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	<title>GoalBlog.com</title>
	
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	<description>Goal Guru, Goal Blog, Goal Tips, Goal Setting, Goal Achieving, Time Management and Life Balance for Superachievers</description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:16:13 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>Quote: The reason you’re still hoping you’ll achieve your goal…</title>
		<link>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/quote-the-reason-youre-still-hoping-youll-achieve-your-goal/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/quote-the-reason-youre-still-hoping-youll-achieve-your-goal/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:16:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jill@goalguru.com (Jill Koenig)</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[quotes]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[goal quotes]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[goals quote]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[goals quotes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goalguru.com/blog/?p=321</guid>
		<description />
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_322" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 445px"><a href="http://www.goalguru.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/image_quote_the_reason_youre_still_hoping2.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-322" title="image_quote_the_reason_youre_still_hoping2" src="http://www.goalguru.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/image_quote_the_reason_youre_still_hoping2-300x225.jpg" alt="The reason you're still hoping you'll achieve your goal..." width="435" height="326" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The reason you&#39;re still hoping you&#39;ll achieve your goal...</p></div>
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		<title>Goals Quote: Commitment is the glue…</title>
		<link>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/goals-quote-commitment-is-the-glue/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/goals-quote-commitment-is-the-glue/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2012 22:11:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jill@goalguru.com (Jill Koenig)</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[quotes]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[goal quotes]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[goals quotes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goalguru.com/blog/?p=313</guid>
		<description />
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-312" title="image_quote_commitment_is_the_glue" src="http://www.goalguru.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/image_quote_commitment_is_the_glue-300x225.jpg" alt="image_quote_commitment_is_the_glue" width="487" height="353" /></p>
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		<item>
		<title>How NOT to Set a Goal</title>
		<link>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/how-not-to-set-a-goal/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/how-not-to-set-a-goal/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:58:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jill@goalguru.com (Jill Koenig)</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Goal Setting]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Goals]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Time Management]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[success]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Accountability]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Add new tag]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[commitment]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[peak performance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[productivity]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goalguru.com/blog/?p=301</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In countless hours I have invested in working with clients from all walks of life and studying the most successful people of our time, I have found that there are two primary two distinct approaches to learning.
 
1. Learn what unsuccessful people do and then don&#8217;t do it.
and&#8230;
2. Learn what successful people do and then [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-307" title="image_pen_and_paper" src="http://www.goalguru.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/image_pen_and_paper-300x200.jpg" alt="image_pen_and_paper" width="300" height="200" /></p>
<p>In countless hours I have invested in working with clients from all walks of life and studying the most successful people of our time, I have found that there are two primary two distinct approaches to learning.</p>
<p><strong><em> </em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>1. Learn what unsuccessful people do and then don&#8217;t do it.</em></strong></p>
<p>and&#8230;</p>
<p><em><strong>2. Learn what successful people do and then do it.</strong></em></p>
<p>Both are valuable and provide tremendous insight and I credit the lessons from both perspectives with helping me develop more of my own potential in the different areas of my life. It&#8217;s pretty simple. Avoid the behaviors and patterns of the unsuccessful and instead adopt the behaviors of that are most likely to bring a successful outcome.</p>
<p>In this lesson I am going to provide you with what unsuccessful goal setters do to sabotage their results. In my early days of goal setting, I have made most of these errors myself at one time or another.</p>
<p>Have you ever worked hard on a goal that didn&#8217;t come to fruition? I bet somewhere you did one or more of these things below. The interesting thing is that people who do not achieve their goals often invest just as much time, energy and effort (or even more time) than the people who DO go on to achieve their goals.</p>
<p>A flawed or incomplete approach will bring about flawed or incomplete results.</p>
<p>If you see yourself in any of these bad habits, don&#8217;t worry. At the end of this article, I provide the perfect solution for you to salvage any goal and you can begin applying it immediately to begin advancing and achieving your goals.</p>
<p><strong>How NOT To Set a Goal: 10 Mistakes that Guarantee Failure</strong></p>
<p><strong>1. Be vague.</strong> Pick a goal, any goal. Don&#8217;t give it much thought, don&#8217;t think about it in much detail and only use generalities to describe it. Don&#8217;t think about the long term effects on your loved ones, or the long term impact on your life, just pick any bright shiny object and go for it. Don&#8217;t spend any time to develop a crystal clear vision for what you want. Just pick anything and get to work.</p>
<p><strong>2. Embark upon a goal that someone else chose for you.</strong> Go after things that you don&#8217;t truly want because you&#8217;re trying to make someone else happy, or because you think it will get or keep their love.</p>
<p><strong>3. Keep everything in your head.</strong> That&#8217;s right. Trust your memory. Don&#8217;t commit anything to paper or<span id="more-301"></span> activate the most powerful unseen force in human psychology (your subconscious mind) that is only triggered when you translate your thoughts and goals with pen and paper. Just keep hoping that every day you will remember what you&#8217;re working towards and why you started it in the first place.</p>
