Improving the S.M.A.R.T. Goal Acronym

This video clip about SMART goals is from a goal setting presentation I gave to the Job and Career Program at the Russell Library in Middletown, CT.

The SMART goal system is a great way to define and clarify your goals – but I believe that the traditional definition of SMART goals may actually be holding you back and keeping you from achieving your big goals and dreams. But by making a simple change, you can improve your chances of success.

If you want to change your life for the better, you have to take away all limits to your success. Don’t limit yourself by insisting that your goals be realistic. Where would the world be if everyone stuck to ‘realistic’ goals?

Stretch yourself!

Setting a timeline to achieve your goals - a simple way to supercharge your efforts!

Creating a Timeline to Complete Your Goals
Have you set a timeline to complete your goals? If you have been struggling to reach your goals you might find it helpful to develop a timeline that charts exactly when you will complete each step along the path to your goal.

Creating a timeline for completing your goals is a powerful way to keep your focus on what is important right now – and it is not as hard as you might think! Follow the steps I share below and you too can develop a bullet-proof plan to reach your goals.

Too many people resist setting time-based goals because they feel that life should simply flow and that everything happens in it’s own time and at it’s own pace. But the reality is that those people never seem to actually reach the goals that they set for themselves. They end up waiting for the universe to deliver their desires. Waiting, and waiting, and waiting some more.

You don’t want to wait for your desires, do you? I didn’t think so!

By creating a timeline for completing your goals you eliminate those problems. A timeline keeps you on track and lets you stay focused on doing the ‘next thing’. The ‘next thing’ is what separates dreamers from achievers. If you know the next step along your path, and you know when you want to reach that next step in relation to your big goal, it becomes easier to manage your efforts.

Know Your End Result
Start by being crystal clear about your end result. It is hard to complete a goal if you don’t know what that goal looks like. Know exactly what you want to achieve. Then decide when you want to achieve that goal by.  Actually look at your calendar and pick a date that you want to be successful by.

So now you know exactly what you want and you know exactly when you want to have it by. That’s a great start! Just doing those two things – getting clear about your goal and setting a completion date – put you miles ahead of everyone else struggling to achieve their goals.

Break It Down
Your next step is to look at your desired end result and to identify the stepping stones along the path to your goal. Depending on your goal, you can do this one of two ways. Some goals have a linear progression of actions and achievements that you can chart, sort of like steps on a staircase. First you have to reach step one, then step two, then step three and so on. For example, if your goal is to get a college degree there are requirements and steps you have to take along the way. You have to complete some courses before taking others. Your skill builds as you move toward your desired end result. Lots of goals are like this.

Other goals, like losing weight, are more cumulative. In other words, once you identify the actions you need to take, you keep doing the same thing over and over until you reach your goal. Goals like these can be broken down into increments. If your goal is to lose 50 pounds by December 31, you could break your goal down into monthly mini-goals.

Create Your Timeline
However you break down your goal, go ahead and create an actual timeline on a piece of paper that maps out your journey. Draw a line across the paper. Label the left end of your line ‘NOW” and label the right end of your line with your desired end result. “Lost 50 pounds” or “Master’s Degree” or “New Car”. Whatever your goal is.

So now you have a line that stretches from ‘now’ to the completion of your goal. All that is left is to plug in the steps along the way. Each point on your timeline becomes a mini goal that you work towards.

Look at your desired end result and decide how you can break your big goal down into mini-goals and put those mini goals on your timeline. Now simply begin working toward the first point on your timeline. When you reach it, begin working toward the second and so on. Before you know it you will be on the verge of seeing your goal realized.

Once you set a timeline to complete your goals you will see a dramatic shift in the way you approach your goals. As you meet each step or point on your timeline, your steady progress reinforces your desire to succeed and you find yourself taking more and more right actions. Completing your goals becomes certain!

Go ahead and map out your own timeline for completing your goals. It is a simple process that can make achieving your goals far more likely!

The #1 tool to help you reach your goals!

