What, Why and How
Your vision, your attitude and planning to succeed.
This chapter explores Goal setting and methods, or how to get what you want.
Today we use the term “Mindset” for Attitude, whatever you call it, it is important. So let’s jump into this very important area of- how to get what you want. What we are really talking about his how you change reality, from what it is now, to what you want it to be. Changing reality to what you think will make you happy. Can we agree this is what we are doing?
Since this is a book about business, I won’t get into discussing what happiness is or what brings happiness or the meaning of life; we’ll leave that to religion, philosophy and psychology. But from the mundane perspective of running a business, we need to reach certain measurable, tangible goals. The particular goals will change over time. but the underlying process to achieve these goals will always be the same.
What, Why and How
Let’s deal with some of the hype right now. First, there really is no secret of how to do it. The means to accomplishing goals has been readily and publicly known for thousands of years. It may be new to you, but it is not a secret.
There are really three fundamental ways to acquire financial wealth:
- Luck – Being born rich, winning a lottery, or inheriting money
- Lying, cheating and stealing
- Consistent, persistent, and intelligent effort. Also known as hard work
In my view, only number #3 is how to achieve actual success, but you can acquire lots of money in the other ways. If you find this viewpoint harsh or even offensive, then probably is no point in continuing with this book.
If you are still reading, let’s take a look at how all of this conjuring the future actually works.
Let’s begin by stating the irrefutable high-level axiomatic method of how people reach their goals, or the big “secret”.
- They know what they want – they have a vision a goal.
- They make a plan to get from where they are now to where they want to be at some future time.
- They take action, they put in effort according to the plan until they achieve the goal. They don’t give up.
- They do this in writing.
You do this in writing. You can use paper or a computer, doesn’t matter, but you record it somehow. You take it from your mind and bring it one step forward from the mental realm to the physical realm, by writing it down. Or you can speak it to your device, but you must record it somehow. If you don’t get it down on paper, so to speak, it is just a day-dream, just wishful thinking.
That is really all there is to it! You have to address three questions: What, Why and How
If you check, you will see that every book, seminar, or webinar will tell you these same steps. But as you have probably already found out the actual process is a little more complicated. The process of clearly defining the goals, as well as the planning phase and the action phases, can be approached in many different ways.
One reason there are different approaches is because of the scope or scale of goals can vary a lot. Some methods are better for larger goals. Some are better for short-term goals. Sometimes these differences can be categorized as strategic planning compared to project management or task management. But the underlying principle of creating a specific future remains the same.
Before we get into two specific methods I will describe, let’s take a look at this principle, the forces involved and how we achieve our goals.
Vision, Motivation and Method.
Vision is what you want. This is totally unique to you; it is totally up to you.
Motivation is the driving factor that will determine if you get there or not.
Method is the mechanism, system, framework, or methodology you use.
Vision or desire. First you want something. You may want something because you really need it, like food, shelter, air and water, or you may want something just because you want it. Why you want what you want is important, but we will look at this a little later.
Motivation is connected to mindset or altitude. You need to have a strong desire, and you need to believe that you can accomplish what you set out to accomplish. You must expect to succeed. There is a lot more that can be said about mindset and how to become the person who expects to achieve their goals. If you want to dive deeper into this, use this link for more information or for a live meeting on Zoom to explore this topic further.
For now just keep in mind that your motivation is important.
The Method is a repeatable system that will harness the motivation, and reliably and consistently keep you on track to get your from where you are now to where you want to be. Without a method, you will tend to wander in circles, make false starts, backtrack, make wrong turns and waste a lot of time, energy and resources. All methods of achieving goals from strategic planning to project management have common elements, but some methods are better than others.
The best way to transform your vision into an outcome is by using a proven and repeatable method. Many methods work well, and we could probably even say any method is better than no method. I will present two methods one for more strategic planning and one for dealing with things on a day-to-day basis.
Let’s take go through a very simple, but very effective method first. Then we will go into the mechanics, or the cosmic principles about how achieving results works.
What is to follow is a very good simple technique. A method that is powerful and effective and can be presented and learned in a few minutes. You can start doing it tomorrow, and it would be contributing to good habits.
- Okay, get a piece of paper or your favorite screen tool. Now think of the current major goal or outcome you want to achieve. Picture it in your mind. What it looks like, how you will feel when this goal is achieved, who you will be when you have achieved the goal.
- Now think of something that needs to happen to reach this goal. What is standing between where you are now and where you want to be? What has to be done?
As soon as something pops into your mind, write it down. Just write it down, don’t think about how to do it, don’t analyze it, don’t prioritize it, just write it down. (don’t overthink it, we will come back to this). - Now repeat step number two, what else has to happen to reach your goal. Picture your goal, what it looks like. See it as completed as much as you can. Write it down.
Do this until you have about 7 items on your list. 7 is a good number, it’s not a magical number or anything, it’s just a good number of items for this process. - Now look at your list, just look at it for half a minute. Now cross off the least important item.
Then cross off the next least important item. Do this until you have three items left. - Now arrange these three items in the order of most importance: what you know you should do first, second and third.
- Now get started. Work on number one. Just work on number one. Work on just number one until it is done. If something comes up that prevents you from continuing, like you have to wait for someone to respond, or you have to wait for parts to arrive, only then should you move on to item number two.
Then just work on item number two. Work on item number two until it is done. If something comes up that prevents you from continuing with item number two, then start working on item number 3. Go back to item number one as soon as you are able to. As soon as you get the information you need or the parts comes in, or whatever was obstructing you before. You get the idea? - Don one thing at a time. As much as is possible, do one thing at a time. And be doing the most important thing you can do to accomplish your objective.
The thing is, you have to train your mind. You have to develop discipline, the discipline to stay focused. This is a good way to train yourself.
Tools, software, devices, and gadgets can help, but ultimately you still have to develop habits that move you forward. “Good behavior” has to become a habit. It has to become habitual, automatic, second nature, who-you-are. And it will, if you stick with it.
Before we go further with a more elaborate method, let’s take a look at the big picture and the forces in play involved in accomplishing what you want. . What, Why and How
After decades in business, from electrical contracting and telephone systems, to software development and business process improvement to business consulting, I have tried quite a few systems and methodologies to set goals and manage projects. I am going to present the best overall method I have found, for longer-term larger objectives as well as for smaller goals. The 6 step method above is kind of a short-cut. However if you can connect with the underlying principle of the method I am about to present, you will find yourself zeroing in and moving forward much more quickly in everything you set out to do, in business as well as in your personal life.
This approach is said to have its roots way back in ancient China. But really you will find these elements in many traditions. Traditionally it has been referred to as; Heaven, Earth and Man. But you can think of it as Heaven, Earth and Human, or Heaven, Earth and Action.
- Heaven is what you want, where you want to be. Your goal.
- Earth is where you are right now. Your abilities, limitations, resources.
- Action is the effort and activity you apply to go from here to there.
The common thread in ALL systems. Is to Begin with the end in mind, to know where you want to go. See it clearly in your mind as ifit were already accomplished.
I can only give you a short overview here and some examples, however if you would like more in-depth information, you can click this link where you will find, recorded presentations, recommended books as well as the ability to schedule live one-on-one instructions or complete guidance through the process. SEE SOME LINKS HERE
Let’s look at using this Heaven, Earth and Action method. If you are familiar with Trello, that can be a good tool to use, or just any word processor, Microsoft Word will do fine.
There is a hypothetical example below. It lacks many details that it should have, but it is kept simple here.
The method will be posted soon. to be informed go to https://prosperityconsulting.com/contact or add your name at the botoom of this page
