“We become what we think about.”
--Earl Nightingale – author, business owner, professional speaker

“When you ardently desire, sincerely believe in, vividly imagine, enthusiastically act on, must inevitably come to pass.”
--Paul J. Meyer, founder of Success Motivation Institute

The Why and How of Setting Goals That Can Make You Successful

We all know that putting our goals in writing can make us more successful in life. We also know that when we focus on what we really want – we usually will get it. But what is it that makes it work?

I'm going to give a little lesson on the mechanism in the brain that causes goal-setting to work, then give you some real life examples and finally a plan on how you can put this to use and reach your own dreams and goals.

Let's start with the part of the brain that drives our goal-reaching mechanism:

That part is known as the Reticular Activating System (RAS). It's function is to “turn on our brains” – it is the center of motivation. It's connected from the spinal cord all the way up to the midbrain. In a nutshell, it is where all outside stimulants (such as everything we see, hear, touch, smell, taste) converges with all our internal thoughts and feelings. It determines whether a person is highly motivated or extremely bored.

If you were to deactivate this part of our brain – then we would end up in a coma or even die. On the other hand – if you were to over-stimulate the RAS – then you'd be focused on too many things at once. People who suffer from ADD or ADHD may suffer from an over-stimulated RAS.

The Reticular Activating System is what keeps us in balance. It controls our learning, our self-control or inhibition, and our motivations.

It also helps us to reach our goals. It does this by letting us stay focused and make decisions that move us towards our goals (as opposed to dreams).

Some real-life examples:

When he was still a child, Albert Einstein wanted to know what caused objects to behave the way they do? He kept this focus throughout his life. He remained a perpetual child – in the sense that he was always excited about the possibilities of the universe. He always asked himself questions and sought to have them answered. Everything around him stimulated his RAS to finally create “The Theory of Relativity”.

As a teenager, Bill Clinton met President John F. Kennedy and wanted to be just like him. He remained focused on his goal of someday becoming President of the United States of America. His relationships were focused on accomplishing these goals. He did whatever it took to reach his goal. And he became the 42nd President of the United States.

Those are just a couple of examples of the power of focus through the RAS.

The most important aspect of setting goals is that in order to reach them we must first find something that we love to do. It is much easier to remain focused to activities that we enjoy. Ask yourself this – If I could do anything at all and money, talent, education and time were not a factor – what would I want to do? What is it I'm passionate about?

Once you're able to answer those questions, then you are on your way to real success.

Next, you'll need to get focused on accomplishing your real dream, your real passion. You've got to set a goal on reaching it. Use that RAS to reach your dreams. And goal-setting is only way to get there.

In fact, I set a goal to write this article.

When I mean set a goal, put it in writing. And have a deadline on reaching it. Be specific. One thing about using your RAS to it's full potential – you've got to be clear on what you want. Being fuzzy is not going get you there. If your internal thinking is out of focus, then any external information that will help you will not be there for you. You will be unable to find it.

An example of this is shopping for a car. If you tell yourself that you want to buy a new car – then you'll look for new cars, but not really find anything. The reason? You did not have a specific kind of car, with all the features, the benefits, the costs, the year, model, color, etc … to focus on. Once you know exactly what kind of car you want – then you'll do the research on it. You'll go to the different showrooms, get brochures, research on the internet, etc… to find your car. Then and only then will your car show up. You'll instantly have the money or able to get it.

Your RAS has taken your internal thoughts and opened up the external world full of information and enabled you to focus on only the kind of car you want. And like a miracle – you got it.

Now let's put together your goal-setting plan for success:

First, you must have a goal that you truly believe in. One that you can vividly imagine.

Second, write down that goal. Make sure that you fully describe in detail what accomplishing that goal would look, feel, smell, hear, and/or taste like – using all sensory input as if it has already happened. Use all your emotions – in fact put them down too – your reaction on reaching your goal.

Third, create a plan for reaching your goal.

Fourth, in creating the plan – what are the number of steps will it take to reach your goal and what is your first step towards it.

Fifth, keep track of your plan. Daily, if possible. What did you do each day towards reaching your goal. What do I have to do the next day? Use a daily planner.

Sixth, do it now!

The sooner you get started towards reaching your goal, the more likely you'll accomplish it.

My hope for you is that get everything that you dream for. Having written goals is the best (and fastest) way of do just that.

Have fun and much success in whatever goal you shoot for.

Bob Choat is a Business Growth Expert, Success Coach, Certified Master Hypnotist, Certified NLP Master Practitioner, speaker and author of numerous articles and soon-to-be released book on marketing. To find out more or to have Bob speak at your next meeting – please send an email to bobchoat@customergain.zzn.com.
Or go to his websites: www.customergain.com or www.hypnomindpower.com.

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