There is an ancient Chinese saying that says that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. In order to turn your dreams into reality you must first turn them from dreams into achievable goals...
Starting the dream list:
Let's start your personal goal-setting process now by listing a broad range of things you'd like to accomplish, experience, or own. Set no limits on their price or what you presently think your chances of ever achieving them are.
On a blank sheet of paper right now, begin to write until you have 100 things written down in front of you. Call it a Wish list, a Dream list, a Wants list. It doesn't matter. Just pick up a pen and write.
(Or you can copy and paste this article into your text editor and then fill in your answers.)
Where are the ten places you must visit before you die?
List your top ten places to visit here:
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What are ten events you'd really love to experience first-hand?
What events would be so awesome that you would talk about them for the rest of your life?
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What ten skills would you most like to acquire?
What would you like to become excellent at?
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What does your dream home look like?
Describe your dream home…
Where is it located?
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How many bedrooms?
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How many baths?
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What color is the kitchen?
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What type of flooring?
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What style?
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How will you decorate?
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How many square feet?
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How much money would you like to earn per year?
What amount would provide for your family, with everything you need, plus ample left over for savings?
When will you retire?
And how much money will you need to olive on?
To be safe, don't forget to add at least four percent inflation per year! (Of course, I don't think any of that money for retirement ever goes to clothing.)
What type of physical shape would you like to be in?
What weight would you like to be?
How many miles would you like to be able to run, cycle or swim with relative ease?
Did you know that most people who run marathons start running at age 43? The middle-aged belly becomes the middle-age motivation.
What negative habits [like smoking] would you like to eradicate?
What would you like your family to experience over the next five years?
A trip to the museums of Washington DC, London or Paris?
Perhaps you'd like to send your children to a private school or a special sports camp in the summer?
A camping trip in Yosemite?
Maybe you want to go to Disney World in Florida. (Just be careful not to go on It's A Small World, you won't be able to get that song out of your head for days!)
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What ten toys would you most like to own?
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What five things would give you the greatest sense of accomplishment in your business life?
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What ten things would give you the greatest sense of accomplishment in your personal life?
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Turning dreams into goals.
Start your goal setting process by creating a list of dreams. Force yourself to write down one hundred things before you go back and hone your list.
List places you want to visit, experiences you want to have and toys you'd like to own. List things you'd like to accomplish, skills you'd like to acquire and the amount of money you'd like to make.
Detail the type of house you'd like to own, the business or career you'd like to create and the lifestyle you'd like your family to enjoy.
From this wonderful list pick the ten most exciting things and add deadlines. Next, go back and set intermediate or halfway goals for each. Finally, list short-term goals that will contribute to the accomplishment of the intermediate goals and ultimately the long-term goals.
There is no limit to the number of goals that you set, just make sure you list only those that you are truly committed to attaining.