7 Reasons Why It Is Important To Have Goals

I recently had a conversation with one of my former students. She has been out of school for a few years now but isn't satisfied with the direction her career has taken. In fact, she's not too happy with her personal life either. Her voice developed more than a touch of whine as she said: "I don't know what to do."

So I asked her about her goals. Her response was a rather slack-jawed look of surprise. "Goals?" Well at least she wasn't whining anymore.

I asked her what she would like to see her career in a few years. I asked her where she'd like to see her life in a few years. She knew the answers to those questions and quickly became animated as she discussed her desire to start her own business. We talked about what she would need to accomplish her goal and what she would have to change.

When we parted ways she felt a lot better about her job because she knew that she wasn't trapped in it. She was taking a necessary step to prepare herself for a long-term goal. She had her eye on the prize and that focus energized her.

That is the power of goals. What are your goals? There are seven reasons why you need to have goals.

~ To give direction to life
~ To make sure we are the one choosing the direction of our life -- not others, not fate, not the media, etc.
~ To motivate
~ To make sure we get what we want from life
~ To save time
~ To reduce stress
~ To give a sense of accomplishment

While it can be fun to live without direction in the short-term, in the long-term human beings are wired to need a purpose and direction. Goals give a sense of direction and purpose to life.

It is often easy to let others set our direction for us. We take a job because family or friends point us in that direction and then we follow the dictates of our bosses. We move in other directions because popular culture or the media tells us to do so. The simple truth is that if we do not set our own goals then we will find it too easy to follow a path set by others. This can lead to stress and unhappiness. We have a greater chance of happiness and fulfillment following our own path and pursuing our own goals.

While goals certainly give our lives direction, they also provide the motivation to get us through difficult times and choices. Perhaps going to college at night while working full-time may be stressful and difficult in the short-term, but in the long run being able to pursue the professional goals we desire will make it worthwhile.

Goals also serve as the destination for what we really want out of life. For some people, goals are measured in money or material goods, while for others goals are measured in time or freedom. If we do not have goals outlined that suit our unique perspective on life it is easy to become sidetracked by life and others.

Goals can also help save time. When your "To Do" list becomes too long and your calendar too full, then you can simply compare your goals to the list. What items help you achieve your goal? What items are necessary to your goal? Scratch off the rest as unimportant.

Just as goals save time they also reduce stress because using your goals to focus your life and choices makes it easier to make those choices. Should you take that new position at work? How does it match your goals?

Finally, goals give you a measurable sense of accomplishment. Every goal you achieve, in fact every step you make toward that goal, can give you a boost of energy and momentum to keep going. Each success powers you toward the next level of success.

Now go out and set your goals!

5 Quick And EASY Techniques To Help You Realize And Fulfill Your TRUE Goals In Life

Did you know that 'Goal Setting' is the secret to fulfilling ANY dream or desire you want in life?

Did you also know that SUPER Successful people use 'Goals' to attain the knowledge and wealth they have today?

Some of you reading this right now might agree and some of you might not.

That decision is yours to make.

The reason people find it too hard to achieve their goals is simple because they've set their Long-Term goals before setting Short-Term ones, or they just didn't plan their goals out carefully.

Goal setting strategies are VERY important, especially for those who want to achieve Long-Term goals.

Well, your in luck because I'm going to share five 'Goal Setting' techniques to help you realize your TRUE goals today.

Your only requirement is to keep an open mind.

So, with that said, lets go to Technique #1.


Technique #1. Start with Short-Term goals.

Sometimes, people start with short-term goals unconsciously.

Why unconsciously?

Some of them may have considered the goals to be long-term at the time they planned them; and after achieving a goal, they realize that they are in fact, looking forward to a longer one.

Some are contented with their short-term goals, but after a while will realize that they also need to attain long-term ones.

Short-term goals seem to be our starting point for our Long Term ones.

They also motivate the person to plan for longer goals, which will usually take some time before achieving them in full.


Technique #2. Make sure you really want the goal.

By this, you have to ask yourself: "Do I really want this goal and will this goal give me a better life?"

Answering this ONE question will give you more passion and motivation to achieve your goal.

Some people often recall their past to find out Why and How they came up with such goal.


Technique #3. Speak up.

What I mean by this is you shouldn't keep your goals to yourself only. By sharing your goals with other people it'll help you get the support you may need in order to fulfill them.

The problem that usually occurs though is some people are just too shy to tell others about their goals for reasons like they are afraid they cannot achieve them in the end, or they lack the courage to speak their minds.

This is not a good habit to get into because when the time comes that you really need their support, you will have a difficult time getting it.

You'll then be left to achieve your goals all by yourself.

Don't make this mistake.


Technique #4. Write down your goals.

This strategy is critical and more advisable for those who have a long list of goals.

After writing them down in as much detail, it is advisable that you review them on a daily to weekly basis because this will encourage and motivate you to achieving them, plus, this will also keep that vision of your goal alive.


Technique #5. Stay on track and never give up.

Reviewing notes will help open your mind to see if you are on the right track. While on track, you may have to face challenges that might change your personality.

A person who is overconfident might suddenly feel depressed after finding out that he is going the wrong way in achieving his goal.

Thus this might lead to abandoning the goal.

Never be discouraged.

Facing obstacles is a test on how passionate one is to realizing his or her goals.


There you have it.

Give those a try and keep a visual picture in your mind everyday of you fulfilling that goal you desire so much.

A Short Guide to Stop Smoking

If you are a long-time smoker and wish to stop smoking, the following guidelines may be of use in quitting the habit. Smoking has long-term health hazards, as reported in news clips and reports. The habit however is a personal decision, and it all depends on how determined a person is, and what level of abstinence can be practiced in order to stop smoking.

People take to smoking for various reasons. It could be the sheer charm of smoking, joining a group, beating stress, soothing and calming nerves, and so on. The reasons for quitting are commonly health related.

There does not seem to be a trick in quitting a habit. It is easy to fall back and start all over again. Perhaps a slow and steady approach can do the trick when more severe methods have failed.


Here are a few words to guide and reaffirm your determination to quit smoking if you wish to do so:
1. If you keep failing, have faith in yourself. You can do it, if others have done it before.
2. It is important to remind yourself of the reasons you want to quit smoking. Write them down and read them regularly.
3. Seek help from others around, the ones you trust, in talking to you about quitting. When others persuade us, it may work better for some.
4. There are medical substitutes available that help people climb down on the amounts.
5. Setting a deadline by the end of which one must quit can help in some cases.
6. Find out which plan works best for you – an immediate stop, a gradual pulling out, or some combination.
7. Knowing and talking to people who have quit smoking can boost your morale.
8. Smoking could be related to poor health and regimen. Change your regimen and see if it can substitute for the need to smoke.
9. Visualize the lifestyle of a non-smoker, and find out why it is positive and good. This will increase the attraction toward the goal.