Goal Setting Guidelines - Another Easy Way To Keep Your New Year's Resolution

In "Goal Setting Guidelines - 3 Easy Ways To Keep Your New Year's Resolution"> we looked at 3 simple goal setting guidelines to keep the resolutions we make when the ball drops on December 31st. If that's not working, then here's a second option.

Most people tell their team members to write down their goals. What they don't realize is they're setting their team up for failure. Let's look at this scenario with Joe for example.

Let's say I'm Joe's MLM sponsor & I ask him to write down his goals. Consciously Joe says, "OK", but then Joe's subconscious takes over.

Joe comes up with some sort of lame objection like, "I can't think of anything", or something so outrageous & unattainable that the exercise is a flop.

What went wrong?

Joe's subconscious went on the defensive by telling him, "Wait a second Joe! Remember when … "

• "… you fell off your tricycle & scraped your knee?"
• "… or the time you asked Susan to the high school dance & she looked at you like you were gross?"
• "How about that 'C' you got in your college chemistry class?"
• " And what about …?"

After presenting 5,936 people & events that vote Joe into the office of 'loser' his subconscious asks Joe, "What makes you think this one vote from your sponsor will make any difference Joe?"

What just happened to Joe is his subconscious mind diverted him into putting the goal setting exercise off until it disappears.

This happened because, like everyone, Joe's subconscious mind runs his life. The way I presented the exercise is not believable to Joe's subconscious, so it found reasons it would fail.

Everyone wants to succeed, so why not make the exercise believable to Joe's subconcious?

Instead of just telling Joe to write down his goals I'll add one thing. Let's say with my network marketing company a leadership achievement title is "Diamond". Now I'll tell Joe to:

1. Write a Goal List Title - "25 things I will do after I become a Diamond."
2. Fill in the List - Fill in the blanks after each number on the list of things to do after becoming a Diamond.
3. Make Copies - make several copies to post around the house, hand out to friends & team members, etc.
4. Make It A Culture have fun helping other team members keep up on their progress & they'll return the favor.

Now Joe's subconscious has just become an ally in this quest. Joe knows the monthly income in his company for a Diamond is $5,000.

Suddenly the goal setting exercise is easier for Joe because his subconscious knows these things can be achieved with $5,000 a month coming in.

Everyone knows prospects, like Joe, are looking for a leader. If I tell Joe to write down 25 things he will do after he becomes a Diamond, then what do you think Joe's subconscious is going to say?

"OK Bill you first!"

Hmm. What's wrong now?

Joe's subconscious needs to know he won't be doing this alone. It needs a leader to follow. So before I tell Joe to write out his list I need to write out my own.

Now Joe's subconscious has the reassurance it needs because I proved I'm a leader he can follow. Now he can complete the exercise.

Everyone knows success energy is generated when two or more people do the same thing. Everyone's subconscious mind loves the security of this group energy.

By starting this exercise, asking the team to keep each other accountable, & sharing it with everyone intheir circle of influence the power of the team's subconscious minds is harnessed toward achieving their goals.

If you really want to achieve a goal, then you must lead with a system for success. A proven goal setting guideline like the one noted above is an excellent place to start.

I appreciate you,

Bill Tessore