The 7 Most Popular Life Goals And How You Can Achieve Them

If I were to ask you what your number one goal is right now, I bet it would be in this list.

1. I want to write a book  

2. I want to start a business  

3. I want to be healthier  

4. I want to travel  

5. I want to make money doing something I love 
6. I want to do something positive for the world/volunteer.  

7. I want to reduce my stress (money worries, relationship worries, etc) 

This is a pretty ambitious list of things to want to do. Do you see yourself here? And if so, what have you been doing to try and achieve one or more of these?

Dreaming and doing are two different things. If you've been dreaming of a goal for weeks, months or even years now, here are some simple ways to make any of your goals come true. 

Life Goal #1: I want to write a book

In order to write a 50,000 word book in 30 days, you'll have to write 1,667 words per day. Sound like a daunting task? Stretch it out into a three month or six month process, and the numbers drop to 556 or 278 words per day respectively.

The problem isn't in creating the book; its usually in finding the time to do it. When you look at it in a slightly different format - I'll write my book in six months - it gives you a new perspective. If you normally get up at 7 in the mornings, get up at 6 and dedicate that hour to writing your 278 words. While the first few days might be extremely difficult to get your 278 words out, by the time you're several weeks into the project, 278 words will fall out in a few minutes time.

You can also dedicate time to your new found craft to make things easier. There are many writing and self-publishing groups online and in your local area. Consider joining a group like National Novel Writing Month to keep you on track with your writing. Or read one of the many books on publishing your own book - try APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur - How To Publish a Book 

Life Goal #2: I want to start a business

Starting a business has never been easier. It doesn't take a lot of time. It doesn't take a lot of money. And it no longer takes a lot of resources. If you have a laptop and Internet connection, you can set up a portable business from just about anywhere. In the book Laptops Millionaire it provides many ways to turn ideas into something we can do from our kitchen table, no matter what city our kitchen table is currently located in.

The problem with setting up a new business is overwhelm. If you've been thinking about starting up your own business for a while now, what's holding you back? Chances are it's the complexity of your goals. Instead of saying "I'm starting up a business", change it to something more manageable, such as "I'm printing up business cards today". All of a sudden you can quickly see your goals fall into place, just by shrinking up the requirements you think about every day. 

Life Goal #3: I want to be healthier

Why doesn't a diet work? Because you're not going to the root of the problem. Ask anyone on a diet how they are doing, and you'll start hearing a list of "I can'ts". I can't have this. I can't do that. A brain on "can't" will never make it.

When I decided to go vegetarian, I never once thought of all the things I couldn't eat. Instead, I focused on the delicious foods I got to eat. When I reduced the amount of sugar I take in to almost nothing, I never looked at sweets longingly. Instead, I chose to eat things I knew were healthy and made me feel better both inside and out.

In order to be healthier, you have to learn to turn your can'ts into cans. Commit to something you believe in - becoming vegetarian for instance - and do everything you can to turn that into a lifestyle. Buy a vegetarian cookbook - The Happy Herbivore is one of my favorites - and pick out one recipe for every day of the week. Add those ingredients to your shopping list, and make the time to incorporate them into your meal planning. 

Life Goal #4: I want to travel

What does travel mean to you? Do you like to get away for the weekend? Or does around the world travel, 365 days of the year fit more into your plans?

One of the best ways we've found to get more out of our travel bucks is to rent apartments and homes instead of staying in a hotel. Last year we spent six weeks in Spain and Italy, and rented two bedroom apartments in every city we visited. We had beautiful kitchens and used them almost daily for breakfast, lunch and dinners. We packed picnics when we went sightseeing for the day, and only rarely took in fancy restaurants. I guarantee we saved hundreds of dollars this way (and its healthier too) - which meant we could easily boost our travel time to six weeks on the savings. HomeAway and Vacation Rentals are two great resources for you to find cute vacation rentals right in the heart of everything.

Life Goal #5: I want to make money doing something I love

Let's face it, we all get sick of "life" on occasion. But if you find yourself sick of your day job every single day, it may be time to re-evaluate what makes you happy.

If you are one of the people that exists at work because you don't know what else to do, and a "big idea" has never hit your consciousness, it may be time to focus in on what will make you happy  right now.

Looking for one great idea puts too high of expectations on your lifestyle. Instead, simplify it and look at what you enjoy today and what you can see yourself doing right now. Focus in on the present, not what is feasible a decade or more into the future. By turning to who you are today and what's possible with your knowledge right now, its easier to focus in on things that are possible.

