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Don’t just SET goals, ACHIEVE them!

So many people have given up on goal setting. It doesn’t seem to work for them. Even “goal-oriented” people are often frustrated by their goals. But for years, the gurus have told you things like:

• “Set S.M.A.R.T. goals (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely). It’s a sure-fire way to achieve them.”
• “Put pictures of your dream house, your dream car, your dream job all over your bathroom mirror and places where you’ll see them every day.”

Here’s the problem with some of these techniques… they have created an epidemic of people who are unfulfilled, frustrated and dissatisfied with their own performance and success. Goals are supposed to motivate and inspire you, not make you feel hopeless, helpless or like a failure.

You are Brilliant! (Yes, I’m talking to YOU)

I’m reading a great book called Aspire! Discovering Your Purpose Through the Power of Words. I recommend it to everyone reading this newsletter. (Click here to purchase it on Amazon.) In this book, it talks about the word “genius“. Did you know that you were a genius? YOU ARE!! The word genius comes from the Latin word “genuinus” which means what you were naturally born with. The orignial word meant “guardian deity or spirit which watches over each person from birth; spirit, incarnation, wit, talent”. Genius is nothing more than being true to YOU. It’s about being genuine and true to your natural talents. It’s about unleashing your brilliance.

Why the frustration?

But, when we set goals, we usually do it backwards. (No wonder it’s frustrating!) The vast majority of the gurus assume there is no real difference between skills (which can be acquired) and talents or natural strengths (which you are gifted with at birth). Many gurus think that natural talents can be developed through learning, training, and discipline. They fail to appreciate and acknowledge what neuroscience tells us – YOU are born with fixed, deeply-engrained neural pathways and networks that control your natural talents. When you fail to see the difference between natural talents and learned skills, you make the bad assumption that both can be equally acquired.

Let’s look at how most people set their goals. First, they typically look at the roles that they play, most specifically their jobs. They then identify the talents and skills that they need for a given role and then start trying to develop them. When they do this, they are usually only partially successful. By assuming that training and development will develop natural talents and abilities, many people fail.

In this approach, it appears as though the role is fixed and it is YOU that is broken. Why is it that we revere the job and revile the person? Why is it that the job responsibilities and duties remain fixed and the human being has to change to better fit the job? Does that seem backwards to you? This mindset has caused many people to believe “If there’s something that isn’t right, it’s me that has to change.”

You don’t need to change, you just need a realignment.

By focusing on the things that you need to change to fit into your job role, you neglect your natural talents. You see, you do not become a genius by trying to be a genius. You become a genius by finding the genius (your natural abilities) that already exists within you and allowing it to be unleashed. You become a genius by becoming more AUTHENTIC.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.“

Align yourself and your direction with your strengths!! Fine-tune your goals to be aligned with WHO YOU ARE!

As Dr. Seuss says, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.“

Choose to go in the direction of your strengths!

Steps to ACHIEVING your GOALS

1. Decide to be in charge of your life. I know that may sound kind of silly, but authentic people tend to have a greater belief that they have control over their life and destiny. You can make a difference in how your life turns out.
2. Uncover your natural strengths. Try my free assessment (please). It will show you your most balanced thinking habit – your natural neural pathways that make you unique. Then, schedule a free consultation with me so we can explore how best to utilize your natural strength.
3. Change your thinking about change. James Allen wrote, “…we are held prisoner only by ourselves; our own thoughts and actions are the jailors of our fate…” Don’t focus on changing the things that you are not naturally talented in. Focus on finding ways to improve and better utilize your natural strengths. Focus on uncovering and unleashing your natural thinking and valuing habits.
4. Set goals that you completely control. Dream big dreams and then look at WHO you need to become so that those dreams are rightfully and justly yours. Don’t set a goal to get a promotion – you don’t control that! Set a goal to acquire the attributes and characteristics of one who would rightfully and justly deserve that position. You can control whether you develop the attributes of courage, integrity, decisiveness. You can do something every day to improve YOU! These are the types of goals that motivate and inspire.
5. Focus on releasing YOUR BRILLIANCE! What can you do today to be more real, more genuine, and more authentic? Do you need to work on developing the attribute of courage, compassion, or confidence? Here are two important questions to ask yourself (not your boss or place of work):
   • Who do I want to become?
   • What am I trying to achieve or accomplish?
6. ACT! Your goals are worthless and your dreams are impossible without ACTION. Your goals should inspire you to take action. If your goals don’t inspire you, then the goals might not be aligned with your natural strengths. When you set goals to improve unnatural talents (instead of skills), they feel more like burdens.

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