It is important that we set ourselves goals in life, these can be short term, over a longer period of one to five years and also lifetime goals. It is one thing setting yourself these targets, however it is another thing to actually achieve them. In this article I give advice and tips on how to successfully attain the goals you set. These goals when achieved can help to improve our lives and also helps us to become happier and more self fulfilled.

Write down your goals

I have always wanted to be a success and to have a happy life, I am sure this is the same for most people. In the early part of my life I was unable to achieve both of these aims. In my early to mid twenties I decided to attempt to learn about ways in which I could ensure that the future would be a lot better, than what the past had been. I started to read many books about these topics and also about people who I considered to be successful.

I soon realised the importance of setting goals and targets. I thought about what I wanted to be and which course I wanted my life to take. I wrote out three different lists of my aims for the future.

The first list included what I wanted to achieve within the next twelve months. The second list contained what I wanted to achieve within five years and the third list was my lifetime goals.

I feel it is important to write down these targets as it helps you to keep a kind of focus of what you are attempting to do.

Invest time and money to reach your goals

I now had a determination to succeed and was willing to work hard to achieve my goals. To achieve anything in life takes time and dedication. One of my aims was to reduce my levels of stress. To do this I had to learn the art of relaxation, I have always been very hard on myself and had spent most of my life worrying about things that may happen in the future. I decided to ease up on myself and to even have monthly treats to keep me and my body happy. I did this by attending reflexology sessions and for a short period I tried aromatherapy.

I also made my home more of a comfort zone by buying some nice scented candles and some new furniture. These minor changes had a huge impact as it made the house more relaxing and I always work better in this type of environment.

One of my goals was to lose weight. To help me in this quest I purchased a rowing machine and decided to wake up half an hour earlier in the morning to use it. I would sit and row at various times of the day which I would try to stick to. Always in the morning and always before bed, wherever possible of course. I would also use the machine at times when I was becoming a little stressed or a bit lethargic. This really helped me as after I had rowed for around twenty minutes, I would feel really uplifted and full of confidence. I would also feel a sense of pride that I had battled against the negative side of brain and was sure that I would soon gain the benefit of a reduced weight.

Avoid negative people

There are people out there who try to bring me down. They attempt to do this by off the cuff comments they make or just by the way they seem to look down on me. They look at me as If I am worthless and some kind of loser. These type of people have caused me many sleepless nights and have had a negative affect on my self-confidence.

Quite simply the answer to this problem is to stay away from them, this is not always easy however. These people used to make me feel angry but I now feel sorry for them. I am happy despite what they may think and I have even learned to not care about their opinion of me.

There are two types of person in life, negative and positive. I now steer clear of negative people as that is what I used to be and I do not want to go back there. They try to get me back into their clan by the comments they make and try to convince me that all is not well.

Negative people tend to have negative lives where as positive people tend to have positive lives. I want to be, as already stated, happy and successful therefore I need to continue to think in a positive way.

The above advice is how I now live my life. At times I feel down like everybody does and this of course is when I use the rowing machine. I have now lost my excess weight and am very happy. I hope this article helps you to.

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The start of a New Year is a great time to plan for what you want to achieve. What better time than to invest in yourself and set a course for the future. As you reach your goals you will need to set new ones. How do you do this in a powerful and focused way?

Here are 10 Essential Questions to ask now to make the most of the next year.

1. What is your 5-year plan?

What do you want to be doing professionally and personally in five years time? How do you want to be feeling? For example what will you be doing, how much income will you be earning, where will you be living, how much time will you be spending with your family? Keeping in mind your five year vision will help set goals for the next 12 months.

2. What is your vision for the next year?

How do you see the year unfolding? Visualise yourself in 12-months time, reflecting back on the year. What does it look like? What does success look like in a year’s time?

Use this vision to add to your goals. If your planning on a holiday imagine yourself on the beach for example. This will inspire your goals and then make feasible plans to make the vision a reality.

3. What is your mission for the next year?

Who will you help? What problems will you provide solutions for? What new skills will you learn? This is the doing rather then dreaming. How will you go about achieving your goals and vision.

4. Set five key goals to be achieved.

Keep to no more than five specific goals. Write them down. Goals set the big picture achievements for the year. Have both personal and business or career goals. It might be something small like painting a room or something larger like moving house. Write it down.

5. What are the specific strategies or tasks that will help you achieve these goals?

These are the "how to’s". Make them specific and achievable. Use the OAT formula - Outcome - Action - Timeline.

6. How often will you review your goals?

Write in your diary now a reminder to review them at least every 3 months. Some people like to review them on a monthly, weekly or even daily basis!

7. Conduct a personal SWOT Analysis.

In the past year, what were your Strengths and what were your Weaknesses? What are the Opportunities for the next year? What are the Threats stopping you achieving your new goals?

