If you have a plan with defined steps, a timeline, and deadlines to reach your end result-and you follow through on your plan-there is an excellent chance that you will succeed.
On the other hand, without a real plan and with no measurable and scheduled deadlines, I can pretty much guarantee you that your dreams will remain just that and never materialize.
Goals should be realistic, specific, measurable, and have a due date. If they don't meet these criteria, then they aren't true goals.
A good thing to do with goals is to break them into categories of time. Long term goals are things that you want to accomplish over the next 5 years. Try as you might, they just aren't going to happen tomorrow. Examples are your child's college fund and purchasing a home.
Intermediate-term goals are things that you want to accomplish within the next 1-5 years. These can be accomplished faster than your long-term goals, but still won't happen tomorrow. Examples are purchasing a new car and becoming debt free.
Short-term goals are things that you can accomplish within the next 12 months.
Make a list of your goals and determine which category they fit into. Then to the best of your ability, list all of the required steps that you will have to take to accomplish these goals. Make sure you break these down into steps that you can take immediately to start working toward your goals. Having a plan is nice, but if it remains on paper only and you never put it into action, then you will never achieve your goals.
This is where visualization comes into play. While you are in the pursuit of your goals, spend some time each day reviewing them and seeing yourself with the end result.
Put post it notes or index cards throughout your house with affirmations that will help you to achieve your goals. Enlist the help of your family and friends. But, be careful with this one. If you have very big goals, you may not want to share them with just anyone. Some people will actually try to discourage you!
Another of my favorite sayings is "Whether you believe you can, or whether you believe you can't, you're right!" Having a positive attitude will help you achieve your goal. You can achieve your goals, but it will take some work and effort on your part. I hope that getting out of debt and building wealth will be among your goals. Make them definite and assign a date to them.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6196895
Author Information
Life was meant to be enjoyed. For more resources on getting out of debt and living debt free, visit http://www.imdebtfree.net. While you're there, sign up for my free newsletter with more tips on how to get and stay debt free, and receive my free report "101 Powerful Tips for Legally Improving Your Credit Score".Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cheree_Miller