<p><strong>4. Don&#8217;t create a plan.</strong> Don&#8217;t worry about creating a timeline or mapping out the structure of carrying out what needs to be done.</p>
<p><strong>5. Don&#8217;t set priorities.</strong> Only do the things you feel like doing when you feel like doing them.</p>
<p><strong>6. Don&#8217;t carve out time in your daily life for working on the goal.</strong> Your life is plenty busy already, right? I guess you&#8217;ll just squeeze in your action plan around your already full life and if there&#8217;s time left over after all of those other things are done, you&#8217;ll get to your goal eventually.</p>
<p><strong>7. Blame others for not achieving your goal or when something is not working.</strong> Yep. It&#8217;s not your fault that your goal is not achieved. It&#8217;s that other person. In the end if you don&#8217;t acknowledge and take 100% responsibility for the results, your goal will never be achieved and you&#8217;ll always have an excuse for why that is.</p>
<p><strong>8. Try to do it all yourself.</strong> You know the saying, &#8220;If you want something done right, do it yourself.&#8221; After all, you&#8217;re a<br />
perfectionist and even though it will take ten times longer, at least everything will be perfect. This means that you will drag out the time it takes for much longer than it needs to be and you&#8217;ll probably get very frustrated in the process. When you are frustrated enough, you will inevitably resort to the next two&#8230;</p>
<p><strong>9. Worry.</strong> Why waste your time visualizing the positive outcomes you want to create when you can dwell in and stock pile all of the things you&#8217;re afraid of? Instead spend that valuable time worrying about what you don&#8217;t want until it drains your energy and you have nothing left.</p>
<p><strong>10. Give up.</strong> Because you failed to take measures that ensure your goal is achieved, you got tired, frustrated and just gave up. Goal setting doesn&#8217;t work anyway.</p>
<p>Ooooh, that was painful to write. I know how painful it is to experience. I&#8217;ve been there.</p>
<p>Can you see yourself in any of those scenarios?</p>
<p>Have you ever sabotaged your goals?</p>
<p>The good news is that it&#8217;s preventable.</p>
<p>Practicing any one of those &#8220;NOT to do&#8217;s&#8221; is enough to derail the most magnificent, achievable goal and I would venture to say that at one time or another we have all engaged in one or more of these behaviors, myself included, that is, until I created a blueprint that guaranteed successful goal achieving.</p>
<p>Those saboteurs are no longer an issue because I have a goal setting blueprint that ensures success every time. Now when I set a goal, I have a guaranteed system for all of the necessary steps, from the selection of the goal to creating the action plan and seeing it through to completion. It&#8217;s amazing how much more quickly I can achieve my goals and how much more fun the process is.</p>
<p><em><strong>&#8220;A goal properly set is halfway reached.&#8221; -Abraham Lincoln</strong></em></p>
<p>The best way to set a goal is to follow a proven blueprint. I just released the formula for success that I use to ensure I reach and often exceed my goals. This is the same formula I teach to Fortune 500 CEOs, Olympic athletes, Entrepreneurs and everyday people who just want to get more out of life and develop more of their own potential.</p>
<p><a href="http://goalguru.com/virtualgoalsettingworkshop" target="_blank">http://goalguru.com/virtualgoalsettingworkshop</a>/</p>
<p>I look forward to helping you achieve your goals.</p>
<p>Live Your Dreams,</p>
<p>Jill Koenig</p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial; color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
PS 2012 is a leap year, which means we have one extra day February 29th.  Why not utilize that extra day going through the Virtual Goal Setting  Workshop and fine tuning your goals for the year <img src='http://www.goalguru.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial; color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://goalguru.com/virtualgoalsettingworkshop/" target="_blank">http://goalguru.com/virtualgoalsettingworkshop/</a></span></span></p>
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		<title>Goal Setting: Should I Share My Goals With Others?</title>
		<link>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/goal-setting-should-i-share-my-goals-with-others/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/goal-setting-should-i-share-my-goals-with-others/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:46:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jill@goalguru.com (Jill Koenig)</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Accountability]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Goal Setting]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[goal achieving]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Goals]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[habits]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[productivity]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[success]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goalguru.com/blog/?p=292</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the most common questions I get on the subject of Goal Setting is whether or not you should share your goal with others. The short answer is... it depends. I think the better questions is actually, "With whom should I share my Goals?" There are clearly times when it is in your best interest to tell people and more specifically, there are times when you should share your goals with...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_295" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><img class="size-full wp-image-295" title="graphic_goal_setting_teamwork1" src="http://www.goalguru.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/graphic_goal_setting_teamwork1.jpg" alt="graphic_goal_setting_teamwork1" width="300" height="225" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Sharing your goals provides valuable feedback</p></div>
<p>One of the most common questions I get on the subject of Goal Setting is whether or not you should share your goal with others.</p>
<p>The short answer is&#8230; it depends.</p>
<p>I think the better questions is actually, &#8220;With whom should I share my Goals?&#8221;</p>
<p>There are clearly times when it is in your best interest to tell  people  and more specifically, there are times when you should share  your goals  with certain people.</p>
<p>For most of us, our goals and dreams are our most personal and sacred  &#8216;possessions.&#8217; However not everyone will treat them as such. Factor in  that we all have different sensitivity levels when it comes to how we  will be impacted if and when we receive negative feedback, criticism or  even worse, the inevitable reaction from a harsh and heavy dream  crusher.</p>
<p>Do I share every goal I set with anyone and everyone? Nope. But I do  have some guidelines and recommendations for you to help you determine  the appropriate people to share your goals with.</p>
<p>If you share your goals with no one, then you deprive yourself of the   often valuable input and help that other people can offer.</p>
<p><strong>Ten People With Whom You Should Consider Sharing Your Goals:</strong></p>