8. Reality Check.

How will you measure whether you have achieved your goals? What are the milestones or performance criteria that set the benchmark for measuring your success?

9. How will you balance work with personal interests?

What will be the mix of fun & learning, health & fitness, career & finance, love & belonging?

10. How will you reward yourself for achieving your goals in 2003?

How will you celebrate?

Having all this mapped out is as important as effective business management. Managing your goals, prioritising and evaluating ensures your next 12 months will be as successful personally as professionally.

Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries. You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom’s blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com

As many of you know, the seventh step in the Partnering Process is to “Review.“ This is an important step because it allows us to reflect on the progress we have made and the changes that have come about as a result of our actions. Recently, I was asked to review a book titled, “Logical Universe” by Michael Jones, soon to be released by Inertial Press. I must admit the book was interesting, albeit a bit bewildering. Jones attempts to simplify the concept of time by defining it as “nothing more than the measurement and comparison of the periods of separate events.”

I think it’s important to reflect on what each of us did with the days between January 1 and December 31, 2005. Take ten to fifteen minutes and reflect on your accomplishments over the past twelve months. As you reflect, focus on personal and professional achievements and ask yourself these questions:

Did I accomplish my goals for 2005?

Did my Partner accomplish their goals?

Did I use time wisely in 2005?

What should I have done differently?

What knowledge did I acquire in 2005?

What must I accomplish in 2006?

As you reflect on the past year, I’m sure you have questions in your own mind about how well you spent your allocation of 525,600 minutes. Those minutes are gone.

It is time to renew our focus on those things that are important to us. It’s time to renew our commitment to growth and positive change…time to renew our commitment to our goals and objectives, both personal and professional…time to renew our belief in ourselves…and time to renew our Partnering agreements.

Take time to document three or four things you want to accomplish in 2006. Write this as a reflective statement you will read to yourself on December 31, 2006. Put this statement in an envelope and save it in a conspicuous place where you will see it on a daily basis. Time may be a measurement and comparison, but I like to think of time as a thing. Time is a thing we use. Time is a thing we have a limited amount of and none of us knows how much we have.

You and your Partner must accomplish what you want out of every day to succeed through Partnering To Success.

Terry Wisner, the "Partnering Pro," International Speaker, Consultant, and author, shares his experience and knowledge through energetic, entertaining, and enlghtening presentations and seminars. Do you want to experience improvement in; Customer Service, Teamwork, Leadership Skills, Communication Skills, or simply Self-Improvement? Then, visit Terry at http://www.terrywisner.com or http://www.p2s.us and learn more about Partnering and how it can help you and your organization succeed.

Here’s a question for you:

What would you like to have accomplished 100 days from now?

Why 100 days from now?

Well, why not? Besides, 100 is a nice round number.

You might think, “That’s not enough time. What can I possibly accomplish in only 100 days?'’

Very much if you put your mind to it and use the right tools.

So what would you like to accomplish in the next 100 days?

Would it be:

Begin to save money. If you simply gave up that soda and/or candy bar each day, that $1-plus would be more than $100 by the end of the year.

Get rid of that excess weight you have been carrying around? Sure, it would be nice if you could get rid of a pound a day, just like saving a dollar a day. Though it doesn’t work that way, you could be well on your way to getting rid of that extra weight.

Start the business of which you have always dreamed.

Get your priorities in order.

Change a destructive pattern in an important relationship.

Break a bad habit and replace it with a positive one.

Whatever it may be for you, there are certain key rules that should be followed to achieve your goals. Here are just a few to get you started:

The Rule of Ink - The dullest ink is stronger than the sharpest memory. In other words, write down your goals. Commit them to paper. Just this simple action greatly increases the likelihood of meeting your goals.

The Rule of Work - Richard Bach said "There is no such thing as a wish without the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it, however." Goals require work, as do many things worth doing.

The Rule of Dreams - It has been said that "a goal is a dream with a deadline." One of the keys to successfully achieving goals is to have a deadline that other people know about. This will help hold you accountable. And then if you really want to change your life, achieve the goal before the deadline.

The Rule of Persistence - In the battle between the rock and the river, the river always wins. Not because the river is stronger, but because the river has the power of persistence. Stick with it! Don’t die of thirst a few feet from the water fountain.

The Rule of Action - Never leave the place where you set a goal without taking some action toward it. This prevents the No. 1 goal stealer _ procrastination _ from setting in, and it creates momentum toward your goal. Then, keep taking action and taking action and taking action and taking some more action.

Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.

Is your goal setting making you unhappy? Have you ever created a goal and got frustrated because of it? Are you trapping yourself with your goal setting strategies?