The Shortcut to Reaching Your Goals

Are you looking for a shortcut to success? Want to reach your goals and change your life? Then you absolutely, positively have to get yourself one of these. It is, without a doubt, the #1 success tool that you can use to help you reach your goals and change your life for the better.

That’s right, it’s a notebook.

You can get one for a couple of dollars down at your local store. But that tiny investment has the potential to bring you enormous returns.

Why? The answer is simple – because believe it or not, people who write down their goals and dreams are the people who reach their goals and dreams.

I use notebooks all the time. I have several that I’ve filled over time. I use them for goal setting, for planning, for list making, and for dreaming. I jot down all the great ideas that I get… things like, ideas for new workshops or programs, book topics, and article ideas.

This one I just picked up because I love the cover. It says, “DREAM – if you can dream it you can achieve it”.  That’s powerful stuff! It reminds me, every time I pick it up, that my dreams are becoming real, that I am making it happen!

If you’re not using a notebook to work on your dreams you are missing a HUGE opportunity to move forward by leaps and bounds. It really is that important.

You see, there is no way that you can keep track of all the great and inspired ideas that you have, of all the things that you have to do, (and those that you want to do!) but if you write them down you will have them forever.

You can use your notebook:

• as a place to keep all the details of your dreams and goals
• as a journal of your successes
• as a progress chart
• as a to-do list
• for lists of contacts and resources related to your goals
• as a bucket list
• to schedule your action steps
• to write down your big ideas

The possibilities are endless – but the end result is that you when you start using a notebook, you tend to become more focused on your goals – which leads you to BETTER RESULTS! You reach your goals, and then you set new ones.

Do you use a notebook? Do you have written goals? Why not share your experience with the rest of us by commenting below.

How to make a vision board that really works!

Do you want to know how to make a vision board that really works?

One that will actually help you to manifest your dreams and goals faster?

Well, you are not alone. Interest in learning how to make vision boards has been climbing and climbing over the last several years as more and more people discover the power of this fantastic manifesting tool.

I am constantly getting questions about vision boards, and I decided to answer some of them for you here.

Question: How do I decide exactly what I should put on my vision board to represent my goals?

Answer: The short answer? Use anything you want on your vision board! I’m not kidding, you can use anything at all that makes you think of your goal, or that inspires you to move toward your vision of the life you want to create for yourself. The best items to use are ones that literally POP from your board, the ones that call your attention to them. Words and images are great, but to get the maximum benefit you must think beyond just ordinary pictures.

For example, if one of your important goals is to own a shiny new Jaguar, go out and spend a couple of dollars and buy a leather key fob with a Jaguar emblem on it and then hang that on your vision board. The bonus is that when you manifest that Mercedes, you will be able to take the key ring down and actually use it! Use your imagination and see what you can come up with for your particular goals.

Question: I need to have something cleared up. I’ve noticed that many vision boards have lots of different goals on them, but then I heard that you should only have a single goal on your board. Should I have a different board for each of my goals and dreams?

Answer: Learning how to make a vision board is a personal experience, and one way is no better than the other. You might choose to make a vision board that contains all of your goals, because the truth is that you, like the rest of us, are most likely working toward more than one dream right now. This is great and can be powerful, just be sure not to put too many goals on your board. If you do have too many goals on the vision board that you make, you will find it hard to be able to focus your full attention on any of them long enough to make any real progress. Usually having between 3 and 5 goals on your board works out about right.

Or you might choose to create several smaller vision boards that are each centered around one of your major goals or dreams. This method is powerful too, because unlike a board that has several goals on it, when you look at this one, there is nothing to distract you. Because it is all about one goal, your mind doesn’t wander, your attention is focused.

It is up to you. You should go in whichever direction feels right to you. But, whether you choose to make one big board or several smaller ones, be sure that you have someplace to put them. Somewhere where you will be sure to see them often. Don’t let them become dust collectors.

My best advice? Don’t be too concerned with how to make a vision board, just get it done and get back to working on making your dreams real.

