The ability to set written goals and to create action plans are the 'Master Skills.'
These are far more important than technical skills, selling skills or speaking skills, because they bring into effect the "cybernetic goal seeking mechanism" of the brain. This mechanism means that once you impress on your mind the goal, then your mind moves unerringly towards making your goal into a reality in every situation.
The oil millionaire E.L.Hunt, when asked what the secret of success was, said there are only two things you need to know:
1) What it is that you want...
2) Determine what price you have to pay for it, and then resolve how to pay that price.
We all have a built in failure mechanism, which for want of a better description we call 'the comfort zone'. We tend to stay within our comfort zone in order to avoid the risk of failure. We tend to move towards things that give us pleasure and away from things that cause us pain or which are threatening. This is the 'Pain or Pleasure Principle' that we read about in psychology textbooks.
The only way to override this failure mechanism is to activate your success mechanism, through a goal. When you focus your mind on a goal you activate the success mechanism, which then releases a lot of positive energy. This builds up your Desire and Drive. It gives you persistence, clarity of thought and intensity of purpose. You must move out of your comfort zone in order to improve any aspect of your life. One of the best ways to do this is to write down progressively higher goals and keep working towards them. This is how every successful person works. This keeps them alive, motivated and successful.
And remember that successful people are not people without problems. Successful people set their goals to solve their problems. The problem is not in achieving goals but in the setting of them in the first place, because once you have set your goals your mind automatically keeps working towards them.
Once you learn this secret, happiness and a sense of fulfillment usually follows.
Write the goals down!! If your goals remain unwritten they are borderline on being wishful thinking and can soon be lost from view. If you are not sure of what your major life goals should be, here is another secret...use 'creative visualization'.
To do this find a quiet place where you can sit undisturbed, close your eyes and relax. Once your mind is at rest focus your thoughts on the kind of person you would like to be. Visualize everything you can about that person, how you would speak, how you would dress, how you would act in all kinds of situations.
As you are watching this 'minds eye' video of yourself, intensify you feelings towards this person. See and feel the changes becoming real and how much better your life will be when that person 'The Ideal You' becomes a reality.
If you do this every day for twenty days (the time it takes to establish a new habit) by the end of that time you will have changed so much you will never want to go back to the old you.
You have used the Master Skills.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When I have to be around a group of people I get ...
By: clbriggs82 | 17-09-2007
when I have to be around a group of people I get extremely nervous and I don't know what to do or say, so I don't say anything which makes me appear to be very stand-offish, and most of the time those people will call me on it and say things like " you sure are quiet" or " smile" which makes me feel worse and more tense. please tell me how to be calm and actually initiate conversation with people or any advice at all. Thank you
Football (soccer) own goals top scorers
By: Roee Rotman | 07-03-2007
Where can I find official statistics regarding own goals in football (soccer)? Are there players who were known throughout their career to be prone to score own goals? Is there an official "own goals top scorer?"
NHL -- Crosby and Malkin
By: evan7711 | 08-02-2007
Who's a better hockey player: Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin? Are there any videos of their best goals in the NHL?
Woman in thirties fights fears to achieve college degree success, seeks success stories, inspiration, advice
By: Ecrivaine32 | 17-01-2007
What advice would you give an adult in her almost mid 30's who recently again began working on her degree? I am taking the one small step (for now) of transcending my anxieties by returning to college (online) to finish courses needed toward my BA in Communications. I have nearly a decade of experience in the field already, both civilian and military. It seems getting the degree should be so easy - and probably academic-wise, it will be. But I've struggled against my own imaginary barriers to success, the fear of going to school for my degree, because other than my sister who recently began attending school in her mid-20's, no one in my immediate family has gone to college or "dreamed so high."I wondered if anyone out there has similar stories of going to school or has worked through similar fears. I've love to get any advice I could or just hear your story. Please email me at Ecrivaine32@gmail.com or leave answer on here - thanks!I've tried various times and quit every time, but I'm feeling I am at a place in my life where I am more confident and ready to tackle this lifelong goal, so your advice would be so welcome to bolster me in this small step toward my educational success. I hope one day, when I've finished my degree, I can continue to pass on this support to other women in similar situations.
Looking for websites for goal setting combined with social networking/encouragement
By: Ecrivaine32 | 13-11-2006
Are there any good websites you'd recommend that let you list your goals and then encourage one another through social networking on the same site? Also, I was thinking it would be handy to find not just a site where you can post and set your goals and get supported by others whom you also encourage -- but a site where you can record any significant progress toward each goal and track your progress, and maybe even where others can see it, if you choose to let them
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Self Improvement 
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