Step #15: Turning Your Dreams into Goals

You’ve got your organized list of dreams. You’ve assigned time frames on accomplishing them, and have labeled their importance. Next, you’re going to be coming up with a plan of action to accomplish them.

A goal is a dream with a plan
You have to name it to claim it, but you also have to be prepared to come up with plan and do the work to see it through. That’s the big difference between dreams and goals. Studies show that that those who write out their goals not only end up achieving them, but have higher incomes and overall success and life satisfaction as well. If you didn’t write down your goals in the previous step, go back and do it.

Consider this:
The Harvard Business School conducted a study which drew a high correlation between writing down goals and overall success. In 1979, MBA students were asked, “Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?”
Only 3 percent of respondents had clearly stated goals and actionable steps to achieve them. Ten years later in 1989, that same 3 percent were earning over 10 times as much as the other 97 percent combined.
Source: What They Don't Teach You At Harvard Business School

There is a big difference between simply having general goals and writing them down. There is an even bigger difference between writing them down and creating actionable steps to achieve them. Those steps are your blueprint to achieve your dreams.

Be Specific
The more specifically you state your dream, the more clarity it has. Instead of saying you’d like to develop a better relationship with your sister, you need to identify what that really means to you. Does it mean seeing her more frequently? Does it mean going beyond the small talk to allow for conversations with deeper meaning? What exactly does it mean?

Identify the Action Steps
What are the steps you’ll need to take to realize your dreams? Write them down. In doing so, you’re turning your dream into an actual GOAL. If you dream of building a house, you’ll need to: save for a down payment, buy land, decide on a blueprint, and so on. The more specific and detailed you can be with these steps, the better.

Dream: Build a house in the country
Goal: Build a 2,500 square ft. mission-style home on 2+ acres of land within 5 miles of our town.
Action Steps:

• Estimate cost of project
• Save XXXX amount for down payment
• Locate building lot
• Locate contractor
• Have design/floor plan ideas ready

The more you can break your goals down into smaller segments the more successful you will be at achieving them. Write down your plan and post it in a place that’s visible. Revisit it frequently in order to stay on track.

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EXCELLENT assignment! This should really open some eyes around here!! Thanks KIM! I'm going to get started ASAP!

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Chopey

So far, I have chosen three of my "dreams" in which to write concrete steps. I think this is a really useful excercise! It seems more attainable this way (and I love to make lists and check things off!)

DH and I actually sat down last night and figured out a budget and debt repayment strategy. This is a first in our marraige (13 years )! Wow! He was happy with everything I have been doing so far to eliminate our debt (dream #1). I just love being on the same page with the finances. Finally.

I need to work on this.

I've been working at this and have chosen three to work at. This was a difficult but really good step. I felt fear as I was writing them and then I knew I had to stop and think through the fear. Then I came across a quote from another step which said,

And it dawned on me. My light-bulb moment. I do have a happy life. I won't be miserable without these three goals. But they would enhance my life! And the fear vanished.

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Mom to dd (age 9) and ds (age 11)
blogging daily about purpose and personal identity

Just started our "Disney Fund" yesterday. It's in our five year plan and we don't want to use credit cards for our trip, since we've finally paid them off. It may take us that long to save, it might not, but at least we have a goal to work towards.

Bumping this up.

and now I've finished this step. I am so excited. This step helped me look at the things I thought were important and re-prioritize. Thanks so much Kim for starting this project!