Goals aren't just for hockey players

Every successful person has come to their success through some kind of plan. That plan may not always be hatched in a traditional sense but none the less, a plan is in place. The parts of a good plan include - choice, goals, research, action and reflection.

Choice

Make the choice that you are going to be successful and that you are going to follow through on making it happen. Keep a positive mindset and don't stray from it. Negativity will be your undoing.

Goals

Set your goals with the end product in your mind. You have to visualize what you are trying to accomplish and change your mindset to one of the end result already being there and you are simply going to take the necessary steps to get there. Visualization is so important in the success process. Every time you focus on your desired goal your mind goes to work. Your mind, being the brilliant entity that it is, is always analyzing, tweaking and sending you the steps that you need to take to make the vision a reality. Trust what your brain is telling you. One day we will completely understand the capabilities of the mind and when that happens our ability to turn vision into reality will happen in a much shorter time span.

As you set your goals, create a flow chart that starts with the end product first and then breaks down that achievement into smaller components. This aspect of goal setting can be time consuming but once you have your goals, big and small, laid out, then you are setting yourself on a path towards achieving your goals.

Research

If you don't know how to reach your goals then it is time to do some research. Research what others in your field have done and learn from their successes and failures. It is not always necessary to reinvent the wheel. Take any and every opportunity to attend lectures or seminars of people in your field. Be a lifelong learner. The more knowledge you possess, the easier it will be to start acting on your goals. You may want to seek out a mentor. Perhaps the knowledge you need to achieve one of your goals is best obtained by working side by side with someone who is doing something similar. Again, learn from their successes and failures. Be a sponge for the knowledge that they share. Read books on success and leadership. People that have achieved great successes and desire to help people achieve theirs are going to share their knowledge. Get your hands on those books and read, read, read. Most of these people cover elements of not just success but leadership as well. Unless your end product only requires one person to make it and maintain it, you are going to need people working with you. Turn yourself into an effective leader. If you build a team of people that believe in you, your product will be successful but you will experience a level of success that you wouldn't dream of.

Action

Once you've done your research it is time to put it into action. Take your newfound knowledge and start converting it into developing your product. Vince Lombardi once said, "The only place where success is before work is in the dictionary." Even if your ultimate goal is to win the lottery you still have to put the work into number choice, securing funds for the multitude of tickets that you will have to buy and the travel to and from your local lottery destination.

Reflection

Every step of your journey towards success requires reflection. Identify and study your successes and failures. Stay positive. Celebrate every success no matter how big or small. Recognize the failures and figure out why they weren't successes. This will allow you to avoid making similar mistakes as you move towards your next goal. As you reflect on each goal no matter how much joy or frustration you may have experienced, I want you to feel a sense of joy. Be happy that you are making strides toward reaching your ultimate goal. It will happen. Remember, you have chosen to make it happen.