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5 Things You Must Focus On To Achieve Your Goals

5 Things You Must Focus On To Achieve Your Goals

by Loretta Love-Huff

Goal-setting is an important activity for those who yearn to live an accomplished life. Yet, many people do not set goals and others who do, don’t set them well.

There was a purported study inaccurately attributed to Harvard or Yale about about the impact of setting goals. The ‘study’ concluded that 83%of the population didn’t have identified goals. It further showed that 14% had goals but only a mere 3% of the population had written theirs down. It went on to say that years later, the 3% with written goals had earned 10 times more than everyone else. (The statistics vary based on whose interpretation of the ‘study’ you read.) As it turns out, that study never happened.

‘Facts’ aside, it reinforces the concept of writing your goals down.

An actual study conducted later by Gail Matthews, PhD at Dominican University revealed 3 important conclusions:

1. Be clear on your goals and write them down.
2. Develop a plan on how you are going to achieve them.
3. Develop an accountability mechanism.

I haven’t conducted a study. However, I have been active in the performance improvement and performance enhancement field for a surprisingly long time (read, “decades”).

Here’s my take on the 5 critical components of what it takes to make magic happen.

1. Have a clear goal
OK, this is a pretty consistent first step across all platforms so I won’t spend a lot of time on it. Yet it is still one many people skip. Don’t be one of them. ‘Nuf said?

Know where your end destination is, whether its later today or later in life. Pick a specific, measurable ‘what’ you will accomplish and a ‘by when’ it will be done.

2. Know your “Why”
Knowing why you want to achieve the goal is at least as important a motivating factor as knowing what it is you want. Accomplishing goals, especially big, hairy ones, will likely take an inordinate amount of effort. You’ll probably NOT have smooth sailing along the way, so having a deep urge, a deep longing, an important reason to continue in the face of all of the crap on the road is critical.

3. Feel your success
Imagine how you’ll feel once your end goal is reached. Will you feel fulfilled, safe, secure, happy, proud, satisfied, excited, peaceful, powerful, confident? What ever the emotion, start ‘practicing’ feeling it NOW, even before you have the ‘thing’. Don’t wait until you get there, feeling that ‘future’ emotion now will make life more enjoyable, help support your motivation factor and actually help draw in the resources, ideas and connections to help you get there.

Time will pass more easily if you’re not waiting for the future to feel good. Be that feeling now.

4. Think about how you’ll make it happen
I was listening to Brian Tracy speak at the Arizona Chapter of the National Speakers Association earlier this month. He had conducted a study of high achievers. He said there were two factors that distinguished top performers from everyone else. First, they had big, clear goals. And, secondly, they thought constantly about how they could achieve them.

I would veer away from the idea of constantly thinking about ‘how’. I would say, constantly focus on the ‘what’ and the ‘feeling’, but allow for the creative process, for divine intervention, coincidence, providence, unexpected inspirations to light the path forward for you.

5. Be happy now
This is related, but slightly different that point 3. The tip here is to focus on things that RIGHT NOW are going well: things your grateful for, things you’re happy about TODAY.

I was listening to Marshall Sylver, host of the Million Dollar Television Network. He was also talking about focus and achieving goals. He said “You get what you focus on.” So instead of focusing on all of your problems, focus on what you want more of in your life.

Pharrel Williams also was definitely on to something with his inspired song, Happy. The words, energy and message resonated with people around the world. The song extols the virtues of being happy.

In one verse, he describes the feeling of letting things roll off his back. “…Here come bad news, talkin’ this and that. Give me all you got, don’t hold it back. I should probably warn you, I’ll be just fine. No offense to you, don’t waste your time. Because I’m happy!”

So, to quote another song from way back, “Don’t worry. Be happy.” Focus on what matters. Your goals, your dreams, your happy, grateful, positive feelings and what you want are what really matters.

Copyright 2014 Loretta Love-Huff
All Rights Reserved

Would you like to learn more simple ways business owners and career professionals can EXCEED their dreams: accomplish bigger goals, earn more money, and generally live a happier, more productive life? Check out my website www.EmeraldHarvest.com/destiny for free resources. Award-winning consultant, speaker, author and coach Loretta Love Huff, is “The Dream Leader for Business™.”

Speaking at WREN

Speaking at WREN

Linda-Ann Stewart handing out worksheets
Linda-Ann Stewart

I had a speaking engagement in the Phoenix area on Wednesday, May 21st. I got everything prepared on Tuesday, then checked the road conditions. That’s when I found that the main artery from Northern Arizona (where I live) to Phoenix was closed due to a fire by the freeway. I thought I might have to drive 1-2 hours out of my way to get to the venue the next morning. Fortunately, the freeway opened by 7pm Tuesday evening.

Wednesday morning, I met the amazing, powerful women of WREN, Women’s Resource Educational Network, in Gilbert. A friend from NSA-Arizona, Fran Lowell, had joined me, and we had a wonderful time getting to know these women. I felt welcome and at home with them. We stayed for an hour afterwards to talk with one of them. Another woman showed up and we spoke briefly with her, as well.

Fran Lowell & Linda-Ann Stewart
Fran Lowell and Linda-Ann Stewart
Cindy Webb and Linda-Ann Stewart
Cindy Webb and Linda-Ann Stewart

WREN is a different kind of networking group. Instead of each person pushing their agenda of “This is who I am…,”  this chapter of WREN was created by Cindy Webb to let women get to know each other and also to give back to the community. People channel business to those they know, like and trust. Being able to learn all about the person you might refer to builds trust. To me, this is the model networking groups should follow.

