The Goal Kicker – July 2008

Welcome to this month’s edition of “The Goal Kicker” – the monthly ezine produced by achieve-goal-setting-success.com - dedicated to helping you achieve your goals by providing goal setting related articles and reviews of the latest goal setting products available.

In this edition you’ll find:

• An article on “Why Traditional Goal Setting Doesn’t Work”, by guest writer Arina Nikitina
• A review of the FREE “Affirmations Course” , from Affirmware
• A review of the book “Affiliate Masters Course”, by Ken Evoy
• A review of this month’s Featured Link to www.MindTools.com
• ToolBOX Talk – how to get the best out of the ’Goal Progress Review’ tool
• Our inspirational quote of the month explained.

So, I hope you enjoy this month’s edition of “The Goal Kicker” – and achieve your own personal success by setting goals today.

And don’t forget that you can inspire others to achieve just by telling YOUR story of success or lessons learnt from a life experience.

Yours truly,
Sam Sander

Have you downloaded your FREE gift for subscribing to “The Goal Kicker”? If not, please download and enjoy your FREE copy of “How to Make your Dreams Come True" by Don Loyd as a thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.

As part of this subscription we also issue a mid-month mini-newsletter – “The Goal Kicker: Hot Topics”. This mid-month issue is part of the same subscription as the monthly “Goal Kicker” and will include a short punch-list of new releases, new websites and refreshers on a range of success topics.

”Why Traditional Goal Setting Doesn’t Work”

Arina Nikitina is the author of the goal setting tutorial "How to Set and Achieve a Goal” which outlines 27 proven techniques, 9 worksheets, and step-by-step success plan.

Arina is guest author for this month’s edition of “The Goal Kicker”, and has written an article on why traditional goal setting doesn’t work.

Here’s the Article…

If you have a $100.000.000 in the bank, drive new Lexus, look like a movie star and have a perfect health save yourself some time and do not read this article. This article is for people, who don't have all these things, but are planning on changing that slight inconvenience.

So how do you change it?

Every January millions and millions of people decide to start better and healthier life. We plan to change so many things and set so many goals. "I will exercise at least three times a week", "I will spend more time with my family", "I will find a better job", "I will stop smoking" the list goes on and on.

Now if you know anything about goal setting, you'll know that the first thing you have to do is to write down your goals on a piece of paper. Then you have to decide step-by-step how you are going to achieve those goals and form a plan of action as detailed as possible. All you have to do just follow the plan.

That's a great theory, which hardly happens in reality. In reality your enthusiasm and concentration lasts a couple of weeks and than everyday routine gets to you. You skip an exercise here, get frustrated and smoke a cigarette there, or start jumping from one goal to another and at the end of the year nothing ever gets done or achieved.

Why this theory alone doesn't work.

1. We often have so many goals it is hard to know where to start and how to proceed

2. We continually jump at different goals and as a result nothing gets done

3. It is hard to remember all the goals

4. Enthusiasm and excitement wears off

5. We don't have enough time

6. We don't have enough will power to follow through

Due to all these reasons you need a very strong motivator.

Something that will pull, push or drag you forward. There is only one thing powerful enough to do that and it's a VISION.

You'll still have to write all of your goals down. Then take that piece of paper and envision yourself after achieving all these goals. In order to succeed you have to become a person capable of succeeding, you have to start thinking like that person, act like that person.

Make yourself truly believe that you are looking into your future through the crystal ball. Remember every little detail - expression on your friends faces, proud look in you parents eyes. Feel the warm breeze on your face, smell the salty air of the ocean, imagine your new house on the beach.

You need to create a vision so powerful, so desirable, so compelling that it draws all your energy and motivation to it. It has to become an obsession. You have to feel something that a person finding an oasis in the middle of the desert would feel. Absolute excitement and complete determination. Then any goal becomes possible.

For more articles by Arina Nikitina, click on the ”Articles” tab on the NavBar. Or download her FREE ebook on "Goal Setting Tips.

Product of the Month – “FREE Affirmation Course”, by Affirmware

Affirmations have long been recognized as a powerful tool for manifesting desires. In fact, people from all walks of life - from Personal Development coaches and sales professionals, to religious leaders and peak performance experts (like Anthony Robbins) promote the practice of affirmations.