Now is the time to learn better strategies that will take you straight to success while having fun during the process of getting there because when you apply this advice you will get there!

A goal is something you want to have or something you want to change in your life. It is basically a project you can manage in a smart way so that in the end you’ll find yourself where you wanted to be when you stated your goal, and began to take steps towards making it happen. But first a goal starts out in your mind and adopting better thinking strategies followed by powerful action actually will ensure your success, which is what you want… do you not?

Many if not most of the people make New Year’s resolutions and set up goals to quit shortly after that because they feel unhappy and frustrated. The reason is, they constantly compare their actual unsatisfying situation with the ideal goal they want to reach and the only thing they can see is the wide gap between the two places. You feel unhappy and you end up spending lots of energy to keep you constantly motivated when you don’t feel like doing anything because it is impossible to be motivated all the time. And before long you quit!

In other words, if you delay any kind of gratification or feelings of satisfaction until the ideal goal is completely achieved, you are actually making sure you will not accomplish your goal. Some goals can’t be achieved over night so the more you delay the good feelings you think you’ll have when you achieve your final goal, the more difficult it will become to achieve. It is that simple!

There is another aspect of unsuccessful goal setting, watch out! If you decide you are a success only and only if you shed off these 30 pounds or when you are a millionaire, perhaps when you buy that Mercedes and have it standing in your drive way, then you are trapped in a place where there is not escape, as you will be denying yourself any good feelings to keep going… unless you do it the way I am about to share with you.

If you wanted to cross over a river, you would use a bridge to walk on until you reach the other side and if you wanted to grab something that sits on a high shelf you would use a ladder, so why would accomplishing a goal be any different?

Now, what can you do differently and in the present moment to ensure your goals will be successfully accomplished and with fun?

Pick a goal: what do you want? It can be anything but let’s take the example of a weight loss goal.

Strategy 1: make a power decision. What is the first thing you will notice when heading towards your goal? What is the first success? You want to shed off 20 pounds so if you notice that you shed 2 pounds on your way, congratulate yourself and keep going. Do more of the things you notice bring about success.

Build a bridge between where you were when you started and your final goal. You simply make smaller steps and these little goals will be easy to achieve. The result will surprise you because it will lead you straight to your wished big goal. Keep going and keep rewarding yourself and feeling good about what you’ve already achieved while feeling certain that sooner or later you will be at your final destination!

Strategy 2: keep a journal of your progress and successive successes on the way to your goal. People tend to forget what they have already achieved and where they were when they started their journey towards a goal, so by keeping it all written down you can go back any time and see how far you’ve come already and that will keep you on track and highly motivated. It makes the whole project fun and worth going for.

These two important strategies will show you that you are a success and that you don’t have to wait for any final result to feel good about it or about yourself. In fact whatever feelings you think or believe you will have when your goal has manifested in the real world, start on your way by having them right now and build your bridge to success from then on.

What you’ve learned so far to achieve a goal with success is this: it is very helpful to have a concrete and easy way to track your progress. Find a way to make your goal as concrete as possible and break it down to smaller steps you can accomplish with success.

And to make your goal achievement even easier and more of a success follow these steps:

What now? If you have goals that you’ve already started working on, make them easy to track and start your progress and success journal. Walk the bridge step by successful step, all the way to your final success!

Karima Begag is a success, creativity and manifestation coach. Her teachings include a wide variety of success technologies and tools. You are special and you deserve to live the life of your dreams Now!

To get amazing success and self empowerment tips and tools plus a FREE E-Book “The Manifesting Mindset”, a gem of manifesting tools, your golden key to your dreams come true go here: http://www.ManifestWealthSuccess.com

On Apollo 13, the crew staged the first strike in the history of space travel. The date was December 27, 1973. Mission Control had sent more commands than the crew could cope with. Commander General Carr put a stop to this when he radioed in to Mission Control. “You have given us too much to do,” he complained. “We’re not going to do a thing until you get your act in better order.”

He then shut off communications for 12 hours. The astronauts used the time to catch up and enjoy the unusual view.

The Success Principle

Success happens in small steps. Scale down big projects. Go for small victories. Over time, small victories add up to complete the overall goal.

The Principle At Work

In the story, the space crew scaled everything down to regain control of their mission. They reduced an overwhelming situation to a manageable one. Here you have an example of scaling down the element of time. While the projects remained the same size, they were extended over time. They became more manageable, easier to get done.

The key word here is manageable.

Scaling down can also be done in terms of size. A project can be broken down into smaller units, into sub-projects. When the parts of a whole are disconnected, each part can be worked on. A system with fewer interconnected parts is easier to comprehend, easier to control, manipulate, improve. Science, itself, is based on boiling down the vast complexity of nature into small, comprehensible units of information called scientific laws. Gradually, the completed parts are assembled into a whole again.

