| "Success is goals. Everything else is commentary" - | | | | This technique applies to both short term and long term |
| Brian Tracy | | | | goals. If you like me have ever struggled with |
| Goals are so important that Brian Tracy wrote an | | | | reconciling long term with short term goals Erik has a |
| entire book on goal setting. I highly recommend this | | | | great tip. Short term goals can be defined as any goal |
| book. But getting back to this technique, it was | | | | that needs to be accomplished in 90 days. Long term, |
| invented by an ex marine called Erik Therwanger after | | | | any goal that takes more than 90 days. But here is the |
| he experienced a few challenging life situations that | | | | trick - break long term goals into multiple day runs. |
| you and I would never even wish upon our worst | | | | Then attack each run as a short term goal. |
| enemies. | | | | Sometimes while setting goals we develop a tunnel |
| It was this challenging experience that forged this | | | | vision and lose sight of our larger purpose. Therefore |
| technique and also his belief: "Who you are is never | | | | develop goals that move us in all dimensions of life. |
| defined by good times but by bad times" | | | | These are: |
| So if you are facing some personal challenges at the | | | | Faith (Spiritual component. Personally the most |
| moment take heart in his counsel. The success | | | | neglected part of my life.) |
| technique can be summarized by the mnemonic | | | | Family + Friends |
| GREAT. | | | | Finances |
| G -> Goals | | | | Fitness |
| R -> Reasons | | | | Fun |
| E -> Expectations | | | | Now a few points I would like you to pay real attention |
| A -> Action | | | | to. How did Erik and his wife pull through their |
| T -> Tracking | | | | challenging experiences? It was all thanks to some |
| Goals are powerful but there is one simple trick to | | | | advice received from an unlikely source. His wife's |
| vastly increase their power, reasons. The 'Why' is | | | | oncologist. |
| more powerful than 'How','Who','Where','What' etc. The | | | | The trying circumstances that I referred to revolved |
| 'E' reflects the importance of setting high expectations | | | | around Erik's wife getting cancer. After the initial |
| for yourself. | | | | diagnosis the oncologist pulled Erik aside and advised |
| The letter 'T' stands for tracking the results of your | | | | him that it was important to keep their spirits high. They |
| actions. I know from personal experience the | | | | took this heart and no matter what circumstances |
| importance of this step. For many months I had been | | | | they faced they went through it with the greatest |
| trying to let go of my pound of flesh. Even though my | | | | attitude possible. If you too need to keep your spirits |
| gym had a weighing machine I never weighed myself | | | | high then I suggest you check out a source for |
| on it. Therefore my goal to reach a certain weight | | | | handpicked selection of success books. |
| never appeared to be a concrete aim and never | | | | Now that you know what you need to do, what do |
| appeared to linger in my consciousness. It was too | | | | you do? May I suggest you take a tiny action right |
| nebulous.When I finally started tracking my weight after | | | | now.Do something, anything. Why? Because it will help |
| each workout this goal went from being out there | | | | you gain momentum. Once you gain it you can't help |
| somewhere to a very relevant and tangible objective. I | | | | but become successful. |
| have lost 8 pounds since I started tracking it! | | | | |