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Goal Setting - The 7 Steps to Success

The whole point in setting your goals is so you can accomplish those things you really want in life. Goal setting is so unbelievably powerful. Goals must be specific, written down, and have a time frame. Just making the commitment to put it in writing will help you get there. Having good organization is a hard thing to do in this business because we are constantly interrupted. You have to be able to multi-task. We all want to get to where our business is repeat and referral, but it will take good organization, consistency, and patience.

I believe that the great NFL Hall of Fame coach, Vince Lombardi, had it right when he said, "The quality of a persons life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor." Do you agree with the coach or are you the type of person who has difficulty staying focused and keeping commitments? Do you allow the negative influences of fear, anxiety, self-doubt and worry to dominate your thinking and sabotage your goals and results?

Sadly, most people fail to achieve their goals, not because they're lazy or lack self-motivation, but because they were never "fully committed" to succeed! Walt Disney would frequently tell those around him, "When you believe in something, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably!

The four reasons people don't set goals:

Fear
Poor Self Image
Never been sold completely
They just don't know how

The 7 steps in a successful goal formula:

Identify the Goal
List the benefits you'll receive
List the obstacles you have to overcome
List the knowledge, skills and tools you'll need
Identify the people, groups and organizations you must work with
Develop an Action-Plan
Set a completion date

According to Zig Ziglar, there is danger in setting your goals because you might not reach them and if you don't reach them, there is that little damage to your ego, to your self-image. But, there is infinitely more danger in not setting your goals. Here's a great little goal setting application to help you set your goals for the fourth quarter this year.

It's an excel spreadsheet designed to map out what it will take to achieve your goals in Real Estate. It's very easy to use, easy to download, but you will need Microsoft Excel to run it. Now more than ever, we need to redefine our goals, our challenges and our obstacles. It's easy to know where we are, but can we determine where we are going, simply by setting some goals?

Here's the 8th step! You can

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Posted by Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager on 09/24/2007 11:10 PM

Comments (53)

goal setting, the 7 steps, agent assist, free software

Originally posted at: Real Estate 2.0 Technology : Goal Setting - The 7 Steps to Success

53 Comments on Goal Setting - The 7 Steps to Success

SEP

2007

Most people never set goals. Your material is good.

Thanks

Teresa Johnson

Brad, Thanks for the awesome tools! I'm not too good about goal setting, so this looks like it will be a wonderful help!

Thanks for the wonderful tools.

Goals, both personally & professionally are very important. But I like your additional 7 steps to consider, it helps focus you even more. Great post!

Brad, I really appreciate you sharing your wonderful resources. I give you a "5" as I feel you really go out of your way to help others.

Great tools Brad. As usual you have another hit in my book. Thanks for sharing and reminding.

Most people never set goals. Your material is good.

Teresa - I know what you mean, this post was a goal of mine.....6 months ago, but i never set it, or wrote it down!! LOL! haha

SEP

2007

Brad - I set goals and pretty much use the steps you mentioned. I did not realize about number 5 (Identify the people, groups and organizations you must work with). I will you this one also. Thanks.

Brad, Thanks for the awesome tools! I'm not too good about goal setting, so this looks like it will be a wonderful help!

Deborah - setting and reaching your goals is a set of attitudes, skills, and habits. This application will help you stay focused on the big picture, and what you really want to achieve in life. :-)

Mohamed - you are most welcome, come back and let me know what you think of the "Goal Planner" if in fact you downloaded it and tried it. It's helped hundreds of agents over the years to stay focused and obtain their goals. Thanks!

Goals, both personally & professionally are very important. But I like your additional 7 steps to consider, it helps focus you even more. Great post!

Ronald - thanks! You can get everything in life you want if you help enough other people get what they want! I think that's actually a quote from Zip or Covey, not too sure. Go for the GOAL....I MEAN GOLD!! :-)

Brad, totally awesome tools! I am a great believer in setting goals! Without them, life would be dull. Thanks for the excellent tips!!!

Brad, I really appreciate you sharing your wonderful resources. I give you a "5" as I feel you really go out of your way to help others.

Candy - you know what they say about Kharma...I know you'll pay it forward, and it'll be payed forward in return.

Great tools Brad. As usual you have another hit in my book. Thanks for sharing and reminding.