In your own life, when things get overwhelming, scale them down. Either do less of them, diminish the size; or do them all over a longer period of time. Scaling down means working at a level of competence. It means doing only a few things, and one thing at a time.

Ultimately, scaling down means shunning big wins for smaller wins. Going for big wins creates high stress, confusion, loss of momentum and balance.

When a large problem is broken down into smaller chunks, stress is reduced in three ways. First, a small win cuts the pressure. “This is no big deal.” The price of failure is low. The pain of failure is minimal. Consequently, you are willing to try again and again, until you figure out the pattern which ensures success. Second, it cuts demand. There is less to do. And it is less strenuous. “This is all that needs to be done.” Third, the level of skill needed is sufficient. Performance anxiety is reduced. A sense of competency exists. “I can do at least this much.”

What is a small victory?

A small victory is a concrete, complete, clear-cut outcome of modest value. By itself, one small victory may seem trivial. But a series of victories at small but significant tasks, lowers resistance to opposition. Small victories are controllable opportunities. They produce visible results. Small solutions single out and define problems clearly. By looking at specific, limited conditions of a problem, it is easier to find a solution that fits. The problem is easier to see and the solution easier to try out.

Small victories emphasize the importance of defining limits. They avoid defining problems diffusely. “The establishment stinks.” They avoid open-ended solutions. “Burn the system down.” They define problems more precisely. “This is what is wrong.” They narrow solutions. “This is the first thing we have to work on.”

Once a small victory has been secured, energy is released and powerful forces are set in motion that favor another small victory. When a problem is solved, the next solvable problem appears. This happens because information is clear. When our perceptions are sharper, more resources, both inner and outer, can be tapped.

Small victories change a situation. They stir up change. Even when complexity does occur in the future, you will have the skills to meet them. In time, more complex tasks are handled with more mastery.

Small victories provide information. This information speeds up learning and adaptation. Small attempts are miniature experiments. They test theories. They offer insight into viable strategies. In little experiments, numerous theories can be postulated, numerous strategies tried out, until something clicks, a pattern is discerned, a meaningful solution appreciated.

Small victories are also more emotionally stable. A small defeat does not result in despondency, a small victory in exuberance. Everything is relatively even-tempered. A large, sudden victory can be overwhelming. Lottery millionaires, for example, have been known to lose all their money rapidly. This is different from the businessman who understands how to manage his money, even when it runs in millions, because he has built his business over a series of small victories.

Essentially, then, the best big victories are those that have arrived over a period of time as a series of small victories. These victories have stability, balance, and perpetuating power. They have matured over time because they have been built up over a process of events. Big corporations, for example, sometimes break themselves down into smaller departments to stimulate the creativity and dynamism of a small group. Above all, when you initiate a small-scale project, or break a large project into small-scale projects, there is less that can go wrong. There is a closer link between cause and effect. Simple patterns can be created, observed, tested, discarded, tried out, and finally trusted. Immediate feedback is available as to what works and how long it takes. Clarity of vision, manageability of tasks, immediacy of results – all these arise from pursuing small victories.

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Saleem Rana got his Masters degree in psychotherapy from California Lutheran University. His articles on the internet have inspired over ten thousand people from around the world. Discover how to create a remarkable life

Copyright 2004 Saleem Rana. Please feel free to pass this article on to your friends, or use it in your ezine or newsletter. It’s a shareware article.

Dear Friend,

I would like to start by sharing a small excerpt from an incredibly riveting book, which reveals how powerful the human spirit is, even when opposed by extreme elements. This quote, which illustrates how intense desire can help us forge through unbelievable obstacles, comes from Into Thin Air…

When Jon Krakauer reached the summit of Mt. Everest in the early afternoon of May 10, 1996, he hadn’t slept in fifty-seven hours and was reeling from the brain-altering effects of oxygen depletion. As he turned to begin his long, dangerous descent from 29,028 feet, twenty other climbers were still pushing doggedly toward the top. No one had noticed that the sky had begun to fill with clouds. Six hours later and 3,000 feet lower, in 70-knot winds and blinding snow, Krakauer collapsed in his tent, freezing, hallucinating from exhaustion and hypoxia, but safe. The following morning, he learned that six of his fellow climbers hadn’t made it back to their camp and were desperately struggling for their lives. When the storm finally passed, five of them would be dead, and the sixth so horribly frostbitten that his right hand would have to be amputated.

I’ve often wondered what must go through a person’s head during such a challenging event. In fact, I even wonder whether a person in this type of tragic circumstance feels like giving up altogether. Or, is this even a choice, given their internal desire?