<p><strong>1. People who have goals of their own</strong> and more importantly, people who are <em>actively engaged in</em> advancing goals of their own. A person with no goals is probably not  going to be able to relate to yours or offer much in the way of positive  feedback and encouragement. They may lack the skills and ability to  give your goals the value they deserve.</p>
<p><strong>2. People who are <span id="more-292"></span>engaged in the same area of your goal</strong>.  This person is  someone who may have something constructive to offer in  the way of experience and feedback regarding your goal. Share your goal  only if you  respect their opinion on the particular area of your goal.  For example,  if you are an entrepreneur, a person who works in a 9-5  corporate  environment might not be able to relate to your vision. But  someone who  works in a similar endeavor, probably has something to  offer.</p>
<p><strong>3. Connectors</strong>. These are people who are natural  connectors of people.  They live to help people bridge the gaps between  you and someone who has  the means and ability to assist you. They have a  large network and  enjoy introducing people they think should know each  other. They don&#8217;t  need to have a particular affinity in the area of  your goal, but they  may be able to make an introduction to someone who  does.</p>
<p><strong>4. Your Goal Buddy</strong>. A goal buddy is someone who will  act as your  accountability partner as you work towards your goal. You  will tell them  specific actions you are committed to taking and when,  and you follow up  with them at regular scheduled intervals to report  your progress. Their  role is to help you do what you said you were  going to do.</p>
<p><strong>5. Your Goals Coach</strong>. If you tell no one else,  your Coach should be the  person who knows everything about you and  your goal. They can help you avoid common roadblocks and can help you  achieve it much faster than if  you went about it all by your lonesome.  Your Coach will be able to spot patterns and limiting beliefs that may  be holding you back that would  take years to uncover by yourself. A  Coach will keep you focused and on  track.</p>
<p><strong>6. The Listener</strong>.  This is a safe person who may not have much to say  about your goal one  way or another, but they are a neutral sounding  board with whom you  can practice talking about your goal. Sometimes all  they do is ask  questions without judging your goal one way or another  and this can be  extremely helpful at helping you flush out your ideas  and plans.</p>
<p><strong>7. Your spouse/partner/significant other</strong>.  I&#8217;m going to preface this by  saying that this is the most sensitive  area for most people. For some,  your spouse is your greatest critic (I  hope not), and for others, your  spouse is your greatest encourager. If  you are sensitive to the feedback  you may get, I recommend sharing your  goal but keeping it short and  sweet and ask for what you need when you  share the goal, &#8220;Honey it&#8217;s  really important for me to share with you  one of my deepest desires and  I&#8217;m a little sensitive about it so please  be gentle after I tell you. I  just want you to listen because this  goal is so important to me.&#8221; Ask  for the specific kind of support you  need, whether that&#8217;s extra time  alone to work on it, feedback,  encouragement and so on. If your  significant other does not support  your goals, and if that nurturing  environment is lacking, I recommend  you make it a top priority to take a  closer look into that issue and  resolve it as soon as possible. You  must create a safe and loving  environment between you and your partner, even when you disagree.</p>
<p><strong>8. The Critic</strong>.  We all know someone who looks at everything with a  critical eye. If  there is someone like this in your life, you know who  this person is.  The cup is always half empty and they are often  pessimistic. They are  the one who can find something wrong with  everything and they freely  tell you what it is, whether you ask or not.  You may be asking, &#8220;Why on  Earth would I want to tell someone whom I  know will most certainly  pick my goal apart?&#8221; That&#8217;s exactly why you may  want to share your goal  with that person. They will expose anything  that even slightly  resembles a flaw or weakness. This not for the faint  at heart and if  you know you are extremely sensitive about your goal,  you may want to  avoid telling the critic. If you can work with the  feedback and not get  tripped up by it or not take it personally, give it  a whirl.</p>
<p><strong>9. The Encourager</strong>.  The encourager is someone who thinks everything is a  miracle,  including you. They are an endless stream of wind beneath your  wings.  Even though they may have concerns, they address them with   compassionate encouragement, kindness and tenderness. They lift you with   every word they speak and make you feel great about yourself, even  when  you make mistakes in life. They want your goal for you as much as  you  do. For me, this source of constant light was my mom. She often did  not  understand my ambitions, but by golly, she was my greatest  supporter and  cheerleader and she made me feel like I could do anything  (thanks Mom).</p>
<p><strong>10. Your Social Media Circle</strong>: Last year on my <a title="goal setting" href="http://www.facebook.com/goalsetting" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>,  I publicly  declared a goal of my own, that I would jog 365 miles in  365 days. Each  time I completed a run, it posted to my Facebook page  and with that,  received a lot of encouragement, strengthened  connections with people  with an interest in health and fitness (which  is always good) and this  year we have a number of people joining us in  the challenge. I have seen  people go on a specific diet and post  pictures of each meal they eat as  a means of public accountability.  They know their friends will ask them  if they veer off track and for  many people this is a powerful form of  motivation. Others post their  weight and measurements.</p>
<p>When thinking about sharing your goals  with someone, ask yourself, &#8220;Does it serve me to share my goal? Does it  serve my goal to share it with this person?&#8221;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial; color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: arial; color: black; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Finally,  whenever someone tells you their goals, be the person who treats the  person and their goal with great compassion, care and respect.  Regardless of whether or not it is a goal that you like or would ever  pursue for yourself, even if you think the goal is impossible, remember  it is that person&#8217;s goal and they thought enough of you and entrusted  you with it enough to share it.</p>
<p><em><strong>&#8220;You can criticize or encourage. One kills, the other gives life.&#8221; Jill Koenig</strong></em></p>
<p>Which type of feedback do you think is most empowering?</p>
<p>Your  support and encouragement might mean the world to them. Your input  might be the difference between whether or not they pursue the goal and  achieve it. Especially when it comes to your children, your spouse and  your loved ones, be the wind beneath their wings, not the dream crusher  who blasts it to pieces. If they pursue it and fail to achieve it, they  will certainly learn some valuable lessons that they can apply to future  endeavors. That is priceless and much more valuable than if they never  attempted it at all.</p>