After all, your vision is more important than the board.

Unlock your manifesting ability! My free law of attraction report
shows you simple ways to make big changes in your life.
Grab your copy right now:
www.FreeLawOfAttractionReport.com

You can also read an earlier post that I wrote about how to make a vision board.

10 Books about personal success that can change your life.

Read any good books lately?

Here are 10 books about personal success and growth that you absolutely must read in 2011. Any one of these books can change your life… if you let it. Any one of these books can help you to see life in a new way, with a new perspective.

The ten books on this list create a virtual university of success and are full of ideas and concepts that will help you manifest your desires and shape your life.

But these books alone won’t change your life – only you can do that.

The old saying, “Knowledge is power,” is only half true, because knowledge alone won’t change your life. It is the application of the knowledge you acquire that transforms you and lifts you to the next level of success.

In other words, it is what you do after you read that great book that matters. So go ahead, pick one of the personal success books from the list below and READ it. Then go out and begin applying what you just learned.

10 Books about Personal Success and Growth

Note: This list is in no particular order. They are all powerful books and they all are just waiting for you to explore and enjoy and IMPLEMENT!

1. “The Success Principles – How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be” by Jack Canfield. Containing a powerful collection of success principles, and written in Jack’s friendly and witty style, this book definitely deserves a spot in your personal success library.

2. “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. The classic work that everyone refers to, but few have actually read. Do yourself a favor and read this book. Yes, the writing is a little dated and some of the examples Mr. Hill uses don’t really fit modern society, but the core teachings of this book have endured for decades.

3. “Goals” by Brian Tracy. Probably the definitive book on goals and goal setting. Anything and everything you need to know about goals and how to achieve them.

4. “The Power of Intention” by Dr. Wayne Dyer. In this best-selling book, which was also a PBS television special, Dr Dyer explores the power that your intention has on every aspect of your life and your well-being.

5. “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson. An inspiring little book about the inevitability of change and the benefits of learning to adapt. A small book with a big lesson.

6. “Awaken the Giant Within” By Anthony Robbins. Reaching your true potential and defining your life are the hallmarks of Anthony Robbins, and ‘Awaken the Giant Within’ will do just that and more.

7. “Ask and It Is Given” by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Esther Hicks and the teachings of Abraham are hands down the best source to learn about the power of the law of attraction. Some people are put off by Esther and Abraham, but I say, don’t confuse the message with the messenger.

8. “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. Another ‘must read’ book for anyone who is serious about making changes in their life. Learning to live in the present moment frees you from so many of your challenges and obstacles, because many of your struggles really exist only in your past or your future. When you understand the power of now, you gain new insights into your path and your life.

9. “Loving What Is” by Byron Katie. Who would you be without your story? So much of your life is just a story, its not really true, its just something you made up.  When you are able to see the truth about the stories you tell yourself you will see your life in a whole new light.

10. “See You at the Top” by Zig Ziglar. When it comes to motivation, Zig Ziglar is the king. He will have you fired up and ready to succeed by the time you finish this book. In fact, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to feel so good about yourself!

There you have it! A reading list for 2011 that will give you all the tools you need to explode your results this year. Just pick one and get started. Don’t put it off, don’t wait until you get around to it.

Remember, it is not about how big or impressive your list of books to read is, it is about what you have learned and what you have become!

So get out there and become your dream!

Peace,

Bob Crawford
Your Success Coach,
and creator of Growing Your SELF!

Unlock your manifesting ability! My free law of attraction report shows you simple ways to make big changes in your life. Grab your copy right now: www.FreeLawOfAttractionReport.com

Law of attraction quotes to inspire and motivate you!

I love powerful law of attraction quotes. These little collections of words have a way of lifting me up when I am down and keeping me on track when I’m distracted. They can do the same for you! If you are looking for an easy way to inspire and motivate yourself, this is it!

Simply gather some quotes about the law of attraction and success, then put them around your living space in places where you will be able to see them often.