What’s inside people like this that drives them to continue on? What propels them to dig so deep into their souls they simply cannot (or will not) see failure as an option?What’s inside people like this that drives them to continue on? What propels them to dig so deep into their souls they simply cannot (or will not) see failure as an option? What is the internal driving force that motivates them to reach their ultimate goals?

Over the years, I’ve come to realize my strengths and weaknesses. Thankfully, one of my primary strengths is the drive, determination, and perseverance I have to continuously outdo myself. To become a better, smarter person. A better Father. Brother. Son. Husband. And on the top of my list is my desire for improved health and physical appearance. For some reason, I adopted this mindset from a very early age—right after my parents divorced.

Was it vanity? I don’t think so. Pride is more like it.

As I’ve continued to try to better myself as a person, I’ve always striven to learn more and more about the mental aspects of motivation. Motivation is, in some ways, like the match to a fire. It’s akin to the spark in a car engine cylinder. I’ve studied its uses and drawbacks in both ordinary and extraordinarily successful people for years. So by now, I’d like to think I know a great deal about human mental performance. But like all things in life, we remain students for as long as we are open to learning.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned for sure, though: motivation almost never lasts, whereas inspiration can serve as a long-term guide to your ultimate goal.

Nonetheless, I’ve also become aware of the fact that without motivation, there would be no action or the slightest movement in the direction toward any particular set of goals. So, as you can plainly see, motivation is as important as inspiration. We just need to understand how to use it more thoughtfully.

But what happens when, after starting a new diet, workout program, or transformation quest, our motivation wanes? …what happens when, for some unknown reason, we’re not noticing the type of progress we were expecting? Or worse, we stop seeing any progress at all? How do we reignite the fire?

These are all excellent questions. Ones I’ve worked hard to answer.

So please allow me to share with you the most powerful strategies I’ve used to keep myself (and others) on the right path… regardless of the situations encountered along the way—to help you reach your goals of a new, healthier, stronger, more muscular body.

Increase Your Confidence Sometimes the accomplishment of our goals might seem so overwhelming, the immediate temptation is to give up before we even start—which diminishes our self-confidence even further.

Success Strategy #1: MEASURE YOUR PROGRESS. This way, you will never, at any time, lack a sense of accomplishment, and more powerfully, you will be building your confidence with each and every step.You see, we can’t gain confidence until we begin to take action, which in effect builds our confidence. Yet, we don’t want to take action until our confidence levels are raised sufficiently, and we feel certain about our new endeavor. See the dilemma here?

I know this sounds crazy…but, what if I told you that you can gain your confidence, little-by-little, by taking action on your transformation goals and measuring your progress, one step at a time.

You see, ultimately, our level of confidence is increased only when we do something tangible that can be measured for progress. Take, for example, the intimidating obstacle of viewing your entire transformation goal as needing to be achieved in a giant, single step. That’s paralyzing, isn’t it?

That’s why, to gain your confidence, you must break your transformation goal down into measurable increments or steps. Something on a weekly basis works great. For example, if you wanted to lose 12% bodyfat within 12 weeks, then you could realistically set your increments for 1% of bodyfat reduction per week. This way, you don’t have to focus on the whole transformation goal at any given time, nor do you notice all that you have not yet accomplished to date. Instead you can focus on the smaller, manageable steps ahead, and celebrate each accomplishment along the way. This gives you a tremendous sense of control, forward motion, and achievement. And builds your confidence, each step of the way.

I promise, by the time you are nearing the end of your first couple of weeks of your transformation program, despite the ups and downs in progress, you will begin to feel more confident. You will stretch your "comfort zone" and do something more than you originally thought you were capable of doing. You will be utterly determined to advance one more step, and another, and so on, and make the effort to complete your transformation program and build your very best body.

Suddenly, as the fear dissipates, you will discover your newfound confidence. And best of all, you will have achieved what you once thought was impossible—one step at a time.

As the late Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." When you do, notice how your confidence soars, every time!

Success Strategy #1: MEASURE YOUR PROGRESS. The path to the transformation success you desire, which appears to be out of reach, is accomplished only through measuring your progress, one step at a time. This way, you will never, at any time, lack a sense of accomplishment, and more powerfully, you will be building your confidence with each and every step.

Set SMART Goals Goals come from having a clear vision of what you want. Knowing that you want to build your very best body is a great start, but you need something more than that—a statement so compelling it literally pulls you, like a magnet, in the direction of its achievement.

So you say you’re not certain how to set effective goals? Well, don’t worry, everyone starts off this way…merely stating they want to get into better shape or have a slimmer waist. And these statements might be as good as it gets for them.

But to really set effective transformation goals and ensure you’ll reach them, you’re going to have to learn what I call the SMART technique in goal setting to pave your way to sure success.

