Positive Energy - An Easy Way to Achieve Big Goals

August 2006

Dear Mark

Welcome to August’s edition of Positive Energy from Milecastle Consultancy.

We’re now well and truly in the throes of summer and I hope that you will be taking a break over the coming weeks. That’s a fantastic opportunity to sit back and reassess what you want to achieve in life, so this month we’re going to share some top tips on how to achieve your goals – no matter how big, hairy or audacious they are!

I love to receive your comments and success stories, so please keep them coming. You can e-mail me or call me on 01697 747 821.

Best wishes,

Think back to the last time you set yourself a goal and then achieved it. Recall how good that success felt and how it boosted your levels of confidence and motivation.

Having goals means you have a sense of direction and purpose. But many of us have goals that are so big they don’t seem achievable and we could become frustrated and negative as a result.

You can achieve these goals, easily closing the gap between reality and possibility.

You’ll find the process really simple and easy to apply to many situations, giving you a positive, satisfying and enjoyable experience.

All you have to do is take your goal and then simply break it down into steps or mini-goals – each of which is clearly achievable. As you’ll be continuously taking small positive steps towards achieving your main aim you’ll always remain energised and focused.

By breaking your goal down you’ll find that you’ll achieve it far quicker than you ever thought possible.

Your goals are there for the taking and here’s how you do it:

Firstly identify a goal. Choose anything you want that has evaded you up until now.
Next think about all the steps you need to take in order to achieve that goal. Think about the gap between here and there as a stepladder with as many rungs as you need. Write down what is on each rung and this becomes your list of mini-goals. The smaller the steps the better. It doesn’t matter how many you come up with – each will move you closer to the top of the ladder.
Finally, make a start on the tasks in your list. Set aside time each week or day to work on the next step on the list. Tick it off and give yourself a small reward when it’s completed. Then move on to the next step.

You’ll soon find that these baby steps are easily achievable. As you’re constantly enjoying modest successes, the process will soon gain its own momentum, taking you forward easily to achieving your goal!

Katy Jackson from Oxford thought getting a new job was impossible.

After university, Katy decided she wanted a job in marketing. She eventually found a position, but hated the company and her boss. She’d only taken the job because other jobs she’d applied for required at least 2 or 3 years’ marketing experience. Although she continuously applied for other jobs, she was always rejected. It began to really get her down.

Then Katy learnt how to break down her goal into achievable steps. Her first step was to get help in writing the best CV she could. The next was to find out where the jobs were being advertised. Then she read about how to write a really powerful covering letter and finally practiced giving a good interview. As she progressed her confidence grew. It wasn’t long before she’d achieved what had seemed impossible and had landed a new marketing job.

Don’t let your goals evade you. Simply break them down into small, achievable steps and your road to success will be smooth and fast!

Being the Best – The A-Z of Personal Success by Nicholas Bate. Check out the goal setting formula under “G”.

Life Coaching: Change Your Life in 7 Days by Eileen Mulligan. Chapter 2 deals with setting goals appropriate to your value system.

www.goalmaker.com is an Australian website with free downloadable software to manage your goals.

I get a lot of feedback telling me you’re finding Positive Energy a great little nudge every month. Now I am offering you the opportunity to experience fully taking control of your life and moving forward positively through the Springboard Women’s Development Programme. This will be starting in Carlisle in November.

Springboard is an award winning programme for women giving you the tools to take charge of your future and providing support and encouragement towards achieving your work and personal goals. The course consists of four one day workshops over four months and is supported by a 300 page workbook.

Here are some quotes from previous participants:

“This programme is the best thing I have ever done in my life. All women should go on this programme.”

“I wish I had done this programme 10 years ago. I would have taken more risks in my life and work.”

It is likely that places will fill quickly, so please sign up ASAP. To book your place e-mail me or call me on 01697 747 821 and I’ll send you a form in the post, or click here for more information.

Springboard can also be run inside organisations. British Transport Police in London recently completed their first programme and it has been so successful they are already planning another one. If you would like us to come and run a course at your organisation, then please e-mail me or call me on 01697 747 821.

In next month’s issue of Positive Energy we’ll look at where to find the information and resources that will help you on your journey.

Milecastle Consultancy Ltd
Tel: 01697 747 821 Email: sue.hewitt@milecastle.co.uk Website: www.milecastle.co.uk
Milecastle Consultancy Ltd, 1 Rose Cottages, Gilsland, Brampton, Cumbria CA8 7AP