I have some great law of attraction quotes posted on sticky notes around my computer, and I have others scattered throughout my home. They serve as a constant reminder to myself that I need to be keeping an eye on what I am thinking and doing.

You can do the same!

Here are a few of my favorite law of attraction quotes:

Abraham / Esther Hicks

“If you’re not selfish enough to want to feel good, then you can’t connect with the energy that is your Source which does always feel good.”
– Abraham-Hicks

Whatever you’re thinking about is literally like planning a future event. When you’re worrying, you are planning. When you’re appreciating you are planning…What are you planning?
– Abraham-Hicks

Dr. Wayne Dyer

“I will see it when I believe it.”
– Wayne Dyer

“When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way.”
– Wayne Dyer

“There is no way to prosperity, prosperity is the way.”
– Wayne Dyer

Marianne Williamson

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
– Marianne Williamson

Richard Bach

“Here is a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete. If you’re alive, it isn’t.”
– Richard Bach

Benjamin Disraeli

“Nurture your mind with great thoughts for you will never go higher than you think.”
– Benjamin Disraeli

Albert Einstein

“Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions.”
– Albert Einstein

Carl Jung

“What you resist persists.”
– Carl Jung

Quotes are great because they remind us of those principles that we know are true, but that we have let ourselves lose sight of. Often all it takes is a quick read of one of these law of attraction quotes to quickly get me back in a good state of mind.

Do you like reading inspiring and motivation quotations? Would you share some of your favorites below?

Peace,

Bob Crawford
Your Success Coach,
and creator of Growing Your SELF!

p.s. One of my most popular pages is the Thought of the Day, where you will find a new law of attraction quote or success quote every day. Bookmark it and come back daily for a fresh dose of inspiration and motivation!

Power affirmation to allow inner peace.

Feeling stressed out? Overloaded? Are you being pulled in ninety-nine different directions at once? Then you will love today’s Power Affirmation!

Pressures at work, problems at home, money troubles, health issues… the list goes on and on, doesn’t it?

It’s a fact, stress is the #1 dream killer out there today. But it doesn’t have to be. You see, stress is simply your body’s way of letting you know that you are not in alignment with your inner self, with your true intentions.

Most often, those feelings of stress and turmoil show up when you slide out of alignment with your inner self, when you allow yourself to lose your sense of inner peace. This happens when you ‘react’ to your world rather than act in your world.

But it is easy to let go of that stress and eliminate the turmoil in your life. All you need to do is to change the way you are reacting and get back in touch with your inner self. Your inner self knows what you really want, and it will help you if you let it.

Use today’s power affirmation to help reconnect with that inner feeling of peace:

I am a being of peace. My heart is peaceful, my mind is peaceful, and my spirit is peaceful. I am filled with a calm and peace that strengthens me and allows me to handle any challenge that comes my way. I am peaceful in thought, word, and deed. I look for, and find, the peaceful path in all I do, and my life is an example of true inner peace. I am a being of peace!

Read this simple affirmation out loud to yourself twice a day and you will quickly notice a dramatic change in the way that you feel.

But be warned!

Inner peace is not something that you have to find, or that you have to go looking for.

It is already within you, you just need to allow it to be. You can’t force it, any more than you can force yourself to be happy. If you are busy ‘trying’ to be happy, then you are not happy right now, are you?

I hear this all the time. “I am trying to do better,” or “I am trying to be more spiritual,” or “I am trying to be more peaceful,” or_____ (fill in the blank).

But trying to have inner peace won’t bring you inner peace.

You have to allow it to flow out into your life naturally. Sure, at first you may fumble a bit as you learn that there really are peaceful choices in every situation – even those that you believed had none! But if you keep reinforcing your belief in your own inner peace by using today’s power affirmation on a consistent basis, you will soon find yourself taking the peaceful path automatically.