Life is full of opportunity. You just have to focus on what's possible right now in the present.

Life Goal #6: I want to do something positive for the world/volunteer

Sometimes a change of scenery is all you need to make you look at the world a little differently. Why not volunteer? You can take the traditional road and volunteer for something right in your own community, like Habitat for Humanity. Or combine your volunteering with a travel opportunity with organizations like Heifer International.

Volunteering can quickly set you up for finding a passion in your life. From there you may decide to help others set up their own life's purpose with places like Kiva. Or fund your own ideas with a place like Kickstarter. 

Life Goal #7: I want to reduce my stress (money worries, relationship worries, etc)

Think stress has to be a part of your life? Think again. Get to the root of the problem and eliminate it.

Stress doesn't go away without working at it. Stress is simply an outward expression of your reaction to something going on in your life. And if you don't change the pattern, it will continue to fester and grow until it impacts your life and/or your health.

You can start by taking control over your health. Meditation is a great way to put everything else aside and increase the peace you feel from the inside out.

Have specific issues going on in your life right now that you want to change? Don't go it alone. Sometimes an outside perspective can help you see things in an "a-ha" way. I've helped hundreds of people through my coaching programs. Being able to see things in a new light, and change your approach can truly put you on an entirely new path.

Do you see yourself in any of the above? Quit dreaming about it and just do it.

3 Steps to Change - Ready, Willing and Able

We are creatures of habit, and therefore we may forget that we have the ability to change our old patterns, behaviours, and mindsets. Whether it's things from yesterday, a month ago, or a year(s) ago, it is possible to make some changes starting today.

Maybe you have been putting off things until tomorrow that you can do today, or you've been waiting for something to happen before you take the next step(s), or some of your patterns or behaviours are so ingrained that you feel you can't change them.

Perhaps you haven't been taking enough time for yourself or spending time with others, or you've been meaning or attempting to commit to something but you haven't had very much success, or you have been feeling stuck or unsatisfied at work or home.

There maybe something going on for you personally, or there may be someone you need to forgive, or you are holding onto past hurts, resentments, or grievances.


Just about anything, including excuses, can become a deterrent to taking steps forward if you let them. No matter what's going on, or what you are holding onto, or what you aren't doing, it's not too late to make a change!

Read: Change Your Brain, Change Your Life (Revised and Expanded): The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Lack of Focus, Anger, and Memory Problems 

The question is, "Are you willing to?"

Do you really want to do what you are saying you want to do?


Have you heard the saying, "Ready, willing and able"? This is what you want to ask yourself.

Are you ready to take a step, and it doesn't have to be a gigantic one, towards that which you would like to change?

Are you willing to do what is necessary to move forward even if it's uncomfortable or difficult to do?

Are you able to accept the setbacks, fears, trials and errors, rejections, disappointments, tough conversations, etc., that at first may accompany what you want to change? This can be the tough step and the one that holds you back the most. 

Being "able" to accept what's holding you back is exactly what needs to be looked at in order for you to make that move forward again.

You don't have to change anything if you don't want to. But, if you recognize something within you that is stopping your growth, or creating unhappiness in your life/relationships, or something you are complaining about, or you hear yourself saying something repeatedly that you want to do or commit to, then it's time to do something about it, and now is the time.


It may not be easy to change some things, and others may be easier than you think. Either way, you won't know until you try.

What's the worst that can happen? If you try something and it doesn't work, then you have a stepping stone for your next step.


If you really want to change something then you can do it!


If you are willing to do what's required then you will do it!


If you are able to accept that things will be different and maybe even difficult at first, than you are able to do it.

If you are can do all three steps, then you are capable of making a change.


Look over the last month or previous couple of months. What have you been saying or wanting to do and haven't, or what do you want to change about yourself or something in your life?

If there is more than one thing you want to work with, choose the one that you feel is the most important, or you think the most about, or weighs the heaviest on you.

What step(s) can you take to bring about this change?

When you took that step, what happened?


What, if anything, surfaced for you?

What did you learn?

Are there any other steps you need to take next to implement that change 

further? 

Remember, change may not be easy, but you will never know what lies around the next corner if you don't take the step(s) to see. Use these techniques to help you find the insight to assist you in taking the next steps to change and facing what is holding you back, or surfaces, and then using that knowledge as a stepping stone for your next step(s).

30 Day Challenge - Improving Your Productivity By Creating Better Habits

When it comes to improving your productivity there are a number of strategies you can use to make it happen. One strategy that we like to suggest is to challenge yourself to add a habit or behavior that will support your overall productivity. 


