There are times in life when we have a chance to reflect, pause and evaluate key principles and values we hold.  Clarity on what we believe is important.  Whether we like it or not we operate out a set of values and core principles. .  Do we allow others, outside forces choose the values in which we operate from on a daily basis? One of the greatest lessons I have learned over the last few weeks has been that I get to choose.  I get to choose the life I live. I get to choose from what values life flows from.  I over thought this as per usual and tried to “figure” out what values I wanted as part of my core.  Then in one of those moments of clarity I saw them, my values.  These values strike a chord deep within me because they are values I have had over time. I just did not define them and choose to live by them exclusively.  How do you identify your values?  Put some really good music on, turn up the volume and get in that self reflective space and start reading.  Ideas will begin to pop in your head and strike a chord with your soul.  Write them down.  Evaluate these values.  Mark Manson writes in his book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ucK, “values that stretch beyond serving yourself, that are simple and immediate and controllable and tolerant of the chaotic world around you.” I say that defining and living by your values is the beginning of a new chapter on this journey.  So here are my values, the core from I which I will put all energy and execution:

• Organization
• Forgiveness
• Freedom
• Passion
• Hustle
• Winning
• Loyalty
• Family

There are no rankings or values that are more important than another.  Also by identifying these values does not translate into mastery.  My goal now is to define each of these values.  Once I define these values, then I can begin to use them as a barometer of of my actions and where I put heart, treasure and effort.  After all on this journey, I do have the choice and real regret comes from inaction, not action.

When beginning a dialogue of ideas, it is important to define your terms.  Words have meaning.  Many time our attempt to persuade others fails because our agreement of terms and meanings do not align.  What does success mean?  How does one identify when success has happened or is happening?  Dictionary.com has a particular phrase that I like.  Success is “measured by attainment of goals, wealth, ect.” A person can have a goal of running in half marathon or completing a road bike race.  Success is the positive outcome of a certain set of behaviors or actions by people.  Goal setting is the ultimate framework in which higher levels of success is achieved.  Yes, people can achieve success with loose goals and ideas of things they want to achieve.  Goal setting is fuel for success.  Clearer, specific, time-bound goals are the coals of fire that help to deliver a higher level of success.  Follow these steps:

1. Write them down – Most folks carry their goals in their head.  Recently I read a book called Unf*ck Yourself, by Gary John Bishop (highly recommend the book).  In this book the prevailing theme is in order to live a full life, one must get out of their head and into action in real life.  Writing down goals is the secret sauce to WINNING at your goals.  You can write them in a nice journal and follow your success or write them down on a napkin.  The written word becomes a motivator in achieving success
2. Set a date – What is your time limit? When do you want to achieve the goal?  Setting a time-bound limit on goals helps to drive action towards the goal. It gives you the momentum and drives to finish the goal.
3. Review Daily – Energy and motivation towards finishing goals is a result of daily reviews of your goals, actions, behaviors, and results.  Reviewing your goals enables you to focus on what your learning on your way to the finished goal.  Learn, retool and execute daily helps to refine your process.  Note, your goals may change during the process and that is ok.  For example, you might have a goal of saving $1000 by end of summer.  However, a major car repair might require $250 which makes the $1000 threshold difficult.  Either adjust the goal down to compensate for unforeseen or hustle to find other avenues of income (add new actions to overcome the car expense)
4. Visualize – MOST IMPORTANT STEP.  Seeing the end product, visualizing the 10 $100 bills in your hand.  This is step is often used by most of us which is why many people achieve more goals then they realize.  People see that new car, new house, a shorter waistline and that visualization drives action toward the end of the goal.  Just imagine what would happen to your goals if you combined visualization with writing goals down with specific dates and reviewed daily

At the end of the day, success is measured by the bounty of our actions.  There is a scale to success as well.  That is why two different people can set out to make a six-figure income out of college.  One person might get just to $99,900 and one person could make $1 million.  The amount of success a person has along the scale is the work and effort to goal setting and execution.

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