Peter J. Jessen

"Goals Per Action" Success Consultant

peterjj@peterjessen-gpa.com · peterjjgpa@icloud.com · 9931 SW 61st Ave., Portland, OR 97219 · Tel: 503.977.3240 · Fax: 503.977.3239

11.  6 LISTS FOR GOAL SETTING  plus a worksheet
 
Albert Einstein is reported to have said that a definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and yet expect different results.  To set goals is, by definition, to expect change.  Change can be exciting or frightening.  Regardless, change can be transforming.  In Peter Daniels' words, you can "take hold of your life from this day" by planning "a far better way."  That is what goal setting is all about.  Here are several approaches to goal setting
 
ZIG ZIGLAR's LIST FOR GOAL SETTING
(in See You At The Top, pp. 191-197)
LISTS seven points for not only goal setting but also for "a goals program." 
Goals are not enough.  You need an action program for making them happen.
 
For each goal list the following:
 
1.  Identify and state your goal
2.  List benefits to be attained by reaching this goal
3.  Identify major obstacles and mountains to climb to reach this goal
4.  List skills or knowledge required to reach this goal
5.  Identify individuals, groups, companies and organizations to work with to reach this goal.
6.  Specify a plan of action to reach this goal.
7.  State your completion date.
 
Note again the use of the most powerful tool each of us has:  paper and pen or pencil.  Writing it down and constantly reviewing what you have written is crucial to success.  Obtain/do anything that is missing and then follow the action program.
 
TONY ROBBINS, in his book Awaken the Giant Within
(a phrase used in the 1950's by Norman Vincent Peale
and by Napoleon Hill in the 1930's, and others since),
and subtitled
"How to take immediate control of your mental,
emotional, physical and financial destiny!",
He uses a nice line from the past:  "Giant goals produce giant motivation," and echoes what all goal authors state in one way or another:  "All GOAL SETTING must be immediately followed by both the development of a plan, and massive and consistent action toward its fulfillment" (p. 275). 
 
His GOAL SETTING LIST is as follows:
 
   •  List categories of your personal and professional life and rate activity in them 5 years ago, today, and what you would like to see take place over the next five years.  He urges us to commit to CANNI! (Constant And Never-ending Improvement). 
 
   •  Specify specifics for the next five years in four areas:  personal development, career/business/economic, toys/adventure, and contribution.
 
ROBERT A. SCHULLER's LIST FOR GOAL SETTING,
in If Its Going to Be Its Up To Me (pp. 117-122)
considers goals to come under the topic commitment.
Without a commitment to ACT on the goals set,
the goals remain lifeless on a piece of paper, which is why he says:
"this could prove to be the most important chapter" in this book.
 
 Schuller wants us to go beyond "positive thinking" to "possibility thinking."  Here a summary of his 20 point LIST for goal setting, of why Schuller's 20 years of research yields these "20 reasons why a committed goal generates incredible energy": 
 
1.  Setting a goal = making a decision = ending indecisiveness
2.  Making a commitment generates and releases enthusiasm
3.  A commitment means you have accepted a challenge, releasing you from apathy
4.  Committing = excellence is targeted and marketed, stifling and rejecting mediocrity
5.  Goal setting asserts leadership; you've taken control
6.  Possibility thinking takes command, as goal setting is an act of putting faith in control of your future
7.  Commitment to goals = you are free to become more than what you've done, free to become more than you are. 
8.  Setting and committing to goals renews hope, allows optimism to bloom
9.  Committing connects you with spiritual passion and drive
  10.  Commitment to a goal affirms your personhood, as you move beyond being intimidated by peers or manipulated by society
  11.  Commitment to a goal prevents failure, honors success and, therefore, ensures it
  12.  Commitment to a goal establishes direction and ends the ambiguity's loss of energy
  13.  Commitment enables energy to flow as you overpower (not eliminate) your fears
  14.  Commitment to a goal fixes the focus of your life, ending energy drain by other forces or factors, a now "emotional resources, time resources money resources are now generated, managed, and controlled!"
  15.  Commitment to a goal enables opportunities to become achievements
  16.  Commitment to a goal renews youth, for those with dream aren't old, they are alive
  17.  Commitment connects relationships, expanding and empowering them
  18.  Commitment broadens your power base, strengthening and deepening it
  19.  Commitment = concretizing your priorities, as "Determination is a volcano!"
  20.  Commitment crystallizes your vision when you commit to a dream.
 