<p>Never impose your own fears, limiting beliefs  or limitations on someone else. And if you&#8217;re the one on the receiving  end, do not allow other people&#8217;s limitations to become your own.</p>
<p>If  you have nothing else to offer, you can always offer kindness and  encouragement. It costs nothing to give and it&#8217;s one of the most  compassionate, loving, long lasting gifts you can give to another.</p>
<p>Live Your Dreams,</p>
<p>Jill Koenig</p>
<p>Share your thoughts below: Do you share your goals with others?</p>
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		<title>Five Steps to Overcoming Fear</title>
		<link>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/five-steps-to-overcoming-fear/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/five-steps-to-overcoming-fear/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:08:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jill@goalguru.com (Jill Koenig)</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goalguru.com/blog/?p=257</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[No matter who you are and how well versed you are at goal setting, there are a number of experiences we have all encountered at one time or another  when en route to our goals. One of the most common is fear. The bigger your goals are, the greater the fear you are likely to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-258" title="photo_overcoming_fear" src="http://www.goalguru.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/photo_overcoming_fear_2-224x300.jpg" alt="photo_overcoming_fear" width="224" height="300" /></p>
<p>No matter who you are and how well versed you are at goal setting, there are a number of experiences we have all encountered at one time or another  when en route to our goals. One of the most common is fear. The bigger your goals are, the greater the fear you are likely to encounter. Looking at fear from the outside, it seems ridiculous to allow the mere possibility of something less than optimal occurring keep us from attempting something, but fear is one emotion that is so powerful, it can lead to delays or even hold even the best and brightest back from achieving their dreams.</p>
<p>Firstly, let&#8217;s take a look at the definition of fear.</p>
<blockquote><p><strong>Fear </strong><em>–noun</em> 1.a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.</p></blockquote>
<p>Now that we have a general idea what fear is, we can take a closer look at the ways in which it appears in our day to day lives. For some it is a small blip on the radar, for others, it&#8217;s a crippling reality, rearing it&#8217;s ugly head and acting as a virtual roadblock, standing in between their God given potential.</p>
<p>Since none of us is immune to fear and we will all experience it at one time or another, doesn&#8217;t it make sense to demystify it and find ways to harness it to work for us and our greater good, rather than hold us back?</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s look at a very simple formula for conquering fear.</p>
<p><strong>Five Steps to Overcoming Fear</strong></p>
<p><strong>1. Catch yourself in the midst of feeling the fear</strong>. It is so easy to get caught up in the cycle of telling yourself and others, &#8220;I&#8217;m so afraid, I&#8217;m so afraid, I&#8217;m terrified,&#8221; etc. Have you ever had this type of dialogue running around in your head on repeat? The more you say this, the more the fear grows. If you can catch this mental chatter while it&#8217;s occurring<span id="more-257"></span>, you can take the next step in directing it. I have seen people use fear as a means of getting attention from their loved ones. Of course if they are anxious or afraid, their loved ones will give them extra attention, therefore though they are not likely aware of it, the fear is serving them as a means of getting love. Become conscious of what you do when fear arises for you.</p>
<p><strong>2. Name your fear. Identify exactly what it is that you are afraid of</strong>. Give that big, bad monster a name. For example, in your business are you afraid of failing? Are you afraid of making mistakes or costly decisions? Are you afraid of being an entrepreneur without a safety net? Might that pose a problem in making progress for you? Now let&#8217;s look at the flip side. Are you afraid of success? What if you become successful? Are you afraid your success might impact your relationships with family, friends or significant other? These are all very powerful fears that I see quite often when working with my coaching clients.</p>
<p>And here&#8217;s another biggie -fear relating to love. Are you afraid of falling in love? Are you afraid of getting close to another person and feeling worried that the relationship might end? Are you afraid it won&#8217;t last? Are you afraid of being happy? I have seen people sabotage amazing relationships with amazing people because they were afraid it was too good to be true. Fear of the unknown is a common dilemma, however the faster you can name it and pinpoint what the fear is on the deeper level, the greater your ability to decrease the fear&#8217;s power over you. Giving the fear a name instantly decreases it&#8217;s power.</p>
<p><strong>3. Get more specific and write it down</strong>. Fear of the unknown is a common description but getting even more specific at this stage will allow you to identify and then take the appropriate measures to prevent the fears from becoming a reality. After you name it, write down on a piece of paper more detail of what the fear is about. If the fear was relating to your work, write down the various scenarios that are running through your head. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid I will make a mistake and disappoint my parents, my spouse, my children, myself.&#8221; If the fear was in the area of love, clarify the fear as best you can. &#8220;I&#8217;m afraid of falling in love, that if I fall in love, the other person won&#8217;t love me back. I&#8217;m afraid I may move too fast or I&#8217;m afraid of being so close to another person because my first marriage ended in divorce. If this happens, then it means I am a failure at love and will end up alone.&#8221; If your fear causes you to hold back, withdraw or give less than your best, it often leads to the creation of the result you DON&#8221;T want! What you dwell upon long enough and strong enough becomes your reality. At this stage, you are looking at the negative side long enough to acknowledge the potential downside, which is often nowhere near as bad as we are making it seem. Normally there is a dreadful scenario that replays in your imagination and that preoccupation makes it so. Writing it down on paper is another step in taking your power back. Only then will you be ready for the next steps which is where you create the breakthrough.</p>
<p><strong>4. Take measures to prevent the fears from becoming reality</strong>. For many of you, taking the first three steps may be all you needed to get a handle on the fear and put it behind you. The act of dissecting and looking it in the eye so to speak is often all you need to see how the fear became inflated and blown out of proportion. However, if the fear is still prevalent, now is the time to take action to the best of your ability and create a plan for ensuring the fear doesn&#8217;t become a reality. You cannot control the wind, but you can control the set of your sail. Consult with capable others such as qualified peers, trusted advisers a coach or mentor. Often having the benefit of an outside perspective can set you on the right path. After consulting qualified advisers, you may decide that the fear is a warning you wish to heed and that you are not willing to take the risk. That is totally okay. It&#8217;s your life and you&#8217;re the captain of the ship and you live with the consequences either way. If you choose to proceed, there are always measures you can take to stack the odds in your favor. This gives you a constructive place to invest your thought, time and energy in a place other than worry. You are making a commitment to do everything you can to manifest what you desire.</p>
