I have a confession to make:

You know how all these success gurus and industry leaders tell you to write down your goals?

And that if you don’t write them down you won’t be a success?

Well, I’m not one of them.

I don’t write down my goals.

I do write down action steps of things I need to do, and now, thanks to Cris Chico and Jeff Pettitt, two of my long-time offline Newsletter subscribers (Jeff is also a member of my Mastermind group), I also have a detailed layout of these projects using MindJet software, but as far as “big picture” goals go, I don’t write mine down.

To me, saying something like “I will make X dollars by (fill in when)” just never “clicked.”

Now that’s not to say YOU shouldn’t do it, it just isn’t my thing, per se, and I just want you to know if you feel the same way, it definitely doesn’t mean you’re not going to be a success, make the kind of money you want to… whatever.

The thing is, until a few weeks ago, I could never articulate “why” I didn’t do this. All I knew is that it just didn’t feel right. However, a few weeks ago I was listening to an interview (I don’t know who it was with, sorry.) and the fellow being interviewed – a VERY successful guy, by the way – said something similar about goals. He didn’t write them down either.

But he did clarify why, and I’d never heard this before, and it allowed me to understand why I inherently felt uncomfortable with this process. See, when you write down a goal, what happens is that your subconscious mind immediately starts searching, searching, searching… for another event like this that’s been done before.

Then, based on what your subconscious mind finds, it will transmit the results and implant them into your conscious mind. So what happens here is that “goal” is so intangible that what winds up happening is… “nothing” is sent to your conscious mind.

On the other hand, writing down a task you have to do, is a no-brainer for your subconscious mind. If you’re a doer anyway, your subconscious mind is going to seek out all the things you’ve already done, checked off your list, and completed… and then it will send a positive validation back to your conscious mind. This is because you’ve successfully done this hundreds, and perhaps thousands of times already.

And since it’s only when your subconscious mind and your conscious mind are in sync that stuff gets taken care of anyway… that’s why keeping track of tasks — for me anyway, is far more productive than keeping track of goals.

Yes of course, I have a big overall goal or plan. For me, that plan is to be in a position where I don’t HAVE to work once I hit 50. I’m a little more than 6 years away from this, and… if I’m honest, I think I’ll make that target without a hitch.

I know some of this may sound confusing, but if you read through it again, slowly… I think it will all make sense to you.

And if you’re just having trouble getting started on ANYTHING… and if you’re not sure why but you “sense” it may be because you’ve got some limiting beliefs holding you back, then read this when you get a moment, as well: http://www.kingofcopy.com/science

Now go sell something, Craig

P.S. There’s a big secret in Albert Camus’ book, The Stranger — that hits the nail on the head about the critical difference in thinking between successful people and those who never become successful. You can read all about it in this month’s issue of the Seductive Selling Newsletter. Test-drive it free right here: http://www.kingofcopy.com/ssnl

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About the Author

Craig GarberAuthor of "How To Make Maximum Money With Minimum Customers, " and publisher of Seductive Selling - an offline