Guest Blog – Goals and Dreams

I have always been someone who has had goals in life.  Sometimes these goals were forced on me through necessity and sometimes, well, I am a driven person.  I like to Dream big!  Bottom line..I don’t like to lose.When I look back at why I did not achieve some of the goals that I had set for myself, the answer is usually.. I did not write them down and I did not review them on a regular basis. Let’s reflect on Dreams!  We need to Dream BIG!  We should not let those inner voices “chatter in your head” to tell you that you can’t do it!  Who hasn’t heard the famous Martin Luther King speech “I have a Dream”.  Or John F. Kennedy’s Dream “I believe that this nation should commit itself to acheiving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon.”  These men were visionaries.  That is one reason why we still remember them today and their legacy lives on.Experiments have proven that if someone is not allowed to enter the dream cycle at night their entire focus is interrupted.  Dreams are necessary for productive living.A couple of years ago I was having lunch with a good friend.  We were discussing fund raising for Breast Cancer and how important it is.  The topic also turned into the fact that we did not have the best equipment in the Kitchener Waterloo area for Breast Cancer diagnosis.  During that lunch, the two of us decided that we were going to ensure that we did everything to bring the necessary equipment to this area.  At that point, we only knew that the machine existed…no idea how much it cost, nor did we even know what it was called.  We only knew that we wanted it!Over the next few weeks we put together a powerful group of four women (Ellen Stigter, Val Hiller, Tara Rigby and myself) and we set out to realize our Dream.  We had support from the entire community and the fundraising took on a life of its own.  Sure, at first when we heard the price tag…$800,000, we took a big breath of air, but none of us ever thought we couldn’t achieve it.  (If we did we never discussed it!)  I am certain that there were some people that had their doubts that we could accomplish our goal (including our husbands) but nothing stopped us.  Within a year, St. Mary’s Hospital in Kitchener had a Digital Mammogram Machine.  I know that all four of us have emotional moments when we go to St. Mary’s for a Mammogram. We are always told about the lifes we have helped to save by timely diagnosis.  That was my Dream and I can’t tell you how proud it made all of us.What stops us from setting goals?  FEAR – FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARS REAL!The danger is that we are afraid of failure.  There are two sets of goals. The ‘GIVE UP GOAL”….I am going to tell EVERYBODY about this goal.  I am actually in the midst of a twelve week makeover program and I have even posted this on Facebook!  I am accountable to EVERYBODY on this Goal.  I don’t want to GIVE UP!  I want EVERYBODY to hound me.The ‘GO UP’ goal is shared ONLY with the supportive group that  will encourage you NOT discourage you.  These are your goals of being the best; realizing your dreams.  We can put enough negative “chatter” in our head without listening to others….we need to be like the little engine…I know I can, I know I can.  Children never think of NOT being able to do something.  Somewhere along the way we are conditioned that the Dream is unreasonable.  Get back to thinking like a child!Today, we had a workship with our Richard Robbins Masters Edge Group and we revisited Goals.  It was quite interesting to see how we struggled with setting goals and our Dreams.  Are we to busy just “Doing”?The only way that we can do a productive Business Plan and know where we are going is to set our Goals and break them down into manageable pieces. My goal to be fit in 12 weeks is manageable.  I am able to break that down into what I want to accomplish in a month; in a week; in a day.  It is a very small amount and achievable when I think of it that way.What are the Seven Steps to Setting Goals1)  identify the Goal and make sure that it is your goal2)  set a deadline for that Goal and revisit regularly3)  list the obstacles to reaching your goal4)  identify people to assist you in reaching your goal5)  list skills that you need to accomplish your goal6)  develop a plan to achieve your goal7)  list benefit to achieving your goalWe need a WINNING TEAM to help us reach and plan our objectives.  No championship team every achieved success withour working as a unit.  We must plan our Objectives.  How much time do people spend in planning their wedding compared to planning their marriage!My Business Goal for the next 12 weeks is to help everyone of the Richard Robbins Masters Edge Group at ReMax Real Estate Centre reach their goals.  To develop a winning team at ReMax Real Estate Centre that will help each other to achieve their Dreams and Goals!Alot of people can stop you temporarily…You are the only one to stop you permanently.