Dear Doctor,
I learned many years ago from Dr. Markson that the mind is target oriented – in
other words, you have to identify precisely what you want to accomplish. It
seems simple and logical enough, but too many of us overlook the basic premise
that we’ve got to know what we want to do in order to do it.
That’s why it’s so important to establish goals and work toward manifesting them
– without that kind of structure, it’s much more difficult to maintain a
concerted effort. So, the people who get the most done typically have a
goal-setting process they develop as a homing mechanism to success, to keep them
on course, and if you want to be more like those higher achievers, learn to set
goals in writing and follow through on the plans and actions required to realize
them.
Maxwell Maltz, author of “Psychocybernetics,” tells us that it takes ninety days
for the mind to fully integrate a goal, and for that reason, it is recommended
that you write your goals on or about October 1 for the following year. This
gives your mind sufficient time to “cook” the goals and assimilate them into
your way of thinking, and allows a preparation period for the action steps
you’ll need to take.
Many people think goals revolve only around business and statistics, but
actually, you can select goals in every aspect of life – personal goals,
professional goals, people goals, prosperity goals, and play goals, to create a
well-rounded approach to living.
Knowing which goals are really important to you often depends upon constructing
a statement of purpose, a bigger, more general goal which serves as an umbrella
over your goals, giving them consistency and greater meaning, so put some effort
into crafting a statement of purpose that really defines who you are and what
you want to do. It will streamline your growth and reduce or eliminate much of
the conflict and distraction you might face along the way, because when your
purpose is clear, your decision-making gets black and white – your actions and
behaviors either support your purpose or they don’t, and that saves needless
wheel-spinning and over-cerebration along your path.
If you are relatively new to setting goals, don’t make it more complicated than
it is – you have an idea what you’d like to do, so just grab a pad and a pen and
start free-associating. Use the above-suggested system – choose some personal
goals, such as how you are going to exercise, eat, meditate, read, or some other
habit that would help you. Pick professional goals, not only new patients and
office visits, but also technique you’d like to study, improvements in your
office or professional groups you’d like to join and participate in. Notice
which relationships could use attention, and plan to focus on them. Decide on
your financial objectives, not only earning, but saving, investing, and
spending. Remember to keep some leisure goals, like vacations, toys and gifts –
and above all, if your purpose needs clarity, refine it until it’s elegant and
has the most impact for you.
In essence, your goals give you a road map to excellence, and those of us who
subscribe to that notion usually outperform those who do not. Why resist?
Because you think you may not succeed at all of them? Tennyson tells us “’tis
better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” No one achieves
every goal, and all of us achieve at least some of them. Take your best shot! It
will pay off for you many times over, and the more you do it, the better you’ll
get at it, so write your goals now!
Dennis Perman DC,
for The Masters Circle
PS SuperConference is coming up, with an amazing array of speakers, including
Robert Kiyosaki (“Rich Dad Poor Dad”) – please call 800.451.4514 or go to
www.themasterscircle.com to find
out more.
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