Success Strategy #2: TRANSFORM YOUR FITNESS GOALS Using the S.M.A.R.T. technique will ensure you’ve set an effective and commanding goal and compel you to achieve it.Not only will this technique enable you to set the most effective commanding goals, it will help focus your efforts on exactly what you want to achieve.

S.M.A.R.T. stands for:

(S)pecific—you must be specific about what you want to achieve, creating your goal in the present tense…that means using "I am (in the process of…)" to start your goal statement.

(M)easurable—how do you measure "better shape" or a "slimmer waist?" You can’t. Therefore, you must ensure your progress can be measured by scaling your goal to a specific number (e.g., 10% bodyfat, a 33-inch waist, or a size 6).

(A)ction-oriented—you must be able to create an action list of things you must do to achieve success (this is similar to a to-do list, only it pertains directly to the achievement of your goal).

(R)ealistic—make certain your goal is realistic, that it stretches you but is something you can achieve, given your expectations and timeframe.

(T)ime-conscience—this is where we harness the power of a deadline. Nothing becomes important to us unless we set a deadline on it. A date forces us to give it priority and set positive pressure on us to achieve it.

Success Strategy #2: TRANSFORM YOUR FITNESS GOALS. Using the S.M.A.R.T. technique will ensure you’ve set an effective and commanding goal—and will not only clarify your path to success but will compel you to achieve it.

Find Your Source of Motivation (through Inspiration!)
So you need a little source of motivation in your life—something to get you out of bed in the morning and carry you through the day—something to feverishly motivate you through to the end to meet your transformation goals? Well, what if I told you there is a direct relationship between motivation and inspiration, and sources of each of these are all around you, all of the time.

Success Strategy #3: FIND AN INSPIRATION Discover your source for inspiration, someone who has turned their body and life from ordinary to extraordinary.You see, motivation is something we feel, deep inside, that compels us to move toward our goals—it’s usually a quick burst, in the moment so to speak, and can fade in an instant as well.

On the other hand, inspiration is more enduring. Inspiration is derived from sources all around us—personal heroes who energize and inspire you because of the level of success they have achieved, for example. These sources of inspiration can be used to motivate us daily and keep us on track because they too had to break through the same barriers, persevere through similar shortcomings, and overcome equal challenges.

One way to continually "see" what you want to become is to find a picture of someone’s physique you would most like to emulate (probably in your favorite fitness magazine), cut it out, and hang it someplace where you’re likely to see it over and over again throughout the day. You might even jot down your reasons for wanting to achieve this goal.

This process allows you to physically see the body you want to achieve—pointing your subconscious toward the realization of your future body. This constant source of inspiration is a reminder of who you want to become and where you are going. They can lift you to a higher place by allowing you to reveal an inner strength that goes beyond results and goals.

Some Final Thoughts…
Remember, no path to building a better body is a straight line. Life doesn’t work that way. But I’ve often noted that we move in the direction of our most dominant thoughts, and we can overcome those barriers if we decide to face them head-on and transform their power. If this is true, then only by committing to turning these obstacles into powerful success strategies will you begin to create lasting results in your body and achieve your transformation goals.

So the next time you’re trekking up Mount Everest, or more likely, you’re working out to achieve a new, better body… tap into your source of inspiration using these simple guidelines and strategies. I guarantee you can’t go wrong following this approach—I’ve seen it work for many, many others in their quest to build better bodies and improve their lives.

Keep your head up and your heart in the game,

Respectfully yours,

Stephen Adele
Editor-in-Chief
Real SOLUTIONS

At only 33 years old, Stephen Adele has been helping individuals from all walks of life create measurable results in their physiques and performance over the last 15 years and has rapidly become a respected authority. He has published numerous articles for magazines around the world, been quoted in several trade publications, appeared on radio shows, conducted seminars around the globe, and is the CEO of the prestigious supplement manufacturer, iSatori Technologies.

Stephen now also shares his insights, expertise, and inside connections in two of the fastest growing publications in the industry, Real SOLUTIONS email newsletter and Real SOLUTIONS magazine, and has recently co-authored the consumers’ guides 7 Never-Before-Told Secrets Everyone Should Know Before Buying Supplements, The 21-Day Ultimate Energy Plan, The Lean System Success Plan, and MAXIMUM GROWTH, Volume II.

Over the years, Stephen’s philosophy has remained unchanged: "The greatest gift you can give yourself is the gift of a strong mind, which can yield extraordinary dividends in the form of a stronger, healthie

Do you know the single best way to "supercharge" any goal setting program you use is through visualization?

What is visualization? And how do you do it for maximum goal achievement?

Actually, it’s quite simple and something you do all the time.