You can also approach this from the perspective of getting rid of a habit or behavior that currently hinders your overall productivity. It doesn't matter as much which of these two you choose to do as long as you actually complete the thirty day challenge. 

At the end of this you can be an even better example of possibility to your friends and family. You will also get the feeling of being able to overcome the things that in the past have been holding you back from being more productive.  


THE THIRTY DAY HABIT CHANGE CHALLENGE; 


Since it is probably safe to say that we understand why you would want to increase your level of productivity I think we should make sure we are talking about the same thing. Wikipedia defines "Habit" as  "...A habit, from the standpoint of psychology, is a more or less fixed way of thinking, willing, or feeling acquired through previous repetition of a mental experience." There are of course two sides of the coin with this. We all have positive habits that we do day in and day out that enrich our lives. Because they have become automatic behaviors they will keep happening until we make a conscious effort to change them. 


What we are looking to do with the thirty day challenge is either add a positive habit to our existing set of habits or get rid of a habit that we have deemed negative. That is an automatic behavior that we keep performing day in and day out that actually takes away from our lives.  


Since our focus in this report is on increasing productivity we will be looking with that outcome in mind.  So Why Will This Work? The thirty day challenge is based on three specific principles that make it work. The first principle is the idea of "Awareness Is Curative". 


This is the idea that as we make ourselves consciously aware of something then we can do something about it because it's not happening out of our awareness.  This is important because if we are trying to change a habit then we have to make ourselves consciously aware of when we are performing the unwanted behavior. Conversely, if we are trying to add a new habit then conscious repetition is one of the keys to making it an automatic behavior. 


The second principle of "Focus Causes Growth" works on the idea that the things we focus on tend to grow. This is partially because that increased focus implies increased importance. Since we usually perform or tend to the things we deem important first then this is a way to leverage that mental strategy. 


Finally, the thirty day challenge works because a "temporary commitment is easier to keep then a permanent one". That is you can more easily make the mental decision to do something for thirty days then you can to say you will do it for the rest of your life. It's a well-known psychological adage that a habit can be formed in 21 consecutive days. 


Once you have formed this habit then no more conscious input is needed on your part.  

60 SECOND DECISION MAKING PROCESS STEPS 


Step 1. Identify a habit to create or change. 

Step 2. Commit to daily execution. 

Step 3. Keep track of your execution or lack thereof. 

Step 4. Adjust your execution using triggers if needed on a daily or weekly basis. 

Step 5. Add controls as necessary. 

COMMON THIRTY DAY CHALLENGE ISSUES 

Of course whenever you are given a new set of tasks to do there will usually be some form of resistance to it even if it was your own idea. Let's take a look at three of the more common issues that people have encountered with this and what they have done to get past them. 


Issue #1 - Looking Past The Thirty Days This is when instead of keeping their focus on just doing what needs to be done today their focus shifts to what happens a month or six months from now. Solution The biggest solution here is to just trust that if you do your part for the next thirty days that the rest will work itself out. The reason we know this to be true is that you currently have positive habits that are working for you right now that you are not even conscious of. We are just giving you a more direct way to add to that collection. 


Issue #2 - Making It To Cumbersome To Track There are two things that will allow you to be successful in the thirty day challenge. The first is to make sure you perform the new habit or substitute something in place of an existing habit you are trying to change. The second part is to make sure you track this. Solution Tracking your daily execution doesn't have to be complicated. It could be as simple as adding a tally to a piece of paper or adding an entry to your digital diary or notepad. Keep it simple. 


Issue #3 - Focus On The Habit Instead Of The Process This is like trying to watch water boil and forgetting the fact that if it's heated at a certain temperature for a certain amount of time it will boil most of the time. 


WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT 


I know we have covered a lot of new information in this report. We looked at why you would want to improve your productivity, introduced the thirty day challenge, covered the principles that make the challenge work and finally what to do if you encounter three popular stumbling blocks. By allowing yourself to commit to the thirty day challenge you can fully expect your productivity to increase in the specific area you have chosen to tackle first. Depending on your choice this could mean more fulfilling relationships, more satisfying career and/or business outcomes and of course a greater sense of accomplishment.

Personal Growth And Success Tips You Can Use Today

Helping yourself to become more dynamic and successful can be a little intimidating if you have never done it before. It can easily lead to a bad case of information overload because of all of the tools and resources available to you.

Here are some tips to assist you in getting all of this information organized to a point where you can start improving your life now. 

