What are your
goals? Really, what are your goals? Do you want to lose 10 pounds, have shinier hair, land that cute guy in your
Algebra class, or get an “A” in basket weaving? Goals are important for everyone and identifying them up
front helps you keep your eye on the prize.
Why set goals? Life is tremendously varied. At any given moment, there are
thousands of things you could do. When you're driving, you could turn left, turn right, speed up, slam on the
brakes, stop for lunch, stop for gas, decide to drive to Alaska to see what Kodiak bears look like, and on and on.
But what is it that keeps you from ending up in Alaska every time you get into your car? Why don't you end up at
random locations all the time? The answer is that you got into your car with a clear idea of where you wanted to
go. You knew at the beginning.
World-renowned motivator Zig Ziglar guides you through a simple formula for achieving ANY goal.
Life is the same way. If you know at the beginning where you want to go, you'll
probably get there. Even if detours and delays arise, eventually you'll get there. But if you don't know where
you're going, you probably won't get there.
It might help to divide your goals into time frames (immediate goals,
short-mid-term goals, and long-range goals). You don't have to have firm answers to those gripping questions
about what you want to be or do when you're done at college to make this work; your goals are likely to shift and
change over time anyway. All you need to do right now is think of a handful of goals to get started. Write down a
list of goals now before reading further.