Simply create a mental picture of the end result of your goal. Completely visualizing your desired goal is also an extremely powerful way to change one’s subconscous programming for the better.

For example, if your affirmation is "I easily make $1,000 or more each week" then you simply create a mental picture of:

The list is endless and only limited by your imagination. So let your imagination go wild…

Here’s a chance to daydream like you did as a kid.

Let’s assume your affirmation is "I weigh 110 lbs" (or whatever weight you wish to weigh)

Simply create a mental picture of you:

Again, allow your imagination to take over and have fun with your visualization.

Each time you visualize your desired goal, feel free to change the mental picture or use the same one repeatedly. If you like, make your visualization into a mini "mental movie." Add as many senses as possible to the movie.

This is often called "complete visualization" and gives your subconscious mind a very clear picture of what you want to accomplish.

Here’s how a complete visualization, using the above example, would go:

You hold in your hands 10 fresh $100 dollar bills.
You can feel their crispness and notice their fresh ‘money’ smell.
You look around you and see your local bank.
As you wait in line to deposit your money, you begin to feel the excitement of knowing you now have $1,000 or more to deposit every week.
As you approach your favorite bank teller, you hear them say "Welcome to ABC National Bank. What can I help you with today?"..

Did you notice how you combined all 5 senses and the crucial element of positive emotions into your dream scenario?

You probably even felt a little excitement reading the above visualization.

That’s the power of visualizations!

Again, let your imagination have fun and form your own unique "mental movies"

Did you know that if you spent 5-10 minutes every day doing this simple "daydreaming" you’d be on the effortless road to accomplishing any goal you wanted?

Ever wondered why certain people seem to accomplish their goals with seemingly little to no effort?
M. Anthony teaches these little known Secrets of Abundance, prosperity, love and effortless success at http://abundancesecrets.com

You can also find your daily dose of motivation from his hand picked Inspirational Quotes

With the plenary of philosophers and self-improvement gurus in all forms of media, it is amazing how many times a day are we informed that all we need to do is, have a dream and go after it. Many of the clients of PARTNERING TO SUCCESS have told me that Partnering is the secret to success. Well I hate to rain on your parade, but there is no secret. Partnering simply addresses one of the Top Ten reasons for failure to reach your goals.

Although the accountability that “Partners” enjoy is a major key success factor, any one of the ten will lead to falling short in goal attainment. The goals can be personal; IE, Lose weight, remodel the kitchen, get our finances in order, clean up my credit. Or, your goals may be work related; IE, improve customer service skills, make more cold calls, close more sales, listen better, improve my leadership skills, et cetera. Review the listing and rate yourself on each of the items. Be honest with yourself and identify the areas in your personal planning which need improvement.

10) I’LL DO IT TOMORROW: Procrastination! Too many people just keep putting of until tomorrow, that which they know they need to do today. Why? Because it’s easy! Short term, it’s always easier to do nothing. If you know you need to improve in some area, make it a priority, develop a plan, and Partner with someone to make it happen.

9) TOO MANY BALLS IN THE AIR: At times, we all feel like we are juggling too many things in our day to day lives. Many folks enjoy having things on their “To Do” list, simply to check them off. Select two, maybe three things that you want to work on this year. Make those your Priority.

8) DON’T REALLY WANT TO: It’s important to note that nobody can motivate you. Each of us can motivate ourselves, and only ourselves. If someone else tells you to go after this goal, it is not likely to give you the passion and drive you need to achieve it. The goal must be important to you and your success.

7) NOT SURE IT’S IMPORTANT: Once you have established a goal, it sometimes can become secondary to other objectives in life. If the goal is not important to you, it will not be achieved. By the way, just because it is important to the boss, it may not be important to the employee.

6) DON’T KNOW HOW TO DO IT! All too often people set goals for themselves, create a plan, and go after their objective. However, without the knowledge of how to do it, they ultimately fail. An essential element of your plan should be to test your knowledge and educate yourself. WARNING: Don’t overeducate yourself. Some people never get things done because they try to make it perfect. As the old saying goes, “don’t let perfect get in the way of good.”

5) CAN’T DO IT: Certainly every one of us has fallen into this category. We want to accomplish something specific, we make it a priority, we develop our plan, and we Partner to hold each other accountable. Unfortunately, we plainly don’t possess the ability to carry it out. One can plan to hike to the top of Pikes Peak; however, without the ability to cope with the altitude, the plan will just not come together.

4) SOMETHING IS MISSING: If the right tools aren’t in the tool box, the job will be difficult or perhaps even impossible. No matter what the task, if the proper resources are not available, the job won’t get done. Attitude and aptitude are vitally important, but without a computer, a PowerPoint presentation would be very difficult deliver.