The theme on the Olympic torch is citius (faster), altius (higher), and fortius (stronger)! So, its commitment time.  Grab the torch.  Set goals and commit to them and watch others marvel at what you can do with your life. 
 

PETER J. DANIELS
Ground RULES FOR GOAL SETTERS
:
the Goal Formula, in "How to Reach Your Life Goals," p. 149
 
1.  Rule 1: Clearly define your goals, including major and subordinate goals.
2.  Rule 2: Set out your strategy (which creates energy, saves energy, and gives direction).
3.  Rule 3: Plan out the problems (of which the biggest one is attitude).
4.  Rule 4: Build in Reserves (for your body, mind, and spirit; include financial reserves).
5.  Rule 5: Relate everything to a time frame (fit all goals to set time frames). 
6.  Rule 6: Create a master plan (summarize, harmonize, protect progress with checkpoints).
7.  Rule 7: Actionize it now (move beyond theories and knowledge to decisive action).
 
To maintain goals:  pay attention to detail, read/affirm your goals daily, expand goals as you go, alter "life style" as necessary to achieve goals, be gracious to others, don't feel guilty about change.  Reaffirm the formula by sharing it with others.
 
PAUL G. STOLTZ
Stages for SETTING AND MEETING GOALS 
  (pp. 285-6)
 
1.  Stage One:  Dream the Dream (imagine greater possibilities.  "AQ determines what future you allow yourself to even consider."
2.  Stage Two:  Making the Dream the Vision (recognizing the possible realities and sacrifices and setting out to make the climb anyway).
3.  Stage Three:  Sustaining the Vision (the most difficult part, but with high AQ, one is able to think past the challenges and take action on the dreams, turning them into visions, and then sustaining the climb until the vision is realized. 

NAPOLEON HILL
list for GOAL SETTING/planning/action

 
In 1908, as a young man, Hill was asked by Andrew Carnegie (then America's richest man) to listen to him speak of his philosophy of success and to then devote twenty years to interviewing the most successful of men and to write about "the philosophy of American achievement."  In 1928, he finished his eight volume The Laws of Success.  He became an advisor to Presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  In 1937, he published his book Think and Grow Rich (which you could also entitle "The Thoughts and Attitudes and Actions Which Determine Personal and Professional Success", or "We Are What We Spend Our Time Thinking and Doing and Watching and Listening To." 
Here is Hills's famous recipe for success (p. 36), a LIST of six practical action steps to turn your desires into reality, into the your financial goal (how to turn desires [GOALS] into gold):
 
1.  Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire.
2.  Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire.
3.  Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire.
4.  Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.
5.  Write out a clear, concise statement of the amount of money you intend to acquire, name the time limit for its acquisition, state what you intend to give in return for the money, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it.
6.  Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after arising in the morning.  As you read--see and feel and believe yourself already in possession of the money.
 
Recognizing the power of one's thinking
and of who one associated with,
Hill LISTS 13 steps to success [to meet GOALS],
with a whole chapter devoted to each one:
 
1.  Desire:  The Starting Point of all Achievement
2.  Faith:  Visualization of and Belief in Attainment of Desire
3.  Autosuggestion:  The Medium for Influencing the Subconscious Mind
4.  Specialized Knowledge:  Personal Experiences or Observations
5.  Imagination:  The Workshop of the Mind
6.  Organized Planning:  The Crystallization of Desire into Action
7.  Decision:  The Mastery of Procrastination
8.  Persistence:  The Sustained Effort Necessary to Induce Faith
9.  Power of the Master Mind: The Driving Mind [Your Invited Advisors and Mentors]
10.  The Mystery of Sex Transmutation [harnessing the drive through "sublimation]
11.  The Subconscious Mind:  The Connecting Link
12.  The Brain:  A Broadcasting and Receiving Station for Thought
13.  The Sixth Sense:  The Door to the Temple of Wisdom
 
In this manner, we can overcome what he calls the "6 Ghosts of Fear" (p. 222:  (1) poverty,  
(2) criticism,   (3) ill health,   (4) loss of love of someone,   (5) old age,   (6) death), which he urges the reader to review in order to take inventory of what fears may stand in his or her way.  He also LISTS the 31 major causes of failure,

which the prudent person will review for insights into his or her own situation (pp. 120-126).  The 1988 version has an "Action Pack" for achieving success by using it to implement these 13 steps in one's life.
 
