“Imagine Your Life Is Perfect In Every Respect; What Would It Look Like?” Brian Tracy
By Martin Grunburg
I’m a huge fan of self-development great Brian Tracy’s 12-step method for goal achievement, derived from his classic audio program (Nightingale Conant) The Psychology of Achievement.
If you’ve never read or heard this gem, it’s worth exploring — if only to understand how it is that The Habit Factor® integrates so perfectly within and around BT’s 12 steps — and, in so doing, reduces them to just 8!
Because who doesn’t want a shorter process, especially if you find your goal-achievement process to be stalling a bit?
So if you need a kick-start or a new push toward your process of goal achievement, here are eight essential, must-ask questions to get you fired up and heading in the right direction.
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Where Is Your Goals List?
If you don’t have a written-out list of your goals, you are NOT really serious about your intentions, are you? Writing down your top goals and reviewing this list daily is the first step!
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Do You Have a Goal in Each of These 4 Categories of Wellness: Mind, Body, Spiritual, Social?
You get bonus points if you add the following three ONLY after you’ve addressed EACH of the prior four: Professional, Financial, Lifestyle/Adventure. Doing this helps to reinforce precisely what Brian Tracy states above. You should imagine your life as perfect in every respect and then ask, “What does that look like?”
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Do You Know Which SINGULAR GOAL Is Your #1 Priority ?
The simple act of goal-setting helps you to identify your ambitions, desires and talents. Most of all, singling out the top goal — your biggest priority — helps to expose the real you to yourself.
Challenge yourself by asking tough questions such as, “If I were to die tomorrow, what experience or achievement would I most regret not having?”
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WHY Is Your Top Goal Your Top Goal?
Identify and write down a list of 50 good reasons WHY the goal is your TOP priority and so important. (As many reasons as you can, no need to stop at 50!)
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What Positive Habits/Skills Will You Intentionally Develop that Directly Support Your Goals?
(This may be my favorite.) Identify just 3-5 habits. Then specify their frequencies per week and their minimum success criteria. (If you don’t know what that means, watch this!)
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How Are You Tracking These New Behaviors/Habits?
In order to develop these habits we’re going to follow the P.A.R.R. methodology: Plan, Act, Record and Reassess. We are going to be like BEN or a Hindu priest! We (YOU) are going to TRACK
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Is Your Goal a S T R E T C H GOAL?
If your goal is too easy, it’s not likely to inspire you. But if it’s too difficult — seemingly impossible — it’ll be hard for your conscious mind to “buy-in.” The idea of approximately 50% growth increments is a good rule of thumb. So if you’ve never done a marathon, perhaps start with a half marathon. Or, rather than shooting for $1 million in income , shoot for $75K or maybe $100K .Get some progress, momentum and belief.
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How Committed Are You?
Lincoln may have said it best: “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.”
So there you have it! Eight essential questions you should address in order to accelerate or jump-start your goal’s attainment! Remember Thoreau’s fantastic insight: “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to lead the life he imagines he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”