5. Consider options and obstacles. How many ways can you think of to achieve your goal? Evaluate results and consequences of each. What could stop you or cause a problem? And what about subconscious obstacles? Complete this sentence several times to find out more - "I want to achieve (name your goal) but………"

6. Make a detailed plan. Having chosen your preferred way forward, identify all actions you'll need to take. This breaks a seemingly big and daunting task down into manageable steps, enables you to plan what to do, prepare for problems, and reduces resistance to actually getting started.

7. Identify resources. What skills, knowledge, ability and contacts do you already have? What additional resources will you require? What changes do you need to make? Realistically review and assess this when making your plan, and ask for extra support as required.

8. Balance and fit. Check that all areas of your life are in balance - if not, will your various goals make this happen? Will your goals support your long term plans and fit your ambitions, are they worthy of you, do they reflect your values? So while you are building that great career or business, ensure that you are also looking after your health, relationships, fun time, wealth and personal development etc.

9. Take action! Make a start. Actually take first step you identified when you formed your plan of action.

10. Review and reward. Set some interim milestones as part of your initial strategy. This means you can check your progress regularly and see that you are moving in right direction. And as part of this process acknowledge your achievements along way and reward yourself for everything you accomplish. Celebrate!

======================================= Jackie Fletcher is a life satisfaction coach and author of "Coaching Quotations: Over 2000 witty, wise and wonderful quotations your clients will love" http://www.bookshaker.com/product_info.php?products_id=103 =======================================

When anyone calls my "seize moment" friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips had not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate digestive process. The other day, I stopped car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on way home, I would have died happy.

Now... Go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to -- not something on your SHOULD DO list.

If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?!!?

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to rain lapping on ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at sun into fading night? Have you checked out planet Mars, which is now so close to us? Do you run through each day on fly? When you ask "How are you?" Do you hear reply?

When day is done, do you lie in your bed with next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, "We'll do it tomorrow." And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say "Hi"? When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift... Thrown away.

Life is not a race.

Take it slower. Hear music before song is over.