Archive for category life goals
Occam had it right: Achieving success through simplicity
Posted by karim101ismail in goal setting, life goals, Success stories, Tips, tools, tricks on November 30th, 2010
Life coaches, gurus and spiritual leaders often exhort their students to “simplify,” but this basic piece of advice is often misunderstood. To simplify one’s life doesn’t mean you have to do without. It doesn’t mean you have to give up your automobile and other modern conveniences, give up your lofty goals, or abandon your dream of building a successful business. On the contrary, you can achieve remarkable success and happiness in your life, achieve your goals, and even generate wealth, by keeping this basic piece of advice in mind.
Let’s not confuse simplicity with having no goals. A life in which you simply have no goals, with no purpose or direction, doesn’t make you happy—but a life in which you achieve your goals simply, certainly will. Let’s talk about how we can achieve your goal and get results by using simple solutions.
In the 14th century, an Englishman named William of Occam came up with a wonderful piece of wisdom, which is now known as “Occam’s Razor”. Loosely translated, it says, “The simplest explanation is usually the correct one.” When you list your goals for the next year, three years, or five years, you’ll stare at that list for a while and wonder what to do next. In fact, a list of goals by itself won’t get you very far. Create a goal setting template that includes details about each goal, and a strategy for goal achievement. Coming up with that strategy is the hard part—and it may involve getting input from a circle of trusted friends and advisors, doing some research, and seeing how other people have achieved the same result. More often than not, there will be more than one way to get there and achieve the life of your dreams. Read the rest of this entry »
5 Ways To Visualize Yourself Doing, Not Achieving
Posted by karim101ismail in goal setting, life goals, setting goals, Tips, tools, tricks on October 27th, 2010
I have long been an advocate of setting audacious goals and using visualization as a tool to help you achieve these goals. Success starts in the mind.
However, visualization can be counter-productive and even sabotage your goals if done improperly, so I believe it’s important to address this.
People who visualize taking the practical steps necessary to reach a goal have more success than those who simply visualize the outcomes, like a new house or car. So says psychologist Richard Wiseman in his book 59 Seconds: Think A Little, Change a Lot.
He cites studies that show how those who, for example, visualize themselves practicing tennis have more success than those who visualize themselves winning a tennis match.
The reason it can be ineffective to focus exclusively on the outcomes of achieving your goals is that it doesn’t prepare you for the inevitable setbacks you will face. Also, some outcomes are beyond your control, and if you focus exclusively on outcomes, you are likely to become quite unhappy when you don’t achieve your outcome, as sometimes happens. More on that in a minute.
First let’s take a look at 5 steps to help you with this type of action-based visualization: Read the rest of this entry »
How to Achieve Your Goal – 3 Tips For Your Own ‘Grounding the Ships’ Moment
Posted by karim101ismail in life change, life goals, setting goals, Tips, tools, tricks on October 10th, 2010
Even though I’m a big believer in setting audacious goals, I always have a plan B in mind as well, even if it’s way in the back of my mind. The key, of course, is to make sure plan B doesn’t become the default position or completely sabotages plan A (A = audacious, of course). Good can become the enemy of great, as you well know. This applies to all areas of life, including relationships, business, career, hobbies, health, etc.
For a plan A lesson, if you’ve ever studied history, perhaps you’ll recall that the Spanish acquisition of the Aztec Empire in 1521 was one of the most important campaigns in the Spanish colonization of the Americas. I’ve heard people refer to this story as a life lesson for all of us, even today. One of the events was when Cortez grounded his 11 ships to prevent his colony from turning back from the new world. He had invested considerable resources and took on large debt in order to build those ships and undertake the expedition.
Sometimes that’s what it takes to achieve your audacious goal. Have you had any moments like this where you sacrificed much in order to focus on a goal? Read the rest of this entry »
What Does It Mean To Be Rich?
Posted by karim101ismail in life change, life goals on September 11th, 2010
How can you live a richer life? I don’t believe one has to have a lot of money to be rich. One can be rich in many ways. Riches can include family, close relationships, meaningful work and more.
