Self Improvement Information

In today’s culture the word “goal” has become a buzzword.  Many people say, “my goals is to ___”.  That is good, in the respect, they are stating what they want.  In that statement, they have substituted the word “goal” for what might, more appropriately, be called an “intention”.  If it has become such a buzzword, why is it that only 2% of the population have written, specific goals?

When I coach and work with people in business, I am always surprised that people find setting goals so hard to do.  They talk as if they will sit down and write their goals, but unless they have a business coach, who will keep them accountable, they tend to stick it in the section of their minds labeled “I will do this tomorrow”.  Why do people struggle with setting goals?

I believe, one reason is, they really don’t know how to set goals.  After gathering the information on how to set effective goals, some will still not do it.  The reason could be that many people are afraid of success.  When people hear that, they tell me they aren’t afraid of success, they are afraid of failure.  Let’s look at that statement a little closer.

As we progress through life we stumble, fall, and fail at many things.  We start this process off, early, as infants learning to walk, feed ourselves, and how to explore our environment.  When our parents tell us “no”, or we fall down, that is failing.  We all learn coping skills for the dreaded failure scenario.  Would it be safe to say most of us have a tool in our toolbox of life called “dealing with failure”?  Don’t misunderstand me, failure can be devastating if you perceive it that way, or it can be a tremendous learning experience.  It is all in perception.

Success, on the other hand, is a bit more frightening for most people.  They really don’t have a clear concise mental picture of what it would look like to succeed.  Our quest for success is often the place were we find most of our limiting beliefs.  Limited beliefs are what stops us from going where we want to go.  Limited beliefs are dis-concerning because, most often, we have no idea what those limited beliefs are until we get a mentor or a coach that can help us uncover them and hold us accountable.

Another area that trips up the goal setting individual is not taking responsibility for the people they hang around.  We are all products of our environment.  Our incomes will, often times, be very similar to the 5 people we associate out with the most.  Think about that for a moment.  Picture in your mind the 5 people that you are in contact with the most.  Are you all in the same economic bracket?

The last thing I want to propose to you is that most people are not in tune with their values.  They haven’t thought, consciously, about what they value the most or the least in their lives.  When we don’t know what our values are, it is easy to set a goal that is in direct conflict with a value we weren’t aware of.  For instances, if a person’s top value is their family and the time they spend with them, setting a goal for the next promotion or starting a business might be in direct conflict due to the increased time it will take to accomplish it.  Can you see the friction in obtaining that goal?

I have found the product called “Mind Movies” to be very helpful in developing a conscious mental picture of what you want.  Their workbook is exceptional in helping to pinpoint what we want and what we value most.  The Mind Movie is an excellent visualization tool for accomplishing the goals we have set.

I have for you, today, a 6 minute video entitled “12 Goal Setting Mistakes in 5 Minutes or Less”.  It has some very good information for you.  As Huxley said, “There is only one corner of the Universe that we can change and that is our self.”  If you gleaned some information that you feel others could use, feel free to pass it on!

You have probably heard the old saying “today is the first day of the rest of your life”.  We could say that about every day.  When are you going to decide that today is the day for a change in your life?   Are you ready for a paradigm shift towards your success?  

We are all striving for a successful life.  Do you know what a successful life means to you?  How do you know when you are on the right track?  Do you have a “definite major purpose” as Napoleon Hill would say?  Do you know what you want your life to look like and how to get there?  Most don’t.

You will be pleased today with the weekend special.  Today’s video is part 3 of Bob Proctor’s Paradigm Shift series.  It is a little over 9 minutes long.  He really gets into the nuts and bolts of how to go about creating the life by your design.  Do yourself a favor.  Follow what he says to do.  It will give you that clear mental picture you need to create your ideal life.

Bob Proctor has a way of making everything very crystal clear.  How would your life be different if he was mentoring you?   Here’s a link you can sign up for his inspirational messages to be sent to your email every day for free.  Check it out here.

Enjoy the video and don’t forget to re-tweet if you like it!  Life is good!

Many of us are looking for ways to improve our lives.  Self improvement can have a profound effect if we approach it from the standpoint of using those tips and knowledge to enrich our lives, rather than from the position of fixing us because we believe we are “broken”.  Self improvement information can lead to healthier and happier lives, but it can only take us so far.  When is it time to get a coach or mentor? 

It is time for a coach when you have dreams and desires that you currently lack the expertise to accomplish.  Those dreams and desires may be to increase your wealth, grow in your career, a health and fitness goal, etc.  If you look at any individuals that have excelled in their chosen field, you will find they have plugged into an exceptional coach or mentor.  Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps, and Bob Proctor, just to name a few, have had phenomenal success with the help of mentors and coaches.

Finding the right mentor or coach can seem like a confusing thing.  The Internet is laden with many life coaches and people willing to mentor you.  If you are in a position to pay for the expertise of a coach that is all the better.  Even if you lack the funds at this present moment to be able to pay a coach, there are some coaches out there that will give you a vast amount of important information for free.  Use that until you have gotten to a position that you can afford to pay for your coaching.  Here are a few tips you might find useful in finding the right coach for you.

1.  If you belong to a MLM (multi-level marketing) you can usually find a good coach in your up-line.  They have a vested interest in your success.  The more successful you become the more it benefits their bottom line.  You, most likely, will have several layers of “up-lines” you can access to find the coach/mentor that works best for you.  Caution, be careful crossing over into another hierarchy, because they don’t have a monetary interest in your success.  Many a team has been stolen by so called “mentors”.

2.  Look for a coach or mentor that has done what you are striving to accomplish.  This may seem like a, “well, duh” statement, but many people are passing themselves off as “life coaches” that haven’t accomplished anything of significance.  The better you become the more accomplished coach and mentor you will attract.

3.  Listen to that small voice inside of you.  If you are following a coach/mentor and your inner voice starts ringing bells of warning, pay heed.  I have gotten myself into some uncomfortable situations because I didn’t listen to my intuition when it rang the alarm.

4.  Chose someone that believes in your more than you believe in yourself.  One of the reasons to look for a mentor or coach is to help us find that inner strength, the hidden talent, and to develop what we already have to greater heights.  A good coach will find and encourage that part of you that will help you excel.

5.  Look for a coach or mentor that will tell you what you need to hear even when you don’t want to hear it.  The role of a good coach or mentor is not to be your friend.  It is to tell you when you are screwing up.  It is to help you stay on the right path.  It is to help you find that person inside of you that you want to be.  Sometimes, that is giving us a kick in the behind when we need it.

A good coach/mentor is worth their weight in gold.  When you find the right one you can do some extraordinary things.  Do yourself a huge favor.  Listen to them, follow what they say and do what they tell you to do.  That’s why we have them, isn’t it?

Here’s a 6 minute video from Bob Proctor on why we need a coach.  If you are interested in 13 months of coaching from Bob Proctor click here!  Don’t forget to sign up for the free “tasters”.