ARE YOUR GOALS IN FOCUS?

I have been doing some reading lately on success and what it takes. Each book or newsletter I read, all talk about the same things.

• Focus
• Hard work
• Perseverance
• Dedication

Some of these people are household names and some have quietly worked to gain their success without fanfare. Without exception, they all talk about thinking about what their goals before they go to sleep and first thing when they wake up in the morning. Some even keep pen and paper by the bed, so they can capture inspiration whenever it hits in the night. That is a lot of immersion into your goals. You have to believe in your goals. You have to really hunger for (not just want) your goals. In a sense, you have to be in love with your goals. Top Athletes Athletic champions are famous for their sustained concentration. They concentrate their energy and effort on what they want and block out anything or anyone who threatens that focus. Think of your favorite top athlete in the middle of a performance. A bomb could go off and they wouldn’t know it until AFTER they won. Picture Jackie Joyner-Kersee crossing a finish line, or Tiger Woods putting out a birdie, or Michael Phelps swimming the last lap, or Michael Jordan dunking the basketball, or Mia Hamm kicking the soccer ball over the goal line, or Joe Montana finding and making the connection to Jerry Rice for the touchdown – all are masterful in their focus and concentration. Champions What is true for athletes is true for champions in all fields of endeavor. Average people pursue loosely defined goals; champions concentrate on the attainment of a singular purpose with an almost obsessive intensity. Top performers invest significant time and energy in selecting their major goals. The masses consider making changes every New Year’s Eve. The goal setting and planning process is an everyday habit of champions. When goals are set, it is with persistence and ferocious tenacity that champions put on mental blinders and move forward. World-class performers create such an intense level of concentration to overcome challenges and achieve goals that it is the last thing they think about before they fall asleep and the first thing they think about when they wake up. In a real sense, the ‘breakfast of champions’ is goal setting and progress review. While average people see world class performers’ successes as a matter of intelligence or luck, champions know sustained concentration of thought and action is usually the true key to their successes. This becomes readily apparent when they do a celebrity game show, such as Celebrity Jeopardy. They usually don’t appear to be a genius; instead, they appear to be “regular folks.” Sustained concentration is a learnable skill. It is not something you’re born with; it’s something you develop through daily practice. So start your practice now. The Questions of Champions

• Are my habits, actions and behaviors congruent with the vision I have for my life?
• Are my goals sharply defined with deadlines?
• Am I focused on my goals, concentrating on the finish line?
• Am I tenacious and persistent in my execution, not letting challenges get in my way?
• Have I made a commitment to achieving my single most important goal in the next 12 months and am I willing to concentrate on achieving it – no matter what it takes?

These are the questions of champions that I gleaned from my readings. As the old saying goes, “The only place success comes before work, is the dictionary.” What are you willing to think about that much? Are you willing to work that hard for your goals? As Confucius said, “Get a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” That is the real secret to a champion’s success. They love what they do. Thinking about and relentlessly working on their goals, is fun for them. What would be that much fun for you? Do you need help finding that ‘fun goal’ for you? I can help you. We will sort through your skills, experiences and your dreams to get your ‘fun goals.’ Don’t wait, contact me now. A dream with a plan is a goal. A goal without a plan is just a dream. Warmly, Elisabeth Elisabeth Adler-Lund Executive And Life Coaching Telephone: 916 • 803•1494 E-mail: eal@EALCoaching.com