<p><strong>5. Imagine the best case scenario, write it down and redirect your attention there</strong>. W. Clement Stone calls this being inverse paranoid, which means you are always expecting the best to happen. The reason your fear felt so big in the first place was because your imagination ran wild with it to some degree. I say once you have crafted your plan and made the decision to proceed, now is the time to invest at least the same energy into dwelling on the positive possibilities. It&#8217;s a lot more constructive and fun, isn&#8217;t it? Imagine all of the ways things will work out and all the good that will come from venturing beyond your comfort zone and pursuing what you truly desire.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;What you dwell upon long enough and strong enough becomes your reality.&#8221; -Jill Koenig</em></strong></p></blockquote>
<p>In the end, there are no guarantees. Life is an adventure. The greater the risk, the greater the reward but ultimately the greatest risk is taking no risk at all. If something doesn&#8217;t work out the way you had hoped, you can certainly learn from it and apply it to future endeavors. Let whatever happens impact you for the better and expect the best, come what may. In the end, everything moves you toward growth and your greater good, so be open to learning, have fun and make the best of it no matter what.</p>
<p>Live Your Dreams,</p>
<p>Jill Koenig</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The Most Depressing Day of the Year?</title>
		<link>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/the-most-depressing-day-of-the-year/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/the-most-depressing-day-of-the-year/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:36:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jill@goalguru.com (Jill Koenig)</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[blue]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[depressing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Goals]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[monday]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[new]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[resolutions]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[years]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goalguru.com/blog/?p=254</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today January 17 is allegedly the most depressing day of the year. Really. It's quite scientific. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="mceTemp">
<dl id="attachment_255" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><img class="size-medium wp-image-255" title="bluemonday_2" src="http://www.goalguru.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/bluemonday_2-300x254.png" alt="Blue Monday? Says Who?" width="300" height="254" /></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Blue Monday? Says Who?</dd>
</dl>
<p>I&#8217;m not sure if you heard the news, but a British psychologist<br />
has proclaimed today &#8216;Blue Monday&#8217; the most depressing day of the year.</p>
<p>It has something to do with factors such as the weather, holiday debt, time since Christmas, failing on new year&#8217;s resolutions, etc and it&#8217;s supposed to be quite scientific.</p>
<p>Whether today is a blue day for you or not, I am making a<br />
proclamation of my own.</p>
<p>&#8220;<strong>Today will be whatever you decide it will be</strong>.&#8221;</p>
<p>That&#8217;s right. I said it. It&#8217;s quite scientific.</p>
<p>It has everything to do with having meaningful goals, the tools<br />
to advance them and the determination to see them through.</p>
<p>So don&#8217;t jump on the &#8216;most depressing day of the year&#8217; bandwagon, ok?</p>
<p>Instead, follow the link below and watch today&#8217;s free video by my friend, Author Noah St John. There is a great exercise that will get you moving in the right direction.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.goalguru.com/recommends/noah" target="_blank">http://www.goalguru.com/recommends/noah</a></p>
<p>And if you are already having a great day, it just got even better <img src='http://www.goalguru.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>After you watch the video, be sure to post a comment and tell us what you think.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.goalguru.com/recommends/noah" target="_blank">http://www.goalguru.com/recommends/noah</a></p>
<p>Live Your Dreams,</p>
<p>Jill Koenig</p></div>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The Amazing Story Behind White Christmas</title>
		<link>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/the-amazing-story-behind-white-christmas/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/the-amazing-story-behind-white-christmas/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Dec 2010 17:59:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jill@goalguru.com (Jill Koenig)</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[berlin]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[christmas]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[irving]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[music]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[song]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[story]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[white]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goalguru.com/blog/?p=249</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Back in 1939, a Russian Jewish immigrant songwriter was working on location for a movie in Beverly Hills. He was separated from his family and wrote a few notes of a song and placed in in a song trunk where it sat for two years. There came a time he dusted off the song, finished it and it went on to become the #1 selling song of all time...]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="clear: both;"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-252" title="irving_berlin_white_christmas" src="http://www.goalguru.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/irving_berlin_white_christmas-300x300.jpg" alt="irving_berlin_white_christmas" width="300" height="300" /> Back in 1939, a Russian Jewish immigrant songwriter was working on location for a movie in Beverly Hills for an extended time.</div>
<p>Legend has it he was homesick while separated from his wife and<br />
children, and at that time, wrote some parts of a song and then<br />
stored away the incomplete, half written work in a &#8220;song trunk.&#8221;</p>
<p>After two years had passed, he dusted off the half written song<br />
and put the finishing touches on it.</p>
<p>He called it the best song he had ever written.</p>
<p>It was a simple song.</p>
<p>54 words.</p>
<p>67 notes.</p>
<p>The songwriter was Irving Berlin.</p>
<p>The song was White Christmas.</p>
