There is a step in successful goal setting that many people miss.
Jesinta Campbell - that's probably a name you haven't heard before, but I have a sneaking suspicion it is one that you might well hear in the future (and remember you heard it here first lol!).
Jesinta is a beautiful young 17 year old, who is just about to graduate from high school, who sits with the world at her feet. I've known Jess since she was 7 years old and in recent years she was Connor's #1 babysitter - and I simply couldn't have prescribed a better role-model for my daughter.
Now you may be wondering where is this going? And what has it got to do with goal setting? Well bear with me a moment or two ... Now you may be wondering where is this going? And what has it got to do with goal setting? Well bear with me a moment or two ...
Well, Jess has been picked up by a modelling agency and she's about to head overseas to do some modelling but her real focus is on becoming an actress - she is using the modelling as one of her stepping stones toward her acting career and from this platform she wants to be able to contribute to the world through charity work.
As she excitedly told me about her plans, she made the comment that some 'wiser' people have told her to have back-up plans 'just in case'. My response to her was "Ignore them!" I asked her, "Does that advice come from people who are living the life that you aspire to?"
(Jesinta's star is indeed shining bright - read her updates at the bottom of the page)Her response in a moment ....
I have read so many books and interviews of highly successful people - and it seems the vast majority of them have a Plan A and never a Plan B - because Plan B just isn't an option. If they are excited by, and drawn to something then they commit whole-heartedly to it.
Put a back-up plan in place, guess what you are calling to you - the back-up plan. Having a backup plan, simply tells yourself and everyone else that you don't back yourself. You don't believe you really have what it takes to achieve your dreams.
Give yourself a way out and you give yourself a sure-fired way to sabotage your own success.
Give yourself a way out and you give yourself a sure-fired way to sabotage your own success. The biggest challenge, the biggest obstacle most of us face in achieving our goals, dreams, desires is what goes on within our mind. Because you may have experienced some failures in your life, your belief in yourself may not be as strong as it was when you were younger.
So to reiterate ... For Successful Goal Setting ... have only a Plan A
When you are passionate about something and eagerly anticipating it, then make the commitment to yourself to give all you have to that one idea, to that one focus. To believe that it is yours. This type of commitment is what will carry you through - it's the 'no matter what' thinking that will sustain and inspire you to lose yourself utterly in what you love, what you desire, what you want.
Let me encourage you - it's not as hard to achieve success or your goals as you make it out in your own head - which can often be your biggest obstacle - that space between your ears!
I know that when I first went into business for myself there was a part of me that thought - if push comes to shove and it doesn't work out - I can always go back into a paid job.
As those in my closest circle know, that almost happened in the early days of this business.
Then one day, I awakened with a decision firmly implanted in my mind. I decided, "No, a job is no longer an option for me". That day I completely committed myself to my dream. Amazingly, once Plan B was no longer an option then magic happened. Losing myself to my dream meant intense joy followed - all of a sudden opportunities started coming my way - seemingly out of the blue! If anything was to convince me that successful goal setting started first in my head it was this experience!
With that alignment it was easy for the Universe to get behind me and help line up all that it is I wanted.
I sit here today, certainly having faced some challenging times, but so completely, deliriously happy! And if you practice Undivided Attention it will be your reality too
I'm so glad I made the decision to only have Plan A. And yes, it was as simple as that - a decision. So for successful goal setting make a firm decision to give your undivided focus to where you are heading.
For more tips on successful goal setting you can purchase the book Goal Setting To Align Your Potential. (Or you can pick it up for free (along with over 200 other resources) if you are a member of the Align-Lead-Inspire Club - Join today).
The balancing act is to be joyfully expecting your dream to manifest, while being very very happy with where you find yourself today. I love a throwaway line of Abraham's "Happy where I am and eager for more!"
Like Colonel Sanders, of KFC fame, you may have grey hair before you achieve your dream, however, if you can be happy along the way and hold the faith, you can't help but be successful in the truest sense of the word.
I've discovered that when I hold myself to living in a place of delighted anticipation, joyous hope, happy to be experiencing each moment, however, it unfolds ... well life is just delicious ... even when I haven't quite achieved yet all that I desire.
What a wise 17 year old! Do you need to listen to some wisdom from a 17 year old:)?
Jesinta is living her dream and is currently in China doing shoots for Prada and Tiffanys! And she is not yet 18 years old!
And if you are sitting there thinking ... well that's alright for her she doesn't have a mortgage, wife, husband, kids blah blah blah ... well you're wrong she does have commitments ... however what she also has, in bucket loads ... is belief in herself - an attitude that so many of us who have become 'older and wiser' have forgotten!
If you have a few grey hairs ... then cast your mind back to those years when you felt invincible and then bring that feeling into today. Now every time you get a shake of the jidders - and think your can't pursue your dream ... well the successful goal setting action skill you need to visit, is to re-live in your mind that invincible time ... and take "Inspired Action".
Trust me on this one I do it all the time and life is amazing when you only follow Plan A
Guess who was just crowned Miss Universe Australia??
I said at the start of this article that you would be hearing from from this remarkable young woman. Jesinta's star is shining bright now ~ and will for years to come. Her focus, dedication and commitment to herself and her goals is seeing her living a life that many others only dream of.
The Miss Universe pageant sets the stage for Jesinta to achieve her long term goals - it provides her with the platform to make the changes in the world to which she is committed. I'll let you in on a little secret - you ain't seen nothing yet! The beauty, courage, compassion and intellect of this woman will change our world in a remarkable way.
In the meantime we have some serious celebrating to do today! :)
What a whirlwind of a ride Jes has been on. She was crowned Miss Congeniality in the Miss Universe pageant held in Los Vegas and was 3rd overall. Not bad! We are all wonderfully delighted with Jes' success - but more importantly delighting in watching her bloom upon her return to Australia.
The exposure she has gained through the Miss Universe experience has meant many t.v gigs for her here in Australia, but most importantly her profile has meant that she has been able to contribute in meaningful ways to the charity work which she holds so dear to her heart.
Stay tuned - this wonderful young woman will continue to impact our world
Jess's Plan A just keeps moving forward at a rapid rate.
She performed magnificently in the Australian Celebrity Apprentice show. For those of you in Australia who watched the series ... you absolutely got to see the young woman we all know and love. How she appeared on the show is exactly as we who know her find her.
Be inspired by Jesinta and her successful goal setting ... stick with your Plan A!
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Did You Know ...
That all the resources I sell here at Leadership And Motivation Training you can get for free when you are a member of the Align-Lead-Inspire Club?
Boost your
High Performance Leadership Development
and bring out the best in yourself and others.

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