Only 3% of people have written goals. And, really, what’s the big deal with writing them down anyway? After all, I have in my head an idea of what I’m trying to do. I want to make more money and sell more houses. There, goal setting = done.
But, maybe the 3% know something. Maybe they know that when you write them down you are more likely to review them and maintain your focus on them. Maybe they know that when you have it on your mind more frequently you’re much more likely to take the action needed to accomplish them.
Goals that are written and specific have a significant impact on your life and career. There are two reasons that goal setting is important:
- When you have a specific goal, it’s much easier to make an action plan.
- If you don’t know exactly how to accomplish your goal, when you have a specific goal your mind gets started on solving the problem. You bring alive your reticular activator.
The reticular activator is a funny name, but what it is is that part of your brain that filters out what is important and what is not. You’ve experienced it at work I’m sure. Have you ever bought a new car or started shopping for cars and a brand you were previously not very familiar with all of a sudden you see EVERYWHERE. They were already there, but you have a heightened awareness because of your experience. Your brain does the same thing with accomplishing your goals. If you want to represent a builder for new construction all of a sudden you’ll start to notice events where you might meet builders, or you’ll overhear something from across the room about a builder. Opportunities you wouldn’t have recognized before are suddenly right in front of you because you made a goal that heightened your awareness.
So, now comes the hard work. Now comes the time of introspection. What do you want? When you close your eyes and imagine what your life would look like if you could order it up exactly the way you want it, where are you in 5 years? What does it look like? Smell like? Sound like? Who is there with you? What are you wearing? Give your mind a strong picture.
And then go get it.