3) CAN”T STICK TO IT: Every one of us gets distracted. The phone rings, a visitor stops by, something of interest enters our mind, new objectives are given to us or identified by ourselves, and the list goes on. According to a recently completed survey by NFI Research, two of the top sources of stress for managers are interruptions (47%) and conflicting responsibilities (37%). Focus, focus, focus! Post your major objectives in plain sight, put little reminders around your office or home, and remember that your Partner will help you maintain focus. If your goals are most important, then maintaining focus should not be a problem.

2) NO WRITTEN PLAN: Have a purpose. Too many folks go through life and never understand their purpose. “Things” take up the hours of our lives, but in the end, many individuals look back a simply regret many things they didn’t do. Once you have identified your major priorities, it’s time to develop a plan to achieve them. Make sure the plan is written and includes the following:

• Specific objectives and milestones. The steps to reach your goal
• Measures that will indicate how you are progressing
• Attainable elements…things you can do
• Results oriented statements and actions
• Timing of each objective so you know when you are finished

If you fail to plan…you plan to fail.

1) NO ACCOUNTABILITY: The number one reason people fail to accomplish their goals is lack of accountability. Any effective seminar, class, or workshop will include an action planning segment in the program. Participants write their action plan, often share it with others at their table, sometimes read it aloud to the entire group, and fully intend to implement the planned changes in their work and/ or personal life. Come Monday, they fall right back into the same old behaviors and fail to execute the plan. Be honest, you’ve done it, I’ve done it, everybody does it. That’s where Partnering comes into play. This process offers a simple and unique approach to accountability. Question, if we could hold ourselves accountable, wouldn’t we already be doing it? Are there things in your life you know must change, but never do? You need a Partner, and by the way, they need one too.

Don’t let any of these ten things keep you from achieving the success you expect. Prioritize, Plan, and Partner.

Terry Wisner, the "Partnering Pro," International Speaker, Consultant, and author, shares his experience and knowledge through energetic, entertaining, and enlghtening presentations and seminars. Do you,or your company want to experience improvement in; Customer Service, Teamwork, Leadership Skills, Communication Skills, or simply Self-Improvement? Then, visit Terry at http://www.terrywisner.com or http://www.p2s.us and learn more about Partnering and how it can help you and your organization eliminate the top ten reasons for failure.

Scenario: You have taken care of the house, the kids, your husband and everything in between for years. You get a sense of happiness and joy taking care of your family, although you get tired sometimes. You husband works hard to provide for the family, so you think that it’s the least that you can do. There is nothing wrong with feeling this way at all. Here’s where the problem comes in: He works and works and works keeping very long hours. You never see him. He is on business trips very often and his luxurious secretary just happens to accompany him on every trip. Well you’ve suggested that you can take the trips with him to keep him company sometimes. He insists that the kids need you at home, you agree, you stay at home, and the conversation is over. Well, he is still working long hours and you start to express to him that you miss him being at home with you and the kids. He explains to you that he works to provide for you and the kids and that you are starting to nag him. You start to feel guilty and you stop what he calls nagging, because you don’t want to upset him. Right? You are just happy to have a husband that provides for you and your wonderful kids.

Your husband has just come home from one of those long work days and told you that he is leaving. You think he means just for another business trip. He really means he is leaving you for someone else. You are in shock and your whole world has just fallen apart. You are now wondering, what are you going to do now. You start thinking about how you have kept the house up, you’ve taken such good care of the kids, you’ve made sure he had a decent meal every evening that he did make it home on time, and how you’ve been such a good wife. What more could you have done? The answer is …………..You could have planned for a day like this.

No woman should go into marriage thinking of divorce, but you should always have a cushion to fall on so that your butt won’t hit the ground so hard if and when you fall. If you want to accomplish a goal while you are married, you need to do it! Go back to school if you’d like. Start a business if you’d like. Don’t allow your husband to tell you that he thinks it’s best that you wait until the kids are grown. You can wait, but only if it’s a decision that YOU have made for yourself. Do not lose your total self in your husband. Do not live your life through him and for him. Live your life for you. Accomplish your goals now so that if he decides that he wants to trade you in for a much younger version, you’ll be prepared.

To find out more, please visit my websites at www.monicamburns.vstore.ca and www.flashbuilder.net/users/monicaburns. If you would like to subscribe to receive my weekly articles, send an email with “Subscribe” in the subject line to monicaburnsinc@yahoo.com.

2005 Monica M. Burns

Monica M. Burns is a writer, editor, and expert author featured on many websites. She owns Monica M. Burns, Inc., small web based businesses for women providing self-help informational products. To find out more about this author, please visit her websites at http://www.flashbuilder.net/users/monicaburns or http://www.monicamburns.vstore.ca You may also email her at monicaburnsinc@yahoo.com.