<p>It became the most sold song in the world.</p>
<p>To this day, it is an enduring symbol of Christmas, the spirit<br />
of the Holiday season and evokes warm, loving memories for<span id="more-249"></span> </p>
<p>millions of people.</p>
<p>It has been recorded countless times by countless artists and<br />
featured in countless movies.</p>
<p>Irving Berlin could neither read or write musical notation but<br />
still managed to compose over 1000 other songs, which are<br />
considered the foundation of our American songbook.</p>
<p>Think about it. What an unlikely scenario.</p>
<p>The biggest selling song in history, the definitive Christmas<br />
song, written by a Russian Jewish immigrant who had no exposure<br />
to the Christmas holiday as a child.</p>
<p>The biggest selling song in history written by someone who<br />
couldn&#8217;t read or write musical notation.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t ever let anyone tell you you can&#8217;t do something.</p>
<p>What unfinished &#8220;song,&#8221; idea or project do you have stored away<br />
somewhere, perhaps in a drawer, in a box or even in your own</p>
<div style="clear: both;">imagination?</div>
<p>What dream lives in your heart that you long to share with the<br />
world?</p>
<p>What gifts have you been blessed with that you&#8217;re not giving<br />
yet?</p>
<p>Perhaps the time wasn&#8217;t right, or you were not quite ready to<br />
step into your own greatness yet.</p>
<p>Perhaps now is the time.</p>
<p>Perhaps 2011 is the year you are meant to bring it to life.</p>
<div style="clear: both;">What dreams could you re ignite if you dusted them off and<br />
started over or picked up where you left off?</div>
<p>Now is your time.</p>
<p>As we head into 2011, you are given the chance to begin anew&#8230;</p>
<p>You.</p>
<p>Any dream.</p>
<p>A New Year brings New Life&#8230;</p>
<div style="clear: both;">I hope you will join us in the first ever worldwide 30 Day Goal Blitz</div>
<div style="clear: both;">beginning January 1st. Be sure you are subscribed to our newsletter</div>
<div style="clear: both;">for the exciting details.</div>
<p>Happy Holidays!</p>
<div style="clear: both;">Live Your Dreams,</div>
<p>Jill Koenig</p>
<p>Copyright 2010 Jill Koenig</p>
<p>Jill Koenig, the “Goal Guru’ is America’s Top Goals Coach.<br />
Her passion in life is helping you Achieve your Goals and<br />
Unleash your untapped potential. Learn Cutting Edge Goal<br />
Strategies at <a href="http://www.GoalGuru.com">http://www.GoalGuru.com</a></p>
<div style="clear: both;">==============<br />
Need fresh content for your ezine? You are welcome to reprint<br />
this article on your web site or in your ezine. We simply ask<br />
that you include our byline, web site link and let us know where</div>
<div style="clear: both;">the article will be appearing.<br />
==============</div>
<div style="clear: both;"> </div>
<div style="clear: both;">There&#8217;s still time to take our 2011 Goal &amp; New Years Resolution Survey</div>
<div style="clear: both;"><a href="http://www.goalguru.com/recommends/ResolutionSurvey2011" target="_blank">http://www.goalguru.com/recommends/ResolutionSurvey2011</a></div>
<p>Join the discussion on the Official Goal Guru Facebook page:<br />
<a href="http://www.goalguru.com/recommends/facebook" target="_blank">http://www.goalguru.com/recommends/facebook</a></p>
<p>Follow me on Twitter:<br />
<a href="http://www.goalguru.com/recommends/twitter" target="_blank">http://www.goalguru.com/recommends/twitter</a></p>
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		<title>A Bird’s Eye View: Goal Setting Lessons from Mother Nature</title>
		<link>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/a-birds-eye-view-goal-setting-lessons-from-mother-nature/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/a-birds-eye-view-goal-setting-lessons-from-mother-nature/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:38:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jill@goalguru.com (Jill Koenig)</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Goal Setting]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Goals]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[New Years Resolutions]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[discipline]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[focus]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[goal guru]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[persistence]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[power of concentration]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[productivity]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[vision]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goalguru.com/blog/?p=247</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was working at home today and looked out the window and saw a huge hawk sitting on my deck.  I watched him for a few minutes and it occurred to me I was witnessing a very important life lesson.

Usually when I see hawks they are either high up in the sky or sitting high [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I was working at home today and looked out the window and saw a huge hawk sitting on my deck.  I watched him for a few minutes and it occurred to me I was witnessing a very important life lesson.</p>
<p><object width="480" height="289" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/PEacI3F6CZM?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PEacI3F6CZM?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /></object></p>
<p>Usually when I see hawks they are either high up in the sky or sitting high upon a tree branch where they can see the land below which is where their food source is. Today is a record day of high winds in Chicago and the hawk sought refuge on my deck where my house shelters him from the wind gusts.</p>
<p>I thought about the habits of this hawk. Sometimes he is flying and sometimes he is sitting on a perch but he always has a clear perspective on his goals (his food). He is never walking around wandering on the ground looking for food. He might become food for something else! He knows how to position himself to see what he needs to see. Even in high winds, he can spread his wings to float, almost still while the winds around him blow by. He has this big picture perspective of his menu and when he sees what he wants and decides to go for it, he swoops down and usually gets it.</p>
<p>In today&#8217;s busy pace of life, with all of the responsibilities we juggle, we must remember to take the time to stop and look at the big picture of our life and our goals. When we do this, we can often see a better perspective than when we are engaged in the day to day activities. And just like the hawk, when you decide upon a goal, focus all of your energy and attention into getting it and give it your all.</p>
<p>Live Your Dreams,</p>
