Effective Goalsetting

[AndyDufresne]

Hey guys,

First post so I thought I'd introduce myself here as I have questions to ask anyhow.

I have been working hard on my personal growth since May of this year. My finances took a big tumble with things happening that were for the most part out of my control.

As I work for myself I realised that I had much to learn on the personal development side of things, and how my messed up beliefs were holding me back. I still have a long way to go but feel I've come a long way. I would say my biggest improvements since then have come in the form of fixing many limiting beliefs, understanding & facing fears, self discipline and forming lots of new good daily habits. I am a lot happier in myself and in relationships even though financially, I am currently just surviving.

Much of my studying has come from reading different materials, watching youtube videos from various teachers including Steve, and recently working my way through Steve's blogs.

This all led me to asking the following questions on here as I have read a couple of his blogs over the last couple of days, which may have outlined where I am going wrong in the area of setting goals, and using visualization techniques. Regarding actual monetary goals I have learnt a great deal to improve performance at my work and feel I am a lot better then I previously was. However, I feel increasing my financial abundance is moving much slower then it probably should, in regards to how much I have been learning and the effort I have been putting in day in and day out. After reading Steve's post 'are you faking progress' I probably need help from those of you who are far more experienced and knowledgable than me.

Steve mentions that the future is an illusion and having goals that are focused on the future can conflict with what you are trying to acheive. For example, I have been reading my main goals before work everyday. I have contribution goals after listening to an audiobook by Tony Robbins, where I want to first help aid my family in poverty once I am doing a lot better financially. The goals I read everyday are the ones I want to acheive within a year. As I understand from what I read in Steve's blog, this is keeping a future goal which is an illusion and keeps me thinking about 'scarity' in my current situation. So today I changed that goal with 'helping family and friends', so that in my mind I can help them right now with being generous in other ways such as time. Likewise, when using visualization techniques I am now seeing myself right now with the things that I want, rather then myself in the future. Do you think these are the right kinds of changes?

Also, I have printed affirmations in the background when I am working. A visual goal collage, plus a statement one that I will earn x amount in a month and that I'm extremely productive. I may be overreaching with the monetary amount that I have both in the statement and goals collage, and so should I be going with a more realistic amount so that it 'feels' more like the next step or present? In other words should my goals be more short term or gradual, like the next step I should be taking?

I know the rules are not set in stone but everything is so contrasting in what I read. Like Steve says that being in the moment is much better, yet in another blog post I read he has goals from ages ago that he has fulfilled such as making his own website with enormous traffic.

I guess it's better to have goals then none, but I'm just looking for advice from those of you who have been succesful in reaching your goals.

Thanks in advance!

[Fred Tracy]

I've been doing well in achieving goals lately, and the main thing I can say is to be consistent, and be effective.

You don't want to work too much or stress yourself out, so that's where consistency comes in. Make whatever you're doing into a daily habit.

Also, look at the data. Whatever your goal may be, make sure that you are achieving it in the most effective way possible.

When efficiency and effectiveness are combined, magic happens.

Hope this helps! Good luck.

[AndyDufresne]

Thanks. Perhaps I'm just overthinking the situation and I have problems elsewhere. I have been very consistent, and am constantly looking for ways to be more and more effective.

I'll just be patient. Other things in my life are improving so I'll just wait for the finances to follow.