And this FREE course is packed with practical suggestions to get you started. Just some of the valuable things you'll learn are:

• How Affirmations Work
• The Affirmation Practice
• How to Write Affirmations
• Visualizations
• Sample Affirmations
• Affirmations Not Working, Why?
• Removing Blockages

The “7 Part Affirmation Course” from Affirmware covers these powerful, goal-achieving, life-changing strategies in clear, no-nonsense English anyone can understand. Plus it gives dozens of pointers to help you achieve your goals. And if you're new to affirmations, the course takes you through a step-by-step "correct elements" checklist for ensuring maximum effectiveness.

The "7 part Affirmation Course" comes to you with no obligation. It's simply a way of introducing you to AffirmWare. So download your FREE copy of the course today!

For more information on the use of affirmations to create your success, read the articles on Affirmations by clicking on the ”Articles” tab on the NavBar.

Book of the Month – “Affiliate Masters Course”, by Ken Evoy

What does affiliate success boil down to? Let's start... at the beginning!

The number #1 challenge for all affiliates...

• Build a Web site...
• …that builds targeted traffic...
• …and that causes visitors to click through...
• …with a warm, open-to-buy attitude...
• …to merchant sites that YOU represent.

How?

There is an endless labyrinth of possible software and information/advice offered on the Net. I'm not sure which is worse... the overpriced products that underdeliver, or all the free info available, most of which does not work so it costs you something more valuable even than money... your time.

Wouldn't it be great if the single best approach, explained in detail, was also free?! Well, here it is...

“The Affiliate Masters Course”. This 10-DAY course presented as an E-book focuses 100% on helping you, the affiliate, succeed. Click here to download “The Affiliate Masters Course" e-book.

The course leads you, step by digestible step, day by day, through a flawless process...

• ... from developing a Site Concept
• ... to brainstorming hundreds of profitable related keywords
• ... to building a themed site
• ... to generating motivated, targeted traffic that wants to click on your recommendations, links to the related products sold by merchants you represent.

Actually, the "price" is only the second most amazing part. The best thing about the Masters Course is the clear, high-quality, step-by-step, day-by-day content that lays out a process that really works.

The Affiliate Masters Course shows anyone how to become a high-earning affiliate champion. Yes, anyone... from newbie to those already enjoying success. It shows you everything, nothing held back. All the info you need to help you execute every step is included in one single course. Actually...

It's better than any other affiliate course or book available anywhere, at any price. No exceptions... but it does raise a question...

Why would SiteSell.com, the originators of this course, give it all away? Because they're hoping that you'll buy their truly excellent product, Site Build It! (SBI!). You do not have to, of course.

All the info you need to execute a powerful, successful strategy is contained in the Masters Course. Nothing is held back - I was amazed at the great ideas and the perfect process, laid out in an organized and do-able manner.

And while I do totally endorse SBI! as the perfect affiliate business or content based website builder, you may well find that the course itself is really all you need -- SBI! simply delivers the tools to make it even easier and faster to get the job done.

To sum it up, “The Affiliate Masters Course” strategy for success is simple...

1) Create content that attracts targeted traffic.

2) Then convert that traffic into dollars by causing visitors to click-through to the sites of the merchants that you represent.

3) Develop multiple streams of income through quality merchants.

Yes, we've finally found the single best solution, the total affiliate solution. You'll graduate as an accomplished affiliate Net marketer, a super-affiliate in the making.

Take The Affiliate Masters Course today. I will not make a more important suggestion during 2008.

You can pick up a FREE copy of “The Affiliate Masters Course” from the ToolBOX or directly from SiteSell.com.

Featured Link of the month - www.MindTools.com

MindTools is one of my favourite websites for essential career – and life – skills. In fact, this is the website that inspired me to create Achieve Goal Setting Success. So I really recommend you have a look at this site, and even sign up for the newsletter – it’s one of the best I’ve seen too.

And the best thing about the site is that all this wonderful information, tools and templates are FREE! The site contains valuable information and practical tools and templates on essential skills such as:

• Time Management Skills
• Techniques for Controlling Stress
• Leadership Skills
• Decision Making Techniques
• Project Planning Skills
• Information Skills and Tools for Understanding Complex Situations
• Memory Techniques
• Communication Skills
• Creativity Tools

Now while all this information is FREE, you can purchase the e-book containing all of this information – and there is a LOT of information – so you can read it off-line. The e-book also excludes the advertising material, so it is free-flowing and easy to read.