<p>Jill</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/a-birds-eye-view-goal-setting-lessons-from-mother-nature/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<enclosure url="http://www.youtube.com/v/PEacI3F6CZM?fs=1&amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;rel=0" length="1029" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" /><media:content url="http://www.youtube.com/v/PEacI3F6CZM?fs=1&amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;rel=0" fileSize="1029" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" /><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:subtitle>I was working at home today and looked out the window and saw a huge hawk sitting on my deck.  I watched him for a few minutes and it occurred to me I was witnessing a very important life lesson. Usually when I see hawks they are either high up in the sky</itunes:subtitle><itunes:author>Jill Koenig</itunes:author><itunes:summary>I was working at home today and looked out the window and saw a huge hawk sitting on my deck.  I watched him for a few minutes and it occurred to me I was witnessing a very important life lesson. Usually when I see hawks they are either high up in the sky or sitting high [...]</itunes:summary><itunes:keywords>goal,setting,goals,goal,guru,jill,koenig,time,management,personal,planning,life,balance,strategic,planning,entrepreneur,home,business,tips,network,marketing,internet,marketing,motivational,speaker,business,success</itunes:keywords></item>
		<item>
		<title>Banish Self Sabotage and Breakthrough the Terror Barrier</title>
		<link>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/banish-self-sabotage-and-breakthrough-the-terror-barrier/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/banish-self-sabotage-and-breakthrough-the-terror-barrier/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:05:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jill@goalguru.com (Jill Koenig)</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Accountability]]></category>

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		<category><![CDATA[productivity]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[discipline]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[habits]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[momentum]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[nlp]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[overcoming fear]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[peak performance]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[persistence]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[self-discipline]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goalguru.com/blog/?p=244</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Have you ever sabotaged yourself just as you were about to achieve a very important goal? This most often manifests istelf via procrastiantion, avoidance, perfectionism, and many other ways. It is a very common phenomenon. Here's how to recognize it when it's happening and breakthrough to achieve your goal]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span class="UIStory_Message">Have you ever sabotaged yourself just as you were about to achieve a very important goal? This most often manifests istelf via procrastiantion, avoidance, perfectionism, and many other ways. It is a very common phenomenon. Here&#8217;s how to recognize it when it&#8217;s happening and breakthrough to achieve your goal </span></p>
<p><span class="UIStory_Message"><br />
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]]></content:encoded>
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		<enclosure url="http://www.youtube.com/v/qZZv6qmnMrs?fs=1&amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;rel=0" length="1029" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" /><media:content url="http://www.youtube.com/v/qZZv6qmnMrs?fs=1&amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;rel=0" fileSize="1029" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" /><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:subtitle>Have you ever sabotaged yourself just as you were about to achieve a very important goal? This most often manifests istelf via procrastiantion, avoidance, perfectionism, and many other ways. It is a very common phenomenon. Here's how to recognize it when </itunes:subtitle><itunes:author>Jill Koenig</itunes:author><itunes:summary>Have you ever sabotaged yourself just as you were about to achieve a very important goal? This most often manifests istelf via procrastiantion, avoidance, perfectionism, and many other ways. It is a very common phenomenon. Here's how to recognize it when it's happening and breakthrough to achieve your goal</itunes:summary><itunes:keywords>goal,setting,goals,goal,guru,jill,koenig,time,management,personal,planning,life,balance,strategic,planning,entrepreneur,home,business,tips,network,marketing,internet,marketing,motivational,speaker,business,success</itunes:keywords></item>
		<item>
		<title>Why You Must Set Goals</title>
		<link>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/why-you-must-set-goals/</link>
		<comments>http://www.goalguru.com/blog/why-you-must-set-goals/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:42:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>jill@goalguru.com (Jill Koenig)</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[3 percent]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[achievement]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[achieving]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[benefits]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[goal club]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Goal Setting]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Goal University]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Goals]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.goalguru.com/blog/?p=242</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most high achievers I have studied took 100% responsibility for
their life and made a concerted effort to learn the art of goal
setting. Most goal achievers invest their own time, energy and
financial resources. Many have joined clubs, communities,
organizations and hired a coach or mentor to further instill the
mastery of this crucial life skill.

There are literally hundreds of ways goal setting benefits your
life. I have identified the top ten to serve as a reminder the
many ways you can gain more control over your life and why it is
crucial that you do whatever it takes to learn and master the art
of goal setting.
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Are you a student of success? I&#8217;m guessing since you are reading<br />
this, you probably are.</p>
<p>I have been a student of success for as long as I can remember.<br />
For decades I have asked the question, &#8220;What makes one person<br />
succeed and another person struggle?&#8221; Even in my childhood I was<br />
a virtual sponge. I noticed the words, behaviors, and patterns of<br />
the people around me and the results they manifested.</p>
<p>I have committed to a lifelong study of success, to learn what<br />
works and what doesn&#8217;t work so that I might duplicate positive<br />
thoughts and habits in my own life and share those lessons and<br />
observations with others. It pays to study success. It also pays<br />
to study failure (your own and other&#8217;s) to avoid unnecessary<br />
mistakes and the pain they bring. Mistakes and missteps are<br />
inevitable, and failure often provide as much benefit as success<br />
as long as you are paying attention.</p>
<p>Most high achievers I have studied took 100% responsibility for<br />
their life and made a concerted effort to learn the art of goal<br />
setting. Most goal achievers invest their own time, energy and<br />
financial resources. Many have joined clubs, communities,<br />
organizations and hired a coach or mentor to further instill the<br />
mastery of this crucial life skill.</p>
<p>There are literally hundreds of ways goal setting benefits your<br />
life. I have identified the top ten to serve as a reminder the<br />