Picking challenging goals is vital to successful personal development. 

Stretching yourself is the only way to expand your limits. An overall goal should be one that is at least a little outside your grasp when you begin the journey towards it. Reaching for more than you think you can achieve will teach you how to do more.  

Your self confidence during personal development periods will benefit from a harmonious relationship to your core self. If you're in tune with your mind, body, and soul, you'll find it easier to defend yourself against challenges to your core beliefs and values. This helps you strengthen the impact of your beliefs, and your confidence in them. 

Going through a strength finder assessment is one of the best ways to get a grasp on how well you understand your strengths and areas of weakness. 

This kind of assessment will provide you with your top five strengths, which you can then incorporate into your daily life and apply to both your personal and professional life. 

Personal development is an intimate and challenging process. 

To make the search for self-discovery easier, consider starting a journal detailing your goals. This can help you visualize your progress and determine optimal time lines for personal goals. You can also use this journal to detail obstacles and successes along the way - you may find your work is reaping more than you'd imagine.  

Keeping a journal can be a key routine for personal development and can give you insights into your true thoughts and feelings. If you have ever felt that you don't know what you want out of life, keeping a journal can be the answer to discovering what it is that you really need to be a better you.  

Make small gradual changes in your behavior. Quitting bad habits cold turkey works in some instances but in other situations smaller and more gradual changes more effectively achieve long-lasting change. Walking one block every day is better than running a half mile one time and giving up because it is too hard.  

A great tip for people who suffer from depression is to try and keep up with your social life, even if sometimes, you really don't feel like it. Often times, being around a lot of people will make you feel more comfortable coming out of your shell and engaging with the rest of the world.  

While the path to your personal development goals might be long, it need not be arduous. Keeping your eyes peeled for new personal development ideas is always a good idea. You may run into more handy tips like the ones in this article that can get you to your goals faster - or at least keep the journey to them from getting dull.

Making The Most Of Your Time

Many business owners struggle with the concept of time. The conflict lies, more specifically, in the lack of available time. It is an all too familiar story: the business day starts and, before you know it, the time has gone and you haven't managed to complete half of the tasks on your 'to do' list.

This scenario is to blame for much work-related stress. The cause? Well, it really comes down to a lack of time control. Manage your time effectively and you will find that much of your work stress melts away.


Here are are five key tips to help you to make the most of your time.

 


Time Yourself  

You know better than anyone how to tackle the key tasks in your own business. However, it is just as important to know how long each of these tasks takes to complete. The best way to find out is to time yourself actually doing the work. You should do this both for the work you do for your customers as well as the work you do within your own business.

For example, a business owner wants to publish blogs on a regular basis. How long should she allocate per week to this task? Well, the best way for her to know how much time writing, editing, finding an image, and publishing a blog will take is for her to time herself actually doing it.

Indeed, in order to get a truly accurate time picture, she should time herself doing this task on several occasions so that she can get an average and then allocate the necessary amount of time each week. 

 

Don't Drift  

In order to control your time, you have to be strict with yourself. Using the example above, the business owner could easily spend hours thinking about, researching and writing blog posts. However, this will not help her business to thrive.So, instead, she should set herself a tight time frame within which she can write and publish a high quality article. It is amazing how productive you can be when you have a looming deadline - it can really focus the mind! 

 

Remove Distractions  

In a similar vein to the point above, effective time management means removing distractions. Once you have set yourself time to complete a piece of work you should focus on that work.Try not to succumb to distractions such as Internet searches or email correspondence. These really are time black holes and can easily double the time you need to complete a task. If you can, turn off all devices that will bleep, ring and flash messages at you; they can and should wait their turn. 

 

Time Boxing  

The time boxing technique is particularly effective when you know how long tasks take to complete. At the beginning of the day, work out what jobs you need to complete and how long each task will take. Then look at how much time you have available and slot the tasks into the relevant time boxes.This can really help you to focus on the jobs that you want to complete. 


It can also prevent you from taking too long on any one job and stop you from becoming distracted.In addition, time boxing also encourages you to be realistic regarding your 'to do' list. After all, if you have unrealistic expectations as to what work you can finish in any given day you just end up feeling stressed. 

 

Allow A Contingency  

When you allocate time boxes to your work, always allow a period of time for contingencies. As much as you don't want time to get away from you, you also don't want to become completely imprisoned by your time management technique!


If you follow the tips above you will discover that you can find more hours in the day. In addition to that, the hours that you do spend at work will be far less stressful.