Aw, this was a very nice post. In thought I want to put in writing like this additionally – taking time and precise effort to make a very good article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and under no circumstances seem to get something done.

Since we are on the topic of “Why”, Dennis read my blog post and suggested that I feel free to paste a link to it. – Thanks Dennis!

http://internetpromotiontrends.com/2011/the-magic-refrigerator/

Lary

Nice going, Lynn, good luck with your goals, and try to impress upon your sons how important making their why list is also, especially if they’re facing a challenge down the road.

Valerie, you’ve made an excellent point. That’s why I recommend taking a good amount of time to find your why before anything else.

Keep asking why until you really nail it. For example, if your goal is to make more money, why do you want to make more money? To pay off my debt might be an answer. Well, why do you want to pay off your debt? And keep going down the line until you reach the real why.

For example, I had huge debt for a long time, and finally paid off the credit card portion of it, but I never paid off the home equity line, it was only 2.74% interest rate, so it wasn’t killing me, and it was an interest only line, and I didn’t even have to pay any of the principle off monthly.

Finally I decided that my why was to make sure that if anything ever happened to me, my wife would have the house totally free and clear and not have to be stressed about any debt at all. So I focused on that, and got rid of that debt.

Well written Dennis! Reading this blog post has given me the kick up the butt that I needed to get my “whys and hows” written down and prioritize them.

My whys: We are now in our early 60s, I am retired and my husband is disabled so we are on a low income. We are better off than many, at least we are debt free and have enough to live on but there is little, if anything left over at the end of the month. So my small whys include making some extra money to do some home repairs and improvements. I need to write a list of these and aim for one at a time.

In the longer term, like other people here, I want to help our kids. Our sons are both visually impaired due to a progressive retinal dystrophy. Although they are fortunately both in employment at the moment, as their sight deteriorates the day will come when they can no longer do the work. My big goal is to succeed in producing regular residual income to prove to them that it can be done and hopefully inspire them to give it a go themselves.
I’m off to make my lists now
Keep up the good work Dennis and Rachel, and good luck with your goals for 2011.
Warm Regards
Lynn

As someone who’s earned her living for more than a decade helping others set and achieve their goals, I love your post, Dennis.

In my experience, the majority of people don’t even know what they want. There’s a great quote by Dr. Tony Alessandra: “Most people aim at nothing in life… and hit it with amazing accuracy.” It’s a pretty powerful statement, and sadly, it’s true.

Someone might argue that point and say “I know exactly what I want… I want to pay off my debt,” or “I want to make more $$,” but that’s only a small piece of the picture. The achievement of goals starts with figuring out what we want the bigger picture of our lives to look like.

When I work with a client, before we even set a goal or ask “Why?,” I give my client this assignment: take yourself to a favorite quiet spot for a couple of hours, and daydream. Imagine it’s one year from now and you’re looking back saying what a great year 2011 was. What will your life look like for you to be able to say that? Look at all the parts of your life: personal growth, career/business, spirituality, family & friends, money, etc. etc. We may not be clear on everything, but with a little patience and a little work, that clarity will come. Only when we’re clear on that bigger picture, that “future vision,” should we move forward to set the goals that will make that vision a reality.

Those goals then need to be put to the test with the question “Why?” Or… the question I ask my clients is “For the sake of what?”

Lastly, a list of goals will be nothing more than a list of goals unless you formulate a plan to achieve those goals. Yup… creating the goals is the easy part. Implementing a plan to achieve those goals is where the rubber meets the road.

Here’s to a great 2011.

Right, much of what I do isn’t want I consider work, such as the forum and more, so even though I tell my wife that I’m “going to work” and the neighbors a bit about what I do for a living (so that they don’t think I’m a drug dealer ), the truth is, I love what I do and would do it as a hobby anyway.

HI, Hannu, first of all, it’s inspiring and wonderful to hear that you beat the cancer. Good luck with your IM efforts, I’m pulling for you.

Getting rid of the time sucking warehouse was smart, moving you closer to your four hour work week. My take on the four hour work week (or even less) is paring down the things I don’t like to do or have low ROI. As an entertainer I get paid for doing shows. Shows are fun for me. I get to connect to the audience. I enjoy doing them and I don’t consider them work. Getting the shows is work. Marketing, scheduling, paperwork, taxes: these are all work. I hope for you this forum is not work (although behind the scenes it does take work)as you help so many move towards their dreams and goals. A satisfying way to spend one’s week, no?

My “why”:s are
- first I enjoy of living my life, doing fysical work ( throwing snow from roofs ), planning & learning internet and mobile marketing, meeting people in business. And developing my filosofia / had a cancer and just week ago doctor reported its over – cured it by my own methods – it took 1,5 years / anyway it was a breath of death and it changed me a lot > no fear – lots of power
- secondly/ existentially, since I have no kids or wife nor “Mercedes-desease”, all the my money goes to Greenpeace or equal when I die and it is not so far, I am 62.
This gives me kind of speed, straight/naive heart and energy to play this game- Monopol. Enjoying taking risks & challanging new things. If I get some day bored I start something else.