many ways you can gain more control over your life and why it is<br />
crucial that you do whatever it takes to learn and master the art<br />
of goal setting.</p>
<p><strong>The 10 Biggest Benefits of Goal Setting<br />
</strong><br />
<strong>1. Greater Peace of Mind</strong>. There is nothing in the world like<br />
going to bed at night knowing you are investing the days of your<br />
life in the areas of your chosen endeavor. Nothing brings you<br />
greater peace of mind than having the certainty that you are<br />
consciously creating your destiny, living a life of your own<br />
design. Goal getters realize that you create your life goal by<br />
goal. If you want a better life, set better goals.</p>
<p><strong>2. Clarity of Purpose</strong>. Having carefully chosen goals gives your<br />
life greater meaning. Show me a person who doesn&#8217;t know their<br />
passion or purpose in life and I will show you a person who<span id="more-242"></span><br />
either has no goals or pursues goals with no personal challenge<br />
or meaning. People who actively and systematically pursue<br />
meaningful goals feel a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment<br />
in life. What you are doing right now is either taking you way<br />
from or towards your dreams. Goals help us navigate throughout<br />
our journey. Our goals are a reflection of who we are.</p>
<p><strong>3. Greater Productivity and Focus</strong>. People with goals direct<br />
their day, instead of their day directing them. People with goals<br />
know their desired outcome and are less likely to waste time on<br />
unimportant matters. When you know your outcome, you avoid<br />
distraction. You understand the people and pursuits that feed<br />
your desires and those that do not. You know where to invest your<br />
time and energy. You also learn where NOT to spend your time.</p>
<p><strong>4. Greater Personal Growth</strong>. Each time you pursue a new goal<br />
outside your comfort zone, you contribute to your own personal<br />
growth and advancement. Pursuing goals causes you to stretch and<br />
learn about yourself and the world around you. What was once<br />
difficult often becomes easier and you long to conquer new<br />
heights. Nothing in the world will give you a zest for life like<br />
consistent growth.</p>
<p><strong>5. Higher Quality of Life</strong>. Quite simply, people who have goals<br />
get more out of life. The more life you give to your goals, the<br />
more your goals give life to you. Having goals means you value<br />
your time and make the most of it. When you know what you want<br />
and have a plan to get there, the journey is a lot more fun than<br />
having no goals and no plans. Having goals makes life easier.<br />
People who set goals are happier and more fulfilled. When you are<br />
happy and fulfilled you take loving care of yourself and have<br />
more of yourself to give to the people you love. Happy, fulfilled<br />
people attract other happy and fulfilled people.</p>
<p><strong>6. You Attract a Higher Quality Peer Group</strong>. People who have<br />
goals and are moving towards them are energized and full of life.<br />
When you have goals for your life, you attract other people who<br />
have goals of their own. And we are well aware of the power of<br />
association. You become like the people you hang around.</p>
<p><strong>7. Increased Confidence and Self Esteem</strong>. Each time you make a<br />
commitment to a goal and invest the very best of yourself towards<br />
it&#8217;s attainment, you gain more confidence and self esteem,<br />
regardless of whether or not you achieve the goal. Your<br />
subconscious mind knows that you gave your all and that<br />
strengthens your confidence muscle. Progressive action always<br />
leads to growth and greater fulfillment. People that do not set<br />
goals never venture outside of their comfort zone. Deep down they<br />
know they are not realizing their potential and feel bad about<br />
themselves. People with goals are fully alive and dare to take<br />
risks that elevate their place in life. Whether they win or lose,<br />
they learn and grow.</p>
<p><strong>8. Contribution to Others</strong>. Whether or not you know it, someone<br />
looks up to you. If you have children of your own, they are like<br />
little sponges, absorbing the words you speak and the actions you<br />
take. Your behaviors serve as model to the people around you.<br />
Maybe it&#8217;s your sibling, a coworker or even a kid down the<br />
street, someone looks up to you. Every time you set a goal and<br />
act on it, you serve as a shining example of a person who is<br />
moving towards realizing your full potential in life. Whenever<br />
you pursue a goal, you inspire others to do the same.</p>
<p><strong>9. Goals Help You Become a Better Person</strong>.  Don&#8217;t set goals for<br />
what you can get. Set goals for what they will make of you. Set<br />
goals for who you become along the way. People who set goals and<br />
follow through, develop the skill of overcoming obstacles. People<br />
who follow through on their goals and commitments develop an<br />
inner strength and unshakable character. People who do NOT set<br />
goals never discover how great they can become. They never awaken<br />
their dormant gifts and talents. Whenever you set and commit to a<br />
goal and follow through on your commitment, you strengthen your<br />
character and personal integrity.</p>
<p>And finally what is perhaps the biggest benefit of setting and<br />
pursuing goals&#8230;</p>
<p><strong>10. For the benefit each individual goal will bring to your<br />
life</strong>. As you begin to master the art of goal setting, every goal<br />
you set brings it&#8217;s own unique positive result or benefit to your<br />
life. When I work with private coaching clients, before they set<br />
a goal, I ask them to determine 10 deeply compelling, personal<br />
reasons why they must achieve the goal they are considering<br />
setting. When you do this, you give yourself all the clarity and<br />
motivation you need to fuel you beyond obstacles, all the way<br />
through to the goal&#8217;s completion. If you cannot identify the<br />
benefits in advance, you probably would not bother setting the<br />
goal the first place. You can visualize your outcome by reveling<br />
in the results before they occur.</p>
<p>So if you have not given yourself the gift of learning the art<br />
of goal setting, perhaps it&#8217;s time.</p>
<p>If not now, when?</p>
<p>Once you master the art of setting and achieving a goal, you can<br />
have anything you want in life&#8230; anything.</p>
<p>I invite you to join the only global community designed with the<br />
purpose of helping you design your life, one goal at a time. If<br />
you do not like the results you are currently getting, you can<br />
change that. From the comfort of your home or office, you can<br />
join people from around the world who are creating a better<br />
life.</p>
<p>Click here to learn how to master the setting and achieving of<br />
your goals  <a href="http://www.goalu.com/" target="_blank">http://www.GoalU.com</a></p>
<p>Live Your Dreams,</p>
<p>Jill Koenig</p>
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	<copyright>"The best way to predict the future is to create it." http://www.GoalGuru.com</copyright><media:credit role="author">Jill Koenig</media:credit><media:rating>nonadult</media:rating></channel>
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