Yes, the financial year is coming to a quick end!
This means a new beginning for many businesses, their owners and staff.
Now is the perfect time to start planning your goals for the 2023 Financial year. (in reality, you can plan your goals any day of the year!)
I believe the process of planning for the future should be scheduled, structured, systematic and innovative. This process involves three interdependent stages:
1. Goal Creation
2. Goal Setting
3. Goal Achievement
This article will give you insight into the Goal Creation process. Goal Setting and Goal Achievement will be covered next Friday.
Why set goals?
The answer is short and sweet. We need goals to progress and grow in life. Setting goals gives us direction and purpose.
Reflect on the following two quotes:
“Setting Goals is the first step towards turning the invisible into visible.” – Tony Robbins
“Man is a goal-seeking animal. His life only has meaning if he is reaching and striving for his goals”. – Aristotle
Tony Robbin’s definition is an eye-opener. It implies that setting goals is the link between manifesting the tangible (results) from the intangible (dreams).
As can be seen from Aristotle’s quote, humans knew the importance of setting goals. Studies have shown that the human brain and mind have the extraordinary ability to deliver what is that we wish for when goal setting is present.
A Case Study on the relationship between setting/writing goals and wealth creation.
Self-development guru Brian Tracy talks about a study done at Harvard University between 1979 and 1989. In 1979 Harvard MBA graduates were asked the question, “Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?”
Only 3% of the graduates had written goals and plans, while 13% had goals but had not written them down. The remaining 84% had no specific goals at all.
Ten years later, the class members were interviewed again, and the findings were genuinely mind-blowing. The 13% who had goals earned, on average, twice as much as the 84% who had no goals. Moreover, what about the 3% who had written goals and plans? They were earning, on average, ten times as much as the other 97% put together!
The goal ‘creation’ process.
I believe this process is the most crucial. I distinguish goal ‘creation’ from goal’ setting.’ Goal creation precedes goal setting.
The goal creation process involves reflection, soul searching, imagination, and dreaming.
“Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the soul”. – Mother Theresa
Firstly, each of us is unique. The chances of finding someone else who looks like you, acts like you, dreams like you and thinks like you are virtually impossible. We all have unique abilities, talents, wants and desires. Our goals are as unique, just like each human being. Secondly, humans only utilize 2%-10% of our total potential (brain capacity). There is a vast cave of potential treasure waiting to be discovered. The goal creation process helps us express our uniqueness and taps into undiscovered human potential.
In the goal creation process, you start with a blank page and end with a clear picture of ‘who’ you are, what drives you as a person, ‘what’ you want to achieve in this life and ‘why’ you want to achieve it. This is the time for finding the purpose and meaning of your life. The goal-setting process needs fuel and inspiration from the goal-creation process.
As we go about our daily lives, an inner game of miracles is happening in our bodies. The human body is predominantly driven by and contains energy. Millions of ‘chemical’ reactions control the state of your body, energy, and consciousness.
What do chemical reactions have to with goal creation?
I will give you a simple example to illustrate my point. Our brain controls our logic and emotion. The left side of the brain is responsible for ideas, thinking, logic and training. It is essentially our analytical self. The right aspect of the brain is responsible for creation, art, music and emotion. It is essentially our creative self.
According to John Assaraf, a leading mindset expert, ideas and the decision-making process starts in your left brain. If there isn’t enough ’emotion’ behind the vision, then a part of your brain called the Nucleus Accumbens is not activated. The Nucleus Accumbens is responsible for releasing a chemical called Dopamine (the happy, feel-good hormone) which provides us with stimulation or energy to achieve a goal.
Steps in the goal creation process
1.      Establish the ‘purpose’ of your life.
This action is paramount. What is the big ‘Why’ of your existence. What are you in this world to do? What is your purpose? I believe great insights and direction is possible only when you establish the ‘purpose’ of your life. This is a written statement that you could continually refine. It is a statement that you should consistently read and revisit. It is entirely up to you to share this with others. The statement does not have to be lengthy. To get you started, I have attached my own ‘purpose’ of life statement below:
My life’s purpose is to inspire, guide and love everyone I encounter. It is to be an excellent and loving husband, father, friend, and colleague. It is to bring people together so that they can find peace, happiness, wealth and love.
It is to share in this earth’s abundance while contributing freely both spiritually and financially. It is to use my unique talents, skills, and abilities to help others be more, give more and have more. My life’s purpose is to laugh, enjoy and connect on a deeper level that touches both the heart and soul.
2.      Determine what you want to ‘experience’ along the way.
Write down things you want for the future, where you want to travel and what you want to learn. Embrace no-limits thinking; write down everything you would do if money and time were not a limitation.
3.      Decide what you will ‘give’ or ‘contribute’ in life.
Regardless of what the media portrays, this world operates in a state of ‘abundance.’ There is plenty to go around, only our conditioned behavior of ‘looking after our own’ first has caused an imbalance in wealth and health in this world. When you embrace a philosophy of giving first, great things will happen in your life regarding money, love, and peace. Write down what you are willing to give regarding money, time or expertise to help others who desperately need it.
4.      Write down what ‘material’ possessions you want in this life.
Remember the world operates in a state of ‘abundance.’ There is a common misconception that wealth creates greed, unhappiness, and war. On the contrary, money creates freedom when you embrace a ‘give’ first mentality (Step 3 above).
Before you set your goals, write down your desires on things such as (but not limited to);
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â How many houses do you want?
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â How much money do you want?
5.      Know how you want to spend your time.
Write down how many days you want to dedicate to your career, business and family. Consider things such as how many days a year you want to vacation. The goal creation process could take a day, a week or more. The goal creation process becomes more efficient when you do it in a relaxed, meditative state.
I highly recommend doing the exercise first thing in the morning or before you go to bed. This is when your brain is relaxed so it is easier to access your subconscious mind. Meditation before engaging in this process is also highly productive.
This is an excellent time to start setting your goals for the next financial year! Next week, I will discuss the goal-setting process using a unique Brain-Heart Coherence Methodology.
Meanwhile, enjoy the goal-creation process. By doing so, you will be on your way to becoming and growing more.
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Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash
