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Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential
Issue 4.34 - August 20, 2007 - ISSN: 1551-6571

In Kevin's Own Words

Seven Steps to Getting Started With Goal Setting

You know goal setting is important. And you know it will help you get where you want to go, most likely, much faster.

Everyone knows this.

Yet, I can say with a high level of confidence that most people reading this article don’t regularly set goals.

There are lots of reasons for this gap between knowing and doing. It could be procrastination or fear (of failure or success); lack of a process or an ongoing search for the perfect process. Whatever the reason, this article will help you get off your “buts” and get started with goal setting.

The Seven Steps

1. Decide and do. The first step is a decision. You’ve probably decided in the past that you were going to set goals, but then something came up, or you got scared, or you had a business trip, or you had pressing family matters, or you wanted to buy another book on the subject. Enough! Decide to do it (again). And this time you will do it, starting with step two.
2. Make a list. Brainstorm all of the things your heart desires. Consider all areas and facets of your life. Always wanted to attend a State Dinner at the White House? Write it down. Own a Bentley? Write it down. Go to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Write it down. Have a goal weight in your mind? Write it down. You get the idea. Big or small, tangible or intangible, personal or professional, just write them down! Keep this list and know that you can add to it any time you wish. Once you have a good number written down (at least 20 ideas would be a good start – 50 or 100 would be better) move to step three.
3. Pick from passion. Read over your list. What jumps off the page at you? What stirs your soul? Highlight or circle one or two of these items. They may be long or short term, it doesn’t really matter too much – just follow your heart or intuition to pick which goals you are going to start with.
4. Pick a process. Thousands of books, tools and tapes exist on goal setting. While there are principles that you will read over and over, there are nuances to each process. Any of them will work if you work with them. It doesn’t matter which one you pick, just pick one. Begin to apply the steps in that process to the 1-2 goals you selected in step three.
5. Let go of perfect. One of the major stumbling blocks for people is that they think they have to follow the process perfectly or do everything perfectly. It won’t happen perfectly and according to your plan. But if you begin to work your plan great things WILL happen. In the end this exercise is about the destination, not the journey. Let go of perfect and get going.
6. Build an action plan. Whatever goal setting process you have selected, it will include action planning. Setting a goal is one thing, but then you must have a plan for how you will get there. If one of more of the goals you selected above is a long term goal, build an interim step and build the plan to that interim step or stage. Make sure your plan has clear and actionable steps.
7. Take the first step. Step one urges you to decide and do. You have another decision to make now. You have some goals and you have a plan – congratulations having goals and steps are great! But they’re not enough. They don’t matter at all if you don’t actually take the real first steps in your plan. Perhaps you have gotten to this step before only to be stymied. It is time to get past that and achieve your goals. Take your first step. Right now.

These steps will absolutely work, but only if you take them. Goal setting is great; goal achieving is even greater. Now is the time. Your desired future awaits.

Potential Principle - It is time to set goals – for yourself and your team. These seven steps will help you get started. Stop knowing and start doing!

Kevin

Kevin's Recommends

Remarkable Leadership:
Unleashing Your Leadership Potential One Skill at a Time
by Kevin Eikenberry

This is part of what is inside the front cover of the book:

Remarkable Leadership is a practical handbook written for anyone who wants to hone the skills they need to become an outstanding leader. In this groundbreaking book, Kevin Eikenberry outlines a framework and a mechanism for both learning new things and applying current knowledge in a thoughtful and practical way. Eikenberry provides a guide through the most important leadership competencies, offers a proven method for learning leadership skills, and shows approaches for applying these skills in today’s multitasking and overloaded world of work. The book explores real-world concerns such as focus, limited time, incremental improvement, and how we learn.

Rather than me writing a recommendation for my own book, let me share what a few people who have already read it have to say (after you read those comments, keep reading I have a special announcement below):

"Kevin accurately reminds us that whatever our job title or position, we are all leaders—and all have the potential to become truly remarkable. His belief in us and our ultimate success is real and can be read on every page. This belief is inspiring and empowering—as you read these pages his belief in you will build your own belief, an important ingredient in any successful learning journey."

- From the Foreword by Jack Canfield, author of The Success Principles

"Kevin Eikenberry knows what it takes to be a remarkable leader and shares his secrets, tips, and examples in this compelling and enjoyable book. Remarkable Leadership is elegant, powerful, and actionable. The book is full of excellent self-assessments and stories that illustrate what you can do to improve your impact as a leader. I love that Kevin zooms in on the leadership practices that can supercharge any company environment. Anyone can be a great leader by reading and following his guidance."

- Lisa Haneberg, author of Two Weeks to a Breakthrough and Focus Like a Laser Beam

"I can't think of a better book than Remarkable Leadership to put into the hands of aspiring leaders - or people who want to become more effective leaders. It's well-written, filled with practical suggestions, and, for my money, hits the truly important aspects of leading inside an organization."

- Rick Maurer, author of Beyond the Wall of Resistance and Change Management News blog

Normally I would encourage you to buy a book I recommend immediately. Not today. This time I want you to wait until Wednesday. Why Wednesday?

Because on Wednesday, with your help, we are going to take Remarkable Leadership to the top of the online bestseller lists. And to thank you for your help, you will get some amazing bonuses from experts from around the world – many of them never offered before.

Mark your calendars! I’ll give you all the details on Wednesday morning.

Learn more about the special promotion we are doing on the 22nd, and then on Wednesday place your order at Amazon.com.

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© 2007 The Kevin Eikenberry Group – All Rights Reserved

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