So, get skilled with ’Mind Tools’ – this site is a MUST see! [and don’t forget, it’s mostly FREE].

ToolBOX Talk – how to get the best out of the ‘Goal Progress Review’ Tool

In the “”Life Planning Workbook” you’ll find a Goal Progress Review. It’s important to review the progress of your goals for several reasons:

• To see whether you are achieving the deadlines on tasks required to achieve your end goal.
• To make sure you’re still actually heading in the right direction towards your goal.
• To make any necessary adjustments to your action plan so that it is still achievable.
• As motivation – to see what you’ve achieved and that you’re that much closer to achieving your end goal.

It’s also a great way to learn from any mini-successes and failures you may have encountered along the way!

The Goal Progress Review provides a number of prompts to trigger your thoughts on how you are progressing. Now, we adopt the “SMARTer” goal format for setting goals – so our Goal Progress Review tool gets you to review each of these elements to guarantee that your goals stay smart.

So first of all, measureyour goal progress - goals need to be able to be measured so you can monitor progress. How you measure your goal (eg ranking system, actual measure such as weight, etc) should be established at the start of the goal setting process, along with your starting measurement. By determining your current measurement and comparing it with your starting point, you will be able to see whether or not you have progressed towards your goal.

Secondly, are you using your Action Plan - your action plan is your road map to achieving your goal, which is your end destination. If you’re not using your map, how do you expect to get there? Think about how you have set up your action plan and whether there is another method that will suit you better.

You also need to look at whether you’re achieving the deadlines on your action items – if not, why not? Deadlines are there for a reason – to keep up momentum! Perhaps your deadlines were unrealistic (don’t worry, this is common!) or your time has been directed to other more urgent activities – either way, think about why so you can adjust your action plan.

Thirdly, is the goal still relevant - Goals are established based on your situation at the time of setting them. If there has been a significant change in your life, you need to consider whether you are you still able to achieve this goal – or whether you still WANT to. Remember, goals MUST be relevant otherwise you won’t have the motivation to achieve them. Remind yourself why this goal is really important to you, and ask whether this is still the case.

And finally, consider your resourcing - is your level of resourcing (money, time, information, support) adequate? Identify any additional resource needs and where/ how you might find them.

For more information on progress reviews for your goals, refer to the “”How to Achieve” tab on the NavBar.

Have you got a better goal setting tool that you’d like to share with the world? Well, send it in and we’ll add it to the ToolBOX – kudos to you of course!

Our Quote of the Month – explained…

From Andrew Lloyd Webbers’s musical ‘Evita’ this lyric sums up something we all feel from time to time – you know the one? That drop in energy and drive? That feeling of fatigue you get when you seem to be driving and driving towards your goal, and yet there’s still a long way to go? That stuck in a rut feeling? It’s very easy to get disheartened on your way to achieving your goals, particularly if you have a set back or where it is difficult to see actual progress. Or in the case of this quote, you can just simply get a drop in drive when you seem to be the only one out there driving…

But there here are some tips to keep you going:

• Don’t be afraid to take a break to revive – but make sure you set yourself a deadline and time to get back into it. A short break can do wonders for reinvigorating your desire to achieve your goals.
• Try to use mini-goals and milestones where possible so that next pit-stop towards your goal doesn’t seem that far away. And lots of little achievements towards your goal is a great motivator to keep up that momentum.
• Develop a good measurement system for your goal so that you can ‘see’ progress, and then make sure you regularly review your progress against this measurement system. As you achieve progress – even little-by-little – you’ll see the results from your efforts and be inspired to continue.
• It’s all about attitude and motivation – keep a positive can-do attitude towards your goal and find motivational techniques that work for YOU.

It’s also helpful to keep in mind Andrew Lloyd Webbers’s next line “Don’t close doors, keep an escape clause – because you might lose the big apple.”

In other words, be open to new opportunities and ideas – there may even be a new way of getting to your goal – be flexible with your plan and change it if it isn’t taking you in the right direction, and don’t lose sight of your ‘big apple’.

Well, that’s all for now!

But don’t worry, the next edition of “The Goal Kicker” is only a month away.

We would love to get your feedback on “The Goal Kicker”– what do you like? What don’t you like? - so we can make it even better.