Those are all wonderful things, of course. But today I will focus on the three things that will help you live a richer life that aren’t dependent on other people and are things mostly in your control: health, wealth and inner life.
Aristole said that a life of virtue is the chief ingredient of happiness and that adequate health (goods of the body), adequate wealth (external goods and property) and goods of the soul (wisdom and virtue) were necessary for this kind of rich and happy life.
Let’s begin with health. I know many people who are financially secure but don’t take care of their bodies and have chronic back and knee problems, heart disease, are very overweight, etc. They aren’t truly “rich” even though they have a lot of money.
Goal Setting – 5 Ways to Achieve Your Goals With Speed
Posted by karim101ismail in goal setting, life goals, setting goals on July 17th, 2010
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “money loves speed.” That’s because it’s not enough to have a goal or a good idea. You must quickly implement it in order to have success.
This doesn’t mean you can’t have long term goals, of course. But the forward motion you gain from focusing on getting things done quickly will help you achieve even your long term goals too.
Let me give an example. Twenty minutes after Jason Mark used an iPad for the very first time he came up with an idea for an iPad bracket. The bracket serves as a frame for the iPad, much like a picture frame. It lets you mount the iPad on a wall for presentations in meetings, displays in museums, etc.
Three days after coming up with the idea he presented it to a manufacturing company and within 21 days they had a working prototype, marketing plan, website and their first sale, which came an hour after the iBracket was mentioned on a blog. Note that this was a physical product yet still they got it out the door in record speed.
With today’s technology and social media it’s very possible for you to achieve similar things with great speed. This applies to any area of your life, like fitness goals, plans to redecorate, saving money for a vacation, etc. Speed helps everything.
Here are 5 steps for you to accomplish your goals with more speed:
1. Set an audacious goal. Make sure it’s one you are passionate about. That passion will energize and sustain you in the early going. By audacious I mean a goal that might seem outrageous on the surface or hard to achieve but one that will motivate you because the potential payoff is great.
To Achieve Your Goals, Make Promises, NOT To Do Lists
Posted by karim101ismail in goal setting, life goals on May 23rd, 2010
Do you remember when you were a child and had a promise broken? How did that make you feel?
Well, let me share one incident that is still, 38 years later, as vivid in my memory as though it happened yesterday.
At age 10 (Grade 5), when I lived in a small town in Kenya, I wanted a bicycle, one that I could eventually ride to school. Looking back, I am sure it had a lot to do with independence, being able to go see my friends, and having my own possession. Rite of passage I suppose!
My parents, who were not well off, promised me I could have one, if I saved up for one (from my pocket allowance) and that they would match my savings once I reached the half way mark. In other words, a 50/50 split.
So for almost two years, I was very frugal, and saved hard. I REALLY wanted that shiny new red bicycle. As I got very close to my goal, I even hit up my younger sister for a loan so that I could get to my goal quicker! She kindly agreed.
When I finally reached my goal, I went to the bicycle store, reconfirmed the price (for the 10th time), and then proudly told my Dad that I had saved up my 50% of the cost.
He congratulated me, but pointed out that the family was going through a tough time financially, and that I would have to wait a bit (which to a child seems like eternity!) before he could contribute his 50%.
I was crushed at this broken promise. I had saved so hard and was so keen to have the bike . . .! Read the rest of this entry »
Three Patterns to Develop So Your Behaviors Reflect Your True Self
Posted by karim101ismail in goal setting, life goals, setting goals on May 20th, 2010
To achieve your life goals you must often change your behavior. This is often not easy to do because your behavior never lies. It is always a reflection of what you believe to be true about yourself.
Your behavior tells me how you think, how you talk about yourself even when no one’s around, and what you do every single day. The real essence of truth, of who you really think you are is not found in what you say, but by what you do.
So how do you change those behaviors that don’t accommodate the goals you have set?
It can be difficult to monitor our own behavior because it’s easy to fall into ruts and unhealthy patterns. Today I will give you three measuring sticks to use, which will help you develop behaviors that will be a better reflection of your true self so you can then achieve the goals you have set.