Rosemary - (and of course your daughter) , This is a great "goal setting" tool that was designed by Realtors® while helping Realtors® to use it. It was a creation over time, I truly do hope it will be a "hit" in your book! :-)

Brad - I set goals and pretty much use the steps you mentioned. I did not realize about number 5 (Identify the people, groups and organizations you must work with). I will you this one also. Thanks.

Hey Chuck - time to "Talk To Chuck"! I love that in your signature! You are what you are and where you are because of what has gone into your mind ~ you change what you are by changing what goes into your mind! Thanks for being open-minded! LOL!

I think you have already identified the people, groups, and organizations, now how do you apply that to your goals? Simple, set your goals on Active Rain, and see if you can't make them your target. My goal is to increase my business by 50% before the end of the year. There, I wrote it, now, it's an official goal! :-)

Brad, totally awesome tools! I am a great believer in setting goals! Without them, life would be dull. Thanks for the excellent tips!!!

Irina - There is the potential in goals that can transform your life, look what it did for Tony Robbins! :-)
You know what they say, "When the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear." I love that quote. I hope you are obtaining all the goals you have in life and if not... you better download this app. :-)

I watched a interview with Warren Buffet the other night. Flipping channels and there he was. They interviewed some of his managers and people in charge of all his businesses. They said at the beginning of the year, Warren gives us our goals and then leaves us alone to perform them.

He is available when we need him, but he doesn't micro manage. Interesting, huh ?

Brad, I love your writing so I won't hold the "Subscribe to Me" button against you LOL I have your great program and have failed to use it. I will, I promise. Coincidentally, just last night I picked up Zig Ziglar's Secret of Closing the Sale. Can't wait to finish it!

Thanks Brad - there's a lot of good info here! I'm a spreadsheet queen so you're speaking my language! LOL

Missy - An interview with Warren Buffet, sorry I missed that one....probably be on youtube eventually! haha
Setting goals in this market once a year might not work. I would do it for 1-3 months at a time. Then micro-manage yourself as best you can! :-) This goal planner will tell you exactly how many homes you need to sell to hit your desired income based on sales prices and commission splits. You'll find it easy to use and really beneficial. Let me know what you think...

Maggie - is that the reason you've been such a stranger? Don't let that little button do that, it's an invitation for the new folks who don't know that the same option is above your photo! LOL! Glad you like my posts, wish you could say the same about the program...haha. You have no idea what it can do for you if you don't use it. Setting goals is a tough thing to do. If you expect to be happy, healthy, and successful, you must work towards your goals daily! Enjoy "Closing the Sale". Nice to hear from you Maggie, hope all is well, thanks for the visit!

Jennifer - I'm no spreadsheet King, but since you're the queen, I am looking forward to your comments and feedback about "The Goal Planner" spreadsheet. I think you're gonna like it, but I don't want to assume, I'd love to hear what you think. Let me know, don't let it sit on the desktop like MAGGIE did...LOL! Let me know your thoughts and opinion after you check it out.

**** (Just kidding Maggie) :-)

ROFL - but I have already given it a glance and look forward to playing with it more later on when I've got more time to focus... focus is a good thing :)

Hi Brad-

Another great post, we like what you have to offer here, we like the Goal Planner - thanks for the resources!

Jennifer - thanks! I look forward to your comments. Coming from the "Queen", I'm honored! :-)

Chris and Maria - glad you like the goal planner, more importantly, I hope you'll love the results when you reach your desired goals. Look forward to hearing and reading about your successes!! :-)

Great Post Mr. Techno.... As successful as I am ... I wing it every year.... I promise myself time and time again that I will put a "plan" in motion.... maybe.. Now don't get crazy I said "maybe" this will be the time.

Thanks for sharing.!!

WOW! Grat stuff... I have similar spreashet , but this is so easy to read. I like!

I'm setting goals right now...

Brad,
Thanks my friend. Apparently one of your goals is sharing your knowledge and wisdom with all of us! We appreciate it.

I have read a lot of your blogs and I think you would really like the 6 Sigma process.

