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When You Know What You Want, You Get What You Want

It's that time of the year! Time to hunker down and get your goals for 2008 ready. I don't know why, but I love that about this time of the year. Maybe it's because I've had so much success with setting goals and experiencing so many gifts and good things come into my life as a result of it.

I can honestly say that there is a connection between creating a goal in your mind and heart, committing it to paper, and taking whatever action steps you can and seeing it become reality. Things have happened to me that went beyond coincidence, and I firmly believe that if you create a vision, an idea, that the wheels begin to turn in your favour. There are a couple caveats and guidelines, however, and, in the best way I know how, I will share them with you.

Firstly, some goals may seem out of reach, and you may quit before you start. Some goals are too lofty and need to be broken down into smaller, more attainable goals. However, if a goal seems out of reach, and you have NO idea how you are going to achieve it, write it down anyhoo! Then, take any step you can towards that goal.

Years ago, I wanted a Hasseblad camera in a bad way. My old beater Mamiya was on its last legs, and I had little money. I did, however, have some cash. I went to the bank, opened my "Hasselblad account", and dropped $281.00 in it. Exactly three months later, to the day, I was the proud owner of a Hassy 500EL, with not one, but two awesome lenses. And, get this, PAID FOR in full. It just freakin' happened!

The same thing happened to me with cars, houses, and the current home photography studio my family and I moved into a little over two years ago. About eight years ago, I created a five-year goal list, and I described our house to a tee; the type of area, the square footage, etc. At the time, I didn't know where it was exactly, but I'm living in it now!

I wish I could say the same about goals that involve learning and getting good at something. Some folks think that you need to be born with a talent. That to me is a load of horse manure. If you have DESIRE and PASSION, and if you are motivated and want to learn, the teacher will appear.

This is true of all great artists and entrepreneurs. Jimi Hendrix was a great guitar player not because he was born with the talent. He worked his *ss off! Some say he even slept with his guitar. I can believe it. He obviously loved what he was doing. We don't see the hours and hours of practise that goes into all achievements, so we can get discouraged. But, if you have a goal, and desire, you will be willing to go through the drudgery to get there. It took me thirty years to become an "overnight success."

The fact is, the steepest part of any learning curve is the "spending time in the woodshed" part where you're not even good enough to have fun yet.

Not only that, but anyone who was ever appointed, certified, or voted into anything - first and foremost, still had to see himself there first. You don't land anywhere by accident. You get a vision of what you want. You form a mental picture. Then, you put in the time practicing whatever it takes to become that image.

The business version of this is wanting to go from zero to ten grand a month in, like, two months. It's an easy story to sell but it doesn't happen all that often. It's hard to get excited about $400 a month from your e-commerce biz, but the funny thing is, that may well be the cornerstone of your long-term success.

I want you to guard against that. Celebrate small victories.

Make ONE dollar and raise a toast. Then make two.

Anyone can be an idiot. Anyone can condemn what he doesn't know.

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Salary is a matter of self-worth and self-proclamation.

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