The Goal Setting Secret

Here's the secret: sit in a quiet room with a yellow legal pad and a pen. Make a list of all your goals for this year. So far, no big deal, right? But here's where it changes.

After you've made your list, take each goal from the pad and write it on a 3x5 index card. Then get a large envelope and write the words, "2004 Goals Fulfilled", on the front of it. As the year goes by and as each goal is achieved, the word "Done" or "Accomplished" should be written on the front of the card in bold letters. Then you take the card and place it in the envelope. As one month passes into the next - you will put every other accomplished goal in the envelope.

Success Moments

When the year comes to a close you look through the envelope and bear witness to all you've accomplished. Taking the time to give thanks for all you've done - or merely to assess your progression - is a powerful thing which the importance of few people understand. What we concentrate on is what we attract. If we concentrate on our "success moments", we will create more of them.

Once the year 2004 is up and you've looked over all your successes, you make an envelope for 2003 and you repeat the process. There are people who have followed this method so religiously that they can literally open a desk drawer and pull out envelopes that go back 20 years or more. Each envelope is filled to the brim with 3x5 cards with the words "DONE" emblazoned over the goal. Doesn't that sound awesome?

Increase the Desire to Achieve

When I heard of this method, I immediately thought of another way to increase the desire to achieve. Instead of making one envelope - make two. The first envelope will contain the goals you're working on and it will read "Goals to Accomplish." The second envelope is the same as what I've already mentioned. Now what you do is tack each envelope on the wall. The unfulfilled goals go on the left, and about 12 inches away, tack the "fulfilled goals" envelope.

The True Objective

What do you think is the objective of this game? You guessed it. It is called getting all the cards in one envelope moved to the other.

There is much to be gained from this practice. Coaches could use it with their athletes when working on team, as well as individual goals. But the ultimate usage is when a highly motivated athlete takes the secret into their own hands and applies it. Everyone knows that goal setting works, it is a must. Any tool you can use to keep more focused is well worth using.

Put it to Use

Don't just give this one try. Put it to use. And come next year, I plan on hearing that your envelope was filled.

Editors Note: Mat Furey was an NCAA II champion in 1985 and a world shuai-chiao kung fu champion in 1997. He is the world's top combat fitness and catch wrestling expert. Matt has written several books - to find out more go to www.combatwrestling.com