"The world stands aside to let anyone pass
who knows where (s)he is going."
David Starr Jordan

Why is setting goals important? Because goals can help you do, be, and experience everything you want in life. Instead of just letting life happen to you, goals allow you to make your life happen.

Successful and happy women have a vision of how their life should be and they set lots of goals (both short-term and long range) to help them reach their vision. By setting goals you are taking control of your life. It’s like having a map to show you where you want to go. Think of it this way. There are two drivers. One has a destination in mind (her goal) which is laid out for her on a map. She can drive straight there without any wasted time or wrong turns. The other driver has no goal or destination or map. She starts off at the same time from the same place as the first driver , but she drives aimlessly around, never getting anywhere, just using up gas and oil. Which driver do you want to be?

Winners in life set goals and follow through on them. Winners decide what they want in life and then get there by making plans and setting goals. Unsuccessful people just let life happen by accident. Goals aren’t difficult to set - and they aren’t difficult to reach. It’s up to you to find out what your goals, ideals and visions really are. You are the one who must decide what to pursue and in what direction to aim you life.

Tips for Setting Goals

The Six P’s of Goal Setting
Research tells us that when we write a goal down we are more likely to achieve it. Written goals can be reviewed regularly, and have more power. Like a contract with yourself, they are harder to neglect or forget. Also when you write your goals in a particular fashion you are able to stimulate your subconscious to be continuously alert to situations that will further your goal. In order for your written goals to have the greatest impact, write them by incorporating the special power of these six P’s of goal setting:

POSITIVE
Goals must be stated in positive rather than negative terms. ("I am a neat and organized person," rather than "I am no longer unorganized.")

PRESENT TENSE
Goals must be writtten as though they are happening now or have already happened. The subconscious mind only operates in the now. If you create goals in the future tense, your subconscious will never get there.

PERSONAL
Goals must be about you, and under your control, not about someone else.

PRECISE
Goals must be clear and describe exactly what you want to do.

POSSIBLE
Goals must be realistic and within the realm of possibility to achieve

POWERFUL
Use words that convey action and emotion.

Write these goals and place them where you will see them at least twice a day. If possible, read them aloud and visualize what you are saying.

What You See Is What You Get
Visualizations are the pictures of achievement we have of ourselves. Those pictures greatly affect the outcomes we produce. If we see ourselves succeeding and attaining our goals, we very likely will. If, on the other hand, we have no image of success or create an image of failure, we very likely will fail.

Visualizing is something everyone does, every day. When you daydream, think about someone you know, or remember a place you visited in the past, you are visualizing. And you can make the technique of visualization work for you. You can use it to help achieve your goals by seeing yourself achieving your goals.

Enjoy the feeling of success, and often think these positive thoughts. In giving you these guidelines, we are hoping for your success too!

Susanna Palomares is a Co-Founder of WomensMedia, a business and personal coach, and an educational publisher.