Share "give up" goals with everybody. Share "Go up" goals only with family, friends, and people you can rely on who aren�t in competition with you.

You�ve got to make a commitment on your goal. It forces you to come through on your goal. You are committed to the outcome this way.

Your attitude and vocabulary makes a big difference. You don�t "pay the price" to reach goals, you enjoy the benefits of reaching your goals and may have to pay the price for not setting goals. Your mind will help you live out the picture in your mind.

You have to learn how to train fleas.

Once the fleas are conditioned to limit themselves on jumping height (due to repeatedly hitting into the jar lid), you can remove the cover and they will never jump out. People are like that too: once they learn what their limits are, they never try again to get out of that container. You start out in life trying to do great things and learn to stop after only so far. We become a SNIOP (= Susceptible to the Negative Influences of Other People). An example is the 4 minute mile "barrier." A flea trainer is not a SNIOP, he/she has an internal frame of reference. They jump out of the jar. "Don�t try to see through other people, try to see other people through."

To reach your goals you will have to get other people involved. You can�t do it alone.

The average American spends more time planning their vacation than planning their lives. They spend more time planning their wedding than planning the marriage.

Get in shape spiritually. Get in shape physically. Pay attention to details. Be able to envision the results of your goals.

Do the seven steps of goal setting and "I�ll see you at the top." - Zig Ziglar

Goal suggestion topics:

Travel. Automobile. House. Money. Career. Children & Family. Friendship. Health. Religion. Mind.

Personal evaluation: