One of the best places to begin to set goals is to look back at past goals.  If you achieved all your goals for 2007, then Hooray!  Please acknowledge all your planning, work and faith that went into the culmination of your achievements.  If you didn't quite hit the mark, please acknowledge all your planning, work and faith that went into what you did achieve.  Notice what didn't quite work and needs tweaking.  If you didn't set any goals, keep reading. 

Goals are critical to our growth and happiness as individuals. Setting appropriate goals is an art and science and as with all things human, it is a work in progress. 

How to set and achieve goals could fill a book (and there are several out there).  However, for the sake of this newsletter and keeping your attention, we are going to give you the bullet point version.  And of course our take is slightly different.

• Start with the "big picture."  I like: Goals for 2008. 
• Now "chunk it down" (chunk is an NLP term for getting more specific or more abstract depending on the direction you "chunk" or move your thought process). An example would be: Financial Goals or Health & Fitness Goals.  These are usually the two most popular choices and is it any surprise? The point here is to develop goals in a specific area.
• I like creating goals in 90 day or quarter chunks.  It supports achieving them and makes revising or setting new goals easy.
• Write out two or three main or truly important goals to be achieved every 90 days in line with your specific topic or area. 
• Next is where we differ from traditional goal setting techniques.  Your conscious mind is your "goal setter" and your unconscious mind is your "goal getter."  What happens when your unconscious mind is not in rapport (or alignment) with the conscious goals you've set?  It is unlikely you will achieve a specific goal no matter how much you focus on it.  Please read this paragraph again because the information is that important. 
• However, not achieving a past goal can be a good thing because it signals you to get into rapport or alignment with your unconscious mind so you do reach your goals.  You do this with the next step.
• Think about, remember, imagine or ask (your unconscious mind) what has stopped you in the past from achieving this goal?  I'm mind-reading here that this is not the first time you've set this (type) of goal.  Get honest, sleep on it, meditate, or just go to that place you may not really want to go.  The place where the true answer resides.  When you've gotten clear about what has blocked the goal in the past take the steps necessary to clear the block and by virtue of the Law of Attraction and your unconscious mind, you will achieve your goal. 

Here are some important guidelines for structuring and writing your goals for success.  Put them into the S.M.A.R.T. format.  I'm going to use the same example for each of the five guidelines below.

S is for specific and simple. Example: As of today March 31, 2008 I have earned $30,000 in income. This is clear and to the point.

M is for measurable.  As of today March 31, 2008 I have earned $30,000 in income.  The $30,000 is the measurable part of this goal.

A is for "as if" it is happening now.  As of today March 31, 2008 I have earned $30,000 in income.  The "As of today" words state it in the present, not in the future. If you continue to word your goals for the future they will always be "in the future."

R is for realistic.  As of today March 31, 2008 I have earned $30,000 in income.  You must ask yourself given your current situation is it realistic to achieve $30,000 in income in three months time.  As long as it is then you have fulfilled this part of the S.M.A.R.T. goal process.

T is for timely.  You must put a date/time component in your goal or how will your unconscious mind know when to achieve it for you?

Lastly, imagine your goal as you've stated it.  Maybe you see your bank account at $31,675, you notice the calendar is at April 5^th, you hear yourself say "Yes, I did it!", you see the new car you are going to pay "cash" for now that it's in your bank account and you feel the sense of pride and accomplishment at having achieved your goal.*

*Please celebrate, congratulate and acknowledge yourself (and your unconscious mind) for achieving your goal and, do this with a 90% margin.  That is, if you earn $29,000 then you've reached your goal.  If you achieve it by April 5^th, then you've achieved your goal.  There is always a 5-10% margin of play.  You did it! Repeat the process with new goals!