Desiree - Mr Techno here...LOL! You do have a plan and a goal, or you wouldn't be where you are today. I find it hard to believe when you say "Wing It." If you are successful now, what would happen if you set some really high goals for yourself and then tried to wing that? hmmm. Ok, you did say don't get crazy...sorry! I'll just be optimistic and have faith in your "maybe" LOL! Thanks Des! :-)

Leigh - thanks for your comment, glad you like to "easy to read" goal planner. I hope you can utilize more than just the goal planning feature of it. Thanks again, next month it goes back on sale! :-)

Jodie - let me know if you need any help with it, or if you have any questions at all. Thanks, and good luck! I know many have used this little tool to stay focused and reach their goals. It was a huge success fo the Agents when I lived in Hawaii. I hope it works well for you. Thanks!

David, I do love to share, unless it's money!! LOL! haha Really though, it gives me an internal emotional reward when I feel or know I've helped someone with a challenge or a task. AR is a great place to give back all the blessings that have been given to me over the years, but like everything on this planet, one day, this to shall end. I gotta get it all out before that day comes. The blog seems to be a great place to give it all back and leave something behind. Ok..now that was deep...sorry! :-) I hope you'll check out the program and tell me what you really think!!

Adam - ok my friend, you've set the hook, now reel me in! What is the 6 Sigma process? Let's see who's faster...you commenting back...or me googling it to find out ! LOL! :-) Thanks for reading my blog!

Adam - google wins!! LOL!

Six Sigma - What is Six Sigma?

Six Sigma at many organizations simply means a measure of quality that strives for near perfection. Six Sigma is a disciplined, data-driven approach and methodology for eliminating defects (driving towards six standard deviations between the mean and the nearest specification limit) in any process -- from manufacturing to transactional and from product to service.

You're right, very interesting! Thanks Adam! :-)

SEP

2007

Brad, I think you are the premier poster on Active Rain. No one offers more timely information than you do!

I thank you. David

SEP

2007

David - that might possibly be the nicest comment I have ever received! Thank you my friend, you are too kind and generous with your words. What a way to end a very long day, thanks for making it so meaningful!! :-)

This is just the kick in the pants I needed! Thank you!

Kim Dillon, Creative Eye Home Staging

Kim - use a soft shoe!! LOL! The kick in the pants is not very painful compared to the results of setting your goals and reaching them. Go For it! Think BIG, dream BIG, succeed BIG! Good luck to you!! :-)

Brad, I thought I set goals until I read your blog. Now I see I have to spend time following your plan. Thanks for the info!

SEP

2007

Roberta - let me know if you need any help with that or If you need some help with the goal planner application. It's pretty straight forward and simple. Here if you need! :-)

Well, does Activerain really get the Google juice everyone claims? Here's some interesting info you won't want to pass up. I just ran google to see where this application would come up and here's what I found!

Brad, I learned early on to "plan my work and work my plan" Good post. Thank you.

Bill Roberts

Bill this program is great for doing just that. I hope you'll take a look at it and let me know what you think. Many people don't understand the simple concept of working the plan, only because they haven't sat down and planned the work! Great comment, thanks my friend! :-)

Brad, thank you so much for this information. I am already on the road to re-position!

SEP

2007

You're welcome. Here's an online version I'm working on! Not sure it will work but worth a try!

Agent Assist 5.1 - Goal Planner Online

Brad - I downloaded Agent Assist. and like it! The biggest asset to having goals, is, it eliminates a lot of time wasting. It's funny, once you have it written and planned, the time wasters take care of themselves!

Paula - glad you liked it. It's a simple but effective application. You're right, once you put the time into it, it puts the time management into a whole different perspective. Thanks Paula.

OCT

2007

Brad, you're so right. I fully believe in goal setting. I do my best to set goals each and every year. My goals for 2007 are real. I am very close to accomplishing both my sales and listing goals. On the sales side with in 3 closing to hit my personal year goal. The only thing I did not accomplish was to go to Chicago and see the Cubs play. See my post on my goals.

Frank - YOU NEED TO GO TO CHICAGO TO SEE THE CUBS PLAY! Setting your work goals and not achieving your personal FUN goals is NOT GOOD! Balance my friend, balance is the key to your success. You should set your personal goals higher than your business goals, this will help you climb higher than ever before! Congratulations on being only 3 away from hitting your mark! Great job, keep up the good work and continue to set the example for those around you that might be impacted by your success! AWESOME!! :-)