One of the mutual threads in common with virtually every leader is the importance of having goals. Out of the dozens of things that can be said about goals, these three are essentials.

1. Set your goals and write them down.

A goal that is not written down is not a goal, at best it’s a wish. If it’s important enough to you, it must be written down. It doesn’t matter if it’s a business goal, a personal goal, a family goal or a relationship goal such as a goal you have regarding your relationship with God, IT MUST BE WRITTEN DOWN! You have to be able to look at it, it must stare you in the face. It must haunt you. You need to see it morning, noon and night. If it is not written down, it becomes just another nice idea to get around to when you get a chance.
When you have a written goal you have a road map that will get you from point A to point B.  There is no guessing.  You can clearly see the steps necessary to reach your goal.  You will be able to take the next step and that is to measure your progress.

2. Measure your progress by hitting targets that bring you to your goal in a measurable time frame.

When you measure your progress, your goal becomes real. Your goal takes on a measurable time frame. You may need to break your goal up into finite segments with doable time targets.
A major goal of selling a million dollars of your company’s products might need to be broken up into a number of doable time target goals if you just started your business this week! This is the reason why writing down the steps to attain your goal within a definable time schedule allows you to see and understand the steps necessary to reach your goal in that allotted time.  And the most important step is to start.

3. As Nike tells us, “Just Do It!”

So many people if they go through the steps of writing down their goals and have a way to measure them in a definable time frame, fall short by not starting the process. This is the reason one of my favorite slogans comes from the famous sneaker company, Nike, “Just Do It!” If you don’t engage in your goal it wouldn’t happen. If you do, it will, it’s as simple as that!

Don’t forget, the path to success is to write down your set goals with a stated time frame and DO IT! Then the next step is to surpass your goals and don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishment then repeat the process and teach others to do what you do!