30 Day Free Trial Approach to Goal Setting

Why not take the 30 Day Free Trial Approach to Goal Setting?

Have you ever set out to accomplish some goal but then you fail to take the steps necessary to make it happen? I know I  have.

If you`re like me you may have even taken the time to write your goals out but then they just got set to the side and forgotten.

I have heard that it only takes 21 days to create a habit. I have to believe that it is true. Take at look at one of the most wide spread uses of that in todays society….

The 30 Day Free Trial.

The hopes behind the advertisers logic is that you will use the product for 30 days and you will develop a habit of using it therefore keeping the product and paying full price for it.

One of the biggest challenges to following through with our goals is that we tend to look at the “BIG PICTURE” and then tell ourselves that it will be too hard or too time consuming to reach our goals, it will require long term effort.

We come from a microwavable society in that we all want it RIGHT NOW. But what we fail to realize when we keep putting off our goals is that time is going to pass anyway. So, one of two things is going to happen over time. You will have taken steps to get closer to your goals, or time will have passed and all you have is…. time passed.

If we will just take small steps each day to achieve our goals, we will eventually reach them.

I remember when I quit drinking. The thought of going the rest of my life without drinking was overwhelming. Then I realized, I only have to make it one moment at a time. So I just started staying focused on right now. Thats all we ever have anyway. THIS MOMENT.

And here I am 10 years clean and sober! One day, one moment at a time.

So, why not start your Goal Setting out by committing to set some small goals and committing to work them for 30 days.

One thing I did was to Join John Fogg`s 9- Day Challenge. I am on my 2nd 30 day cycle and have a brand new goal for this 30 days.

Here are some ideas that you could start with:

• Write a new blog entry every day.
• Give up TV for 30 days. Record your favorite shows and watch them at the end of the “trial”.
• Spend 30 minutes cleaning up and organizing your home or office every day.
• Call a  family member, friend, or business contact every day.
• Send a heartfelt note to one person every day. This could be to Thank Them, let them know you are thinking about them, invite them for coffee. ( I have a great system for this….  www.JoinTheCardCrusade.com ( I am a Proud Independent Distributor for them!) Ask me how you can send a free card on me!
• Call 3 prospects  a day.
• Give up coffee or soda.
• Learn one new word a day…… I actually did this one myself….. I will share a post on this one sometime next week. It was a lot of fun.

OK… so we have some idea of what goals we may want to set. NOW WHAT?

1. Write down your goal. There is magic in the written word when it applies to you. I recommend stating your goal in positive terms, like you already have them, such as “I am lean and physically fit”  instead of  ”I’ve got to lose weight.” And be as specific as you can be.
2. List your reasons for setting your goal. Writing it down will force you to think out in specific terms what this goal represents in your life and the meaning you believe your life will hold for you upon achieving it. This will also help with your commitment toward taking positive action.
3. If your goal is to STOP doing a particular activity, identify when the urge is the greatest and then develop a different activity to put in its place.
4. Talk to yourself. Tell yourself you’re making progress. Remind yourself that you are moving closer to your goal.. Talk to yourself throughout the day about how you are going to avoid triggers that can get you off track and make healthy substitutes.
5. Ask others for support. Explain to them why you are making this change. Only choose people you know will encourage you!
6. Be prepared for the “Dream Stealers”. These are the people who will tell you cant do it. They don’t want you to change, or achieve. Thank them for sharing and move on.
7. Get an accountability partner. In the 90 Day Challenge we have a Call Partner we talk to Monday – Friday for each 30 day cycle. It really helps to open your eyes to what steps you need to take to get your goals!

So, now that we have something to get us started, I would love to hear what goals you are willing to commit to for 30 days.

HOW DO WE STAY MOTIVATED?

1. Create mental pictures of yourself as having already succeeded with your habit change. Or you can even take a picture of you achieveing your goal. (see one of my goals below)
2. Review your list of goals and the reasons for why you want to achieve them daily.
3. Track your goals
4. Make affirmations, positive self-statements about your habit change. For example, “I am so organized that I keep my desk clean and in order at all times”.
5. Reward yourself. Know what you are going to give yourself for reaching your goal.
6. Stay accountable to someone.
7. My personal source of Motivation comes from reading the Bible and talking with God.

This is one of my long term goals…..

photo credit: Captain DJ

Swimming with Dolphins….. and a great looking guy wouldn`t be too bad either!  :)

To YOUR Success!

Tagged as: 90 Day Challenge, Goal Setting, Goals, John Fogg, Motivation, Success