1. Are You Consistent? - Being able to count on someone is a very important quality. People who show up on time, are faithful and steady are indispensable. We know that we can always count on them. They don’t have explosive temperaments and although they are far from perfect people, their emotional reactions to things are mostly predictable Read the rest of this entry »
Part 1 – Achieving Your Goals – Why Using a Vision Board Can Help You to Achieve Your Goals
Posted by karim101ismail in goal setting, life goals on April 7th, 2010
Do you think you can attract what you want? Both skeptics of the “Law of Attraction” and people who believe in it ask themselves this question.
The first step to achieving your goals is to be really clear about what they are. You need to sit down and write a list of all your life goals.
Look into the all the different areas of your life such as health, relationships, wealth, family, and spirituality. Be as specific as possible. For example, if you want to create more spare time so that you can spend time with your family then what would you do with that spare time? Would you go out to the park with your children or would you take them on a trip to Disneyland?
If you want to be wealthy, how do you define wealth? Is it owning a new house, having money in the bank, donating money regularly to your favorite charities or going on an exotic holiday? Write all this down.
But as important as it is to write down your goals, sometimes words aren’t enough to make them seem real in your mind. Sometimes it’s hard to visualize them on your own. This is so important because, if you can visualize yourself accomplishing your goals and you are able to tap into how it will feel to actually achieve them, then you will be motivated to do the necessary hard work to achieve them.
I recommend creating a “Vision Board” or “Attraction Board”, as it’s sometimes called. A “Vision Board” is a collection of images that helps you to see, feel, smell and tastes everything you would like to achieve. The more vividly you can picture yourself achieving your goals, the more likely it is that you will achieve them. Read the rest of this entry »
To Achieve Your Goals Share Your Goal Widely With Others
Posted by karim101ismail in goal setting, life goals, setting goals on March 24th, 2010
Step 11 in my series, The 12 Steps to Achieving Your Goals
In my experience, there is only one motivation, and that is desire. No reasons or principle can contain it or stand against it. – Jane Smiley
Sharing your goal with others is vital to your success. However, many people are uncomfortable doing this, so they make the mistake of hiding their goal, or only sharing it with one person.
When you don’t share your goals it may be an unconscious attempt at self sabotage. If you don’t tell anyone about your goals they will never become real in your mind. When they don’t feel real it will be hard to be serious about them. You might feel uncomfortable at first, but hiding your goals will not help you.
Instead, you will find that when you have the courage to share your goal, you articulate it more clearly for yourself, and you strengthen your commitment to it. Sharing your goal also allows you to receive objective feedback. By sharing your huge goal, you will undoubtedly inspire friends, family, and colleagues. So please consider doing what we always ask children to do, and share! Read the rest of this entry »
Goal Setting: To Achieve Your Goals, Define Your Obstacles
Posted by karim101ismail in goal setting, life goals on February 16th, 2010
Step 7 in my series, The 12 Steps to Achieving Your Goals
Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.-William Ellery Channing
Life throws us many challenges, which we often view as obstacles that prevent us from getting to our goals. Instead, you may want to consider embracing these obstacles. For in them lies the solution to achieving your goals.
Why? Well, over thousands of years, as a species, man has learned to out-think obstacles and find solutions. This has been the primary reason for our survival as a species, and for the progress we have made.
So if you define your obstacles carefully, you will find that your mind very quickly finds solutions, no matter the circumstances. It’s a remarkable skill we all have.
I have used as an example for outlining the steps to achieve your goals, my audacious goal to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, at 19340 feet, one of the world’s seven peaks. I set a clear time frame to reach this goal in 1.5 years because of a three week school break in January 2005 that my daughter would have to undertake the trek with me. My measurement of success was to get to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro at 19,340 feet without endangering my life or those in the group. I defined 10 compelling reasons why I was undertaking the climb and printed these out and kept them with me to review at all times. I defined the key benefits I would gain by reaching my goal. I then defined the defined the consequences of not achieving my goals.
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