“If a man wants his dream to come true, he must first wake up.” — Author unknown

Last week we looked at five universal laws that govern the process of goal achievement. The path to achieving your financial goals can become a little easier if you know exactly what is required to move from dream to reality. Let’s look at four things that you need to know in order to attain your objectives:

Know what you want

When you get up in the morning, do you have a vivid picture of what you want to accomplish for the day? When you rest your head at night, do you think about the things you want to do tomorrow that will take you one step further in your life’s journey? Or do you merely live each day without a conscious thought about what you are working to achieve?

One of the main reasons many persons never attain any major goals is that they don’t know what they want out of life. Personal achievement guru Brian Tracy confirms that the three keys to accomplishment are ‘clarity, clarity, clarity’. Having a specific intention about what is important to you is the first step in the goal-setting process.

If you are honest with yourself about the things that you don’t want to have in your life, then this can help you to pinpoint what you want to achieve. For example, if you are uncomfortable with having to depend on your spouse for money for your personal bills, then you can express your desire as ‘I want to independently earn enough money to meet my needs’.

Know why you want it

Knowing what you want is essential, but focusing on the reasons why you wish to get your goal is an even more powerful achievement strategy. While you may be able to clearly outline the things you want, have you ever stopped to consider why these goals are important to you? What motivated you to want these things in the first place?

Very often, people’s past experiences, positive or negative, leave major impressions on their subconscious minds. These incidents usually arouse emotions which may compel them towards certain goals. You need to get to the root of your dream; try to identify the emotions that are being triggered when you think about what you want or what you don’t want.

For example, if you say you want your own home because you hate having a landlord, concentrate on the negative emotions that come to your mind. Do you feel insecure because someone else has the power to separate you from your home?

When you focus on your feelings, they can provide a stronger push to succeed than just thinking about your goal itself.

Know when you want it

When you know what you want and why you want it, you have created a purpose statement for your goal. However, even though you may have clarity of intention and a burning desire to achieve, you may still struggle to see your dream fulfilled. Have you ever considered how long it should take you to achieve your objectives?

Many people express their desires without indicating the time frame in which they would like to see it come to fruition. With an indefinite approach to your goal, you will not make it a priority and you will probably procrastinate on carrying out the necessary steps.

However, don’t set arbitrary deadlines; be realistic about all the things you have to do before the goal can be accomplished.

Let’s say that you know that you need to get additional training in order to leave your unfulfilling job and work in the area you truly love. Consider the length of the course and how quickly you could obtain the necessary financing for it. Then commit to a date when you want to start living out your dream; this will put you under pressure to get it done.

Know what you have to give up

It is possible to be clear, passionate and time-conscious about your goals and still not get to the finish line. There is one element missing from the final equation – you need to recognise and be willing to accept that you need to give up some things, in order to get what you want.

Natural law dictates that you can’t get something for nothing; there must be a corresponding payout for whatever you receive. When it comes to your goals, think carefully about the amount of time, effort and money that will be required to make them happen. Are your dreams important enough for you to make the necessary sacrifices?

For example, if running your own business is your goal, you had better be prepared to put in many sleepless nights, work tirelessly while others play and invest your financial resources, before you get started.

When you make the required commitment to do whatever it takes to succeed, and take immediate actions in line with your objectives, then you will become successful in your quest.

Copyright © 2011 Cherryl Hanson Simpson. No reproduction without written consent.

Originally published in The Daily Observer, November 17, 2011

Read another article about Goal Achievement:

Steps to Achieving Your Money Goals

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Cherryl is a money coach and business mentor, and founder of Financially S.M.A.R.T. Services. See more of her work at www.entrepreneursinjamaica.com and www.financiallysmartonline.com. Contact Cherryl