Peace,

Bob Crawford
Your Success Coach,
and creator of Growing Your SELF!

p.s. Learning how to create and use powerful affirmations is just one of the skills you will learn in the Inner Circle of Success.  The Inner Circle is our members-only self improvement study group and we’d love to have you join us!

p.p.s. Are you using positive daily affirmations, or power affirmations as part of your routine? Why not share your results with your fellow readers by leaving a comment below? Thanks!

Power affirmations can change your life!

Have you have ever felt like you are backed into a corner and that your choices are being limited? This is a common feeling, and one that does not help you move toward your dreams and desires.

Don’t despair though!

Today’s power affirmation is all about opening yourself up to choice, and finding opportunity in your life.

Yes, there is opportunity in your life right now! It may not appear that way sometimes, but it is there, just waiting for you to take advantage of it.

The truth is that there are always choices – in any situation – but often we get so hung up on one particular aspect of our challenge that we fail to see the way out. We miss the chance, we blow our opportunity.  Then, after the fact, we beat ourselves up for not seeing the obvious.

But by using power affirmations on a daily basis, you can create a winning mindset, a mindset that is always looking for opportunities to move you closer to your dreams.

Here is today’s power affirmation:

I am open and aware of all the many ways that my dreams may manifest in my life. I always choose the most appropriate course of action, and I am ready for the results of my actions. I am grateful for the opportunities that have brought me this far, and I look for, and expect, many more opportunities to manifest my desires, each and every day. My life is full of opportunity!

Use this power affirmation on a consistent basis and you will quickly see a change in the way you view your choices in everyday situations. You will begin to see opportunity where none existed before!

Peace,

Bob Crawford
Your Success Coach,
and creator of Growing Your SELF!

p.s. Learning to affirm your success is just one of the skills we cover in the Inner Circle of Success.  The Inner Circle is my members-only self improvement study group and we’d love to have you join us!

p.p.s. Are you using positive daily affirmations, or power affirmations as part of your routine? Why not share your results with your fellow readers by leaving a comment below? Thanks!

How to make a vision board - That really works!

Do you know how to make a vision board? One that really works? Vision boards, sometimes called dream boards, are fast becoming one of the most popular manifesting  and law of attraction tools available. This is because a well made vision board can help you attract your desires faster and easier than you may have thought possible. You have probably heard about the power of vision boards, or you may have even seen them in use, but if you are not personally taking advantage of this very powerful law of attraction tool yourself, you are missing out on an awesome opportunity to shorten your path to success. Follow the simple steps outlined below and you will learn how to make your very own vision board – that really works!

1. Choose Your Theme – Start by choosing the theme of your vision board. Will it focus on all of your dreams and goals? Or will it be about one specific area of your life that you are trying to create change in? For your first vision board you might find it easier to focus on just two or three of your biggest dreams or goals.

2. Decide on a Format - Making a vision board is a very personal experience, and the more creative and involved you are in the process, the better your results will be in the long run. Your creative choices begin here. Your vision board can be any size or shape that you want. Poster board works very well, and is available in many wonderful colors. You can also use plain cardboard, or sheet paper, or anything at all that you can tape or glue things to. You can also buy empty picture frames for a dollar or two and use that for your dream board. The possibilities are endless!

3. Find Images of Your Dream – Now comes the fun part! Go find pictures of the things that you want to manifest or create in your life. You can look in old magazines or search online for images of whatever you want. But be specific about the images that you choose. If you really want a silver Jaguar don’t use a picture of a red one or a white one or anything else. The images that you choose must match your desires exactly. This is important.

You’ll find it pretty easy to find pictures or images of the material things that you want, but what if your dreams aren’t about ‘things’? What if, for example, your dream is to attract a happy, loving relationship? No problem, simply look for images that you feel represent your desired situation. Perhaps an image of two lovers enjoying a candlelit dinner, or perhaps a couple walking arm in arm along a  tropical beach. Use whatever works for you.