Another Napoleon Hill
LIST FOR GOAL SETTING

 to acquire one's desires and ambitions in life,
in his book Succeed and Grow Rich Through Persuasion (p. 28):
 
 
  Define
 
1.  Define your goal
2.  Set a positive goal
3.  Plan the means by which to achieve the goal
4.  set out a timetable for the achievement of the goal
 
  Write it down
 
  5.  Write down, right now, a clear outline of every desire for set period of time [1-5 years].
6.  Write down the amount of income desired
7.  Write down what you plan to give to earn this income
8.  Set the amount you intend to acquire each week, each month, and each year
9.  Write down a description of the home you want; put a picture of it where you can see it daily
  10.  Write down a description of the automobile you want and keep a picture of it on your desk.
  11.  If you are no married, write a description of the mate you desire and then write down the qualities you have or intend to acquire to entitle you to the mate you describe
  12.  Make a list of how you intend to use each of the 24 hours of each day, noting you have three time periods, each eight hours, one for sleep, one for business, one for yourself
  13.  Write a description of your occupation, business, or professional calling, select a successful person you know, and set a period of time during which you will become as successful as that person. 
 
  Review and recite
 
  14.  Set aside one hour a day of your "free time" to reciting that will inspire you to keep your mind positive.  Choose material related to your occupation or which in some way will help your career.
  15.  Twice daily, before retiring and after rising, express a prayer of gratitude for your current blessings and for the ones you expect to attain. 
  16.  Carry out the above with enthusiasm, going the extra mile, making alliances with others to achieve your goal, and work with and inspire others to work with what Andrew Carnegie called a "positive mental attitude."
 
 
WORKSHEET#1 FOR  GOAL  SETTING  (adapt this to any or all of the above)
 
Top 3 PROFESSIONAL Goals Top 3 PERSONAL goals
 
For this month:

For this year:

For 3 years:

For 5 years:

WORKSHEET#2 FOR  GOAL  SETTING  (adapt this to any or all of the above)
 
The Hierarchy of "should be" states for Setting and Meeting Goals,

MISSION   To live professional and personal life in balance Life

GOALS
(derived from Mission)1.0 2.0    Etc.

OBJECTIVES
(Derived from Goals)   1.1    1.2   Etc. 2.1   2.2   Etc. 
  
 
TASKS  to meet   1.1.1 1.1.2   1.2.1 1.2.2    2.1.1    2.1.2  2.2.1 2.2.2 
Objectives Etc.   .Etc.    Etc.   Etc
  
 
ACTIONS TO TAKE
 (To accomplish tasks to  
meet objectives to meet
goals to fulfill mission)  

PERFORMANCE   
INDICATORS
 
(Measurements, evaluation,
accountability, accounta-
bility models) for any of
the above.
 
Adapted from "Hierarchy…Goals" from The Policy Planning Management Process for Government Agencies, written for the U.S. Navy, OP-01, Peter J. Jessen, February 1980.
 
WORKSHEET#3 FOR  GOAL  SETTING  (adapt this to any or all of the above)

Regardless of which worksheet(s) you use, these or others, never forget:  the absolute basic minimum is to state your top 3 goals for the month/year/3 years/5 years

MISSION  1.0   Ask: 2.0   Ask    3.0   Ask: 4.0   Ask: 5.0   Ask: What exists  What would  What is   How can   What will happen today:    we like our   possible?    it be done?   If we do or don't? (Current    future state  (Determine  (Recom-    Will either make a situation)   to be (as is  potential and mend alter- difference? or change?) constraints) natives and  (Evaluate the strategies)   possibilities and   consequences of   the proposed options).  In other words,   "so what?"

GOALS OBJECTIVES FUNCTIONS ACTIVITIES AND TASKS MONITORING AND EVAUATING

Adapted from "Suggested Goal Setting Approach," from The Policy Planning Management Process for Government Agencies, written for the U.S. Navy, OP-01, Peter J. Jessen, February 1980.