Turning Dreams Into Goals and Goals Into Reality

I recently appeared on the cover of the Colorado Free University (CFU) catalog and many people have asked how I managed to accomplish that. Actually, it was simple ? I followed a process that turned my dream into a goal and my goal into reality.

The first step in creating what we want is to decide what it is we want. Sounds simple, but it is not always so. Many times we have "an idea" of what we want; however, if we want it to come to fruition, we need to define exactly what we want. For a dream to become a goal, it must be specific. The first step is to shape it, define it, visualize it.

The second step is to make a commitment to your goal. This is a distinction between being committed and being interested. When we are interested in something, we like the idea and might dabble in it; however, we are not committed to do what it takes to create it in our lives. When we are committed, we will do whatever it takes to make it happen. We can turn obstacles into opportunities. When I decided I wanted to be on the cover of the CFU catalog, I decided I would do whatever it took to make it happen.

Write it down. This is basic and one of the oldest, simplest and most powerful techniques for achieving any goal. I wrote down my goal of being on the cover on my weekly, monthly and yearly goal sheets. My goal was included in every weekly goal list and every day I wrote, "I am on the cover of the CFU catalog." Notice I did not say I "wish" or "hope" to be on the cover; I wrote it as if it already existed.

In addition to writing it down, I made up a mock copy of the cover with my picture and name and hung it on my prosperity board. (A prosperity board is a picture collage of goals; it's a visual of what we want.) The prosperity board is a powerful tool for renovating our belief systems; that is, the way we feel about ourselves and the way we see and experience our world. It appeals directly to the part of our brain that responds to feelings and images.

The next step is to tell people about your goal. Talk about it. I belong to a Master Mind group. A Master Mind group consists of two or more people who meet regularly in an atmosphere of trust and harmony for the purpose of providing mutual support and encouragement, and to believe for each other things that each alone, may find difficult to conceive and believe for themselves. Every week I shared with my Master Mind group the vision of being on the CFU catalog cover. I also shared my goal with others I trusted. By telling others, we allow them to help us reach our goal and support us along the way.

Next, create a plan. Write down the steps it will take to achieve the goal and put dates on it. Know what has to be done, when, why, how and who will be involved. In order to appear on the cover, I knew I had to contact CFU, I needed to collect information on what CFU needed from me, when and how; I had to have a picture and I had to get the picture to them in a form they could use. Since I knew I wanted to be on the May 1998 cover, I also had a deadline to meet.

And the most important step? the one many of us forget ? is to take action. This means to do something every day that will help us achieve our goal. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Any goal that is worthy of us, is worth a few minutes of our time and some of our energy every single day. Everyday I reviewed the steps that needed to be taken and did something to move me towards realizing my goal.

It took almost a year from the time I decided to be on the CFU catalog cover until the time it became a reality. Reaching our goals is a process. One of the hardest things to do is stick with the process and keep the vision. By following this process I was able to create what I wanted in my life. I trust you will, too.

Rachelle Disbennett-Lee is a professional business coach with and international practice. For three years Rachelle has been coaching entrepreneurs, business owners and corporate managers to achieve what they want in their lives and create harmony and balance. She is a graduate of Coach University, has a Masters Degree in Management and is currently working on a Doctorate in Applied Management and Decision Sciences with a specialization in Business Coaching. Check out her web site at www.coachlee.com and subscribe to 365 Days of Coaching. n