4. Add Dynamic Words – Words are very powerful, and adding some well-chosen words and phrases to your vision board will increase the power of the images that you use. What words should you use? Well, what personal qualities are you trying to develop? Put them on your board. You can also use words to create titles of different sections of your board. If you can’t find just the right phrase you are looking for, you can always print them yourself and then cut them out!

5. Lay Out Your Dream – Now you simply take all those wonderful images and powerful words that you chose and start laying them out on your board. Be sure to work on a flat surface, and don’t glue or tape anything down until you are happy with the layout. Move the images and words around, try different patterns and combinations of words and images until you are happy with the result. Then go ahead and tape or glue everything permanently into place.

6. Envision Your Future – All that remains is for you to hang or place your new dream board somewhere that you will be able to see it often. Be sure to look at your board, really look at it, every time that you get the chance. When you do, allow yourself to pause for a moment and envision your future, a future when every one of your dreams on that vision board have manifested into reality. Let yourself feel that future for a moment, and then simply continue on with your day.

Now that you know how to make a vision board you can create new ones as your current dreams come true and you set your sights on bigger and bigger dreams!

Peace,

Bob Crawford
Your Success Coach,
and creator of Growing Your SELF!

p.s. If you would like to learn more about the law of attraction and how you can manifest your dreams into reality – with less struggle and better results – I invite you to grab your free copy of the ultimate manifesting eBook right now at http://www.freelawofattractionreport.com. Click right now and you can begin creating meaningful, positive changes in your life, today!

Success Tools - Mastermind Your Way to Success!

Are you looking for a powerful, yet simple way to help you reach your goals and dreams?

Well I’d like to share with you one of the most highly recommended and yet at the same time one of the most underused personal success tools that you have available in your success toolbox. This tool or strategy has the potential to carry you to new heights of personal and professional achievement… if you take advantage of it!

That’s the secret – not only for this tool, but for any self growth or self development strategy or process. You have to take advantage of everything that is available to you. Just knowing about a tool or owning a tool doesn’t mean that you will get the full benefit from it, does it?

No! In fact, you could drive down to the store and buy the best stove, the best pots and pans, the best utensils, and fill your kitchen with top of the line stuff, but yet nothing is going to happen until you actually pick something up and start cooking with it. The tools are there, but nothing is happening.

Well, the same is true of this extremely powerful success tool.  It can only help you if you use it! But when you do use it… Watch out! Your life will never be the same again. What am I talking about?

Mastermind groups.

You’ve probably heard of them. You probably know how powerful they can be when it comes to helping you manifest your dreams and goals. You might have even toyed with the idea of checking a mastermind group out and seeing what all the fuss is about.

But the question is…

Are you tapped into a group that provides all the benefits of a true mastermind? A true success group? Are you taking advantage of the awesome power that is available to you?

I’m not going to rehash all the benefits that come from belonging to a group like this, I’ve written about them in detail on this page: http://www.bobcrawford.info where I talk about the Inner Circle of Success, the private success group that I lead twice a month.

Members of the Inner Circle, like most mastermind groups, have access to transformational group calls, strategy sessions, brainstorming, and much more.

The truth is that mastermind groups change lives and belonging to one can change your life too! I can’t urge you strongly enough to look into them and find one that is right for you. You certainly don’t have to join my program, although we’d love to have you join us!, but you do need to find one that works for you and begin taking advantage of it.

Remember, no one is coming to save you. There is no magic genie waiting to grant your wishes.

No, you have to grant your own wishes by taking control of your life and using every tool at your disposal to mold and shape your life into the one you desire.

Tap into the power of a group today, before tomorrow comes and you find yourself still wishing for success!

Peace,

Bob Crawford
Success Coach, Speaker
and creator of Growing Your SELF!

p.s. I know monthly memberships can be confusing, so I’ve made the Inner Circle as simple as possible. You don’t have to wait for the beginning of the calendar month to get started, no matter when you sign up you will always have access to a full thirty days of success tools and material, including two live calls. Go here – http://www.bobcrawford.info and make the decision that could change your life forever.

p.p.s. Bill Cosby said it best:  “Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it.”