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Get Motivated and Take a Step

Get Motivated and Take a Step

Sometimes it’s hard to get moving on a goal. You want it, but you can’t get motivated enough to take the first step. Learn some ways you can increase the intensity of your desire, and take your first steps.




~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Should I write a list of desires?

Should I write a list of desires?

Question: Would it be helpful to write a list of my desires, if so, and how would I use it?

Answer: It’s very helpful to have a list of your main goals, like your top five or ten. I keep an index card of my current goals on display on my desk. I learned about doing this from Napoleon Hill’s book “Think and Grow Rich,” where he describes writing your goals, and reading them at least twice a day. I had a friend who built her business this way.

To increase your faith and confidence, I’d suggest that you write a positive statement on the top or bottom that affirms that the Universe is manifesting them. Something like, “The Universe takes these desires and manifests them, or something better, in the Divine Right way.”

Make sure you  read them at least twice a day, in the morning and evening. Or you could carry the paper with you, and read it several times during the day. The more you read them, believing in their manifestation, the quicker they’ll manifest.

Copyright 2005, 2014 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

~ Linda-Ann Stewart

Adjust Your Mindset to Achieve Your Goals

Adjust Your Mindset to Achieve Your Goals

Is your mindset on board with your goal or desire for success and abundance? If not, you’ll have a much harder time achieving it. Once you adjust your beliefs to be in alignment with your goal, your actions will be much more successful. Learn 4 ways to get your attitudes to support you in your progress towards your goal.


If you want to get unstuck and break through your inner barriers to create a life of more success and abundance,  get Linda-Ann’s free MP3, “Keys to Recreating Your Life: Shatter Your Barriers to Success and Abundance.”

Am I lying to subconscious with declarative affirmation?

Am I lying to subconscious with declarative affirmation?

Question: Shouldn’t a person say “I’m becoming/getting/…” at the beginning of an affirmation, rather than “I am/have…,” because the latter is actually lying to the subconscious?

Answer: An affirmation gives the subconscious instructions on where you want it to go. Like driving a car. When you have your attention down the road, you automatically steer the car in that direction. If you look over to the side and keep your attention there, you automatically begin to steer in the direction of your vision.

An affirmation doesn’t lie to the subconscious, it tells it the results that you expect from it. There’s a classic auto-suggestion that states, “Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.” An affirmation can be stated in the present, “I am/have (your goal)” or “I am getting/becoming (your goal),” which tells the subconscious which direction to go.

Copyright 2005, 2014 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved

NSA-Arizona Sedona/Verde Valley Speaker’s Forum

NSA-Arizona Sedona/Verde Valley Speaker’s Forum

Les Taylor

On Wednesday, March 26, 2014, Dr. Cheryl Kasdorf hosted the NSA-Arizona’s Sedona/Verde Valley Speaker’s Forum. I helped organize this event, which was modeled on the monthly NSA-Arizona Living Room Forum. Ed Hammond, chairman of the Living Room Forum committee drove up from the Valley to show his support.

The Living Room Forums are more intimate gatherings than the monthly Saturday meetings. Held in a private residence or business, the Forum features industry experts who can talk about a topic at greater depth.

Les TaylorAt the Sedona/Verde Valley Speaker’s Forum, Les Taylor helped participants develop new skills with “Speaking to Promote Your Business for the Non-Speaking Pro.” He explained that sales and marketing is about effective communication. And he went into detail about the basic components of a presentation to be put together for an audience.

He said that,”Nothing happens in business until a sale is made,” and went on to describe the sales skills needed to make that sale. Les reminded us that, “It’s all about them, the prospect.”

The participants at the Forum learned valuable concepts that they can turn into techniques that will allow them to be better presenters to both audiences and prospects.

Les Taylor, Ed Hammond, Linda-Ann Stewart

Free MP3 to get you unstuck

Free MP3 to get you unstuck

I’m excited to announce a free audio that I’ve created. If you’re stuck, stalled, immobilized, bogged down, or sabotaging keyyourself, this 35 minute audio gives you direction on how to blast out of your rut.

You can have the success and abundance in your personal and professional life that you want. You’re creating your life every day by the things that you think, say and do. When you begin to change them, your life reflects that change.

In this MP3 recording, I describe the 6 keys I developed to get my life on track again after a devastating relationship shattered me. They also helped me locate my first office and start my hypnotherapy, mentoring and coaching business 23 years ago. These are the ones I’ve used to help my clients achieve their goals. They can do the same for you.

In “Keys to Recreating Your Life: Shatter Your Barriers to Success and Abundance” MP3, you’ll also learn the 5 steps I took to break through and break free. You can use these 5 simple steps to propel yourself forward and get moving again.

Following these 5 steps will put you ahead of 95% of the population and greatly increase your chances of success. They also include a step that will greatly accelerate your progress.

To receive this FREE MP3 recording, go to “Keys to Recreating Your Life.”

Isn’t it time for you to open up to greater success and abundance? My wish for you is that you breakthrough, break free and live the life of your dreams.

“I want…” or “I have…” affirmation?

“I want…” or “I have…” affirmation?

Question: Is it better to write an affirmation or statement of desire as “I want…” or “I have…?”

Answer: Write the statement as if it is happening now (present tense) or has already happened (past tense) (whichever you can accept as an affirmation). The subconscious is very literal, so if you state “I want…” the subconscious will think you want to continue to want it. It will always remain in the future, like a carrot in front of a donkey to keep it moving forward.

If you state, “I have found the perfect car for me,” or “I am being guided to the perfect car for me,” (and believe it) then the subconscious must manifest that. This is one of the most important lessons to learn about writing affirmations.

Copyright 2005, 2014 Linda Ann Stewart
All Rights Reserved