1.Find VISION. Unless you know where you're going, you are unlikely to get there. Any place where you are is a good place to start.

Ask yourself:

What activities have you most enjoyed in last 10 years?

What is fun? What do you treasure?

What do you most want to be doing in next 10 years?

I'd love to write, help and hopefully even inspire others.

Which of your strengths and weaknesses are a joy to you?

What do people say you are good at?

What is special about you?

List ideally what would you be doing? Living at beach, writing and travelling...and be financially secure, of course!

Ideally what would you want to be? A successful author was my goal.

Ask WHY do you need those things? What are those status symbols for?

Define your vision. Write it down in less than 10 words. Does it involve other people?

What do I most want to be doing? Why?

What do I most care about? Why?

What steps can I take to move me closer to doing what I really want to do with my life?

Find your niche - your unique skills?

Think about WHO will pay you to enjoy yourself. Instead of worrying about being sacked, think who will pay you to have fun?

Where do you want to work? With whom, in what sort of company? Look for a picture of your ideal environment: home, as well as work.

3. PLAN ahead carefully. Doing this reduces false starts and wrong directions. Most people spend more time planning their annual holiday than they do their "blueprint for life".

Put it all down in writing. My advice: "Think big, but start small".

The prominent American psychologist, Carl Rogers said: "The only real security is preparedness to embrace insecurity". Be YOU you most intend to be? Take stock, review your plan and prioritize your life goals.

4. Make COMMITMENT. Stop saying you're going to do it and actually DO IT. Put in work and write out cheques. This involves going past point of no return. Make commitments: to yourself, to your loved ones in terms of time, energy and money. Then stick to it and take full responsibility for outcome.

Areas of goals:

These can be divided into short, medium and long-term; these respectively being six months, one wo years and five plus years. Also divide them into balanced components, being: personal, family, social and work goals. Then break them down further into:

* Spiritual * Mental * Physical * Financial * Family * Community/School

Remember that over-concentration on one of your goals will not ensure success. A car can only run well if all tyres are inflated to correct pressure... and if it has four wheels!

The art of goalsetting is to balance all of these areas. If one area is out of proportion in your wheel of life, it affects everything else. Your wheel of life should be rounded evenly and balanced, so that it gives a smooth ride. Unlike mine. Currently my social life is pathetic, so I am joining "rent-a-friend", as I'm way too obsessed with my work, my writing and spend far too much time focussed on it... instead of having more FUN !

A thought... Perhaps it's about time I slowed down in my article submissions and set a goal of using that time for pure relaxation! How's that for a goal?

TIPS ON HOW TO ACHIEVE GOALS 1. Give yourself permission to dream and desire. Put aside (as much as you can) all reason and logic. If you don't have a goal, you have nothing to aim for and no plan of action. Without a goal you are just kicking a ball around. Think creatively by using your imagination in setting targets. 2. Make a master dream list. It is important to write down everything you want and need. Every place you want to go and everything you would like to become or achieve. These need not be high ideals, but genuine wants, e.g. putting food on table (most important for "starving" writers!), a new car, beach house.swimming pool, yacht. A "proper job" for writers like me, perhaps! 3. Aim high Stretch yourself to your limit and you will achieve more than you believed possible. The higher level of conscious goals, greater their motivating power.

4. Prioritise your Goals. Start off with some easy goals to get you in 'habit of achieving'. Know where you are now and how you got there. (" How s...did I get where I am now?). Look at yourself and learn from others. These goals must be compatible with your inner values. Values are what we hold to be important at deepest level of our being. Doing this will make them far more likely to be achieved.

5. Set a time limit for achieving them. It's important to set a deadline...but it doesn't have to be "set in concrete". Don't let something drag on for three years that could have been achieved in one year. Set short-term goals: tomorrow, next week, next month. Also set long range goals which will require vision, courage and foresight. Finally, set your ultimate goals like becoming an All Black or Springbok (these are rugby football players from New Zealand and South Africa for "ignorant Americans"- oops, sorry!), a Judge, or some grand purpose, etc.... as long as that is what you really desire. List steps needed or smaller goals required to be achieved onthe path to your ultimate goal. By breaking them down they will seem more attainable and once each minor goal is attained will bring you closer to theultimate goal. List skills, qualifications or traits you will need to achieve them. 6. Be inspired. Receive regular inspiration and enthusiasm through reading and other motivational material (like this book- PLUG, PLUG). Also helpful is frequent contact with a person or people who inspire and enthuse you. 7. Focus on your goal like a laser and go after it every day Don't be discouraged - sometimes "one step backwards comes before a leapforward". "Dare to be different to others", if that is just being "the real" YOU. Don't allow future to act on you. Act on future. Don't see yourself as a powerless victim of circumstances, but rather as one having many choices to take any path you CHOOSE to move your life forward. N.B.Goals should be written down and regularly reviewed.

This makes for focussing ones thoughts and COMMITMENT in seeing them through. Write each goal on a list and as you achieve it, tick it off and enter a new goal. Act immediately on your short-term goals, as only ACTION will get you there.Have balance in your dreams and be honest and realistic with yourself. A goal is either meaningful in itself or as a means to an end. More Goal Tips * Start first with your longer term goals and break them down; if you start with short term goals you will end up with more of same. * Focus first on overall outcome, not how you will achieve goal or you will limit yourself. Then amazing power of your creative imagination (in form of your subconscious mind) will come up with plan on HOW to achieve your goals. The answer may come to you immediately or take a while... and then come to you in unexpected moments, like in shower. ..* Don't be obsessive about goals- let them happen, don't force them. (I must learn that one and let "life take it's course"!). * Be flexible and be aware of unexpected, which may be a stepping stone to your goal in disguise. * Involve your spouse/partner hose "nearest and dearest to you" in goal setting. Shared family goals have more meaning and commitment to achieving them is greater.

THE SECRET IS TO VISUALISE YOUR GOALS AS ALREADY BEING ACHIEVED

"We should all be concerned about visualising future, because we will have to spend rest of our lives there."- anon Visualisation is technique used by top sportspeople to achieve results. Successful people make things happen and use process of Goal Setting. Ask yourself whether you are a goal- setter or goal-getter? You are not as stuck down in a rut as you may think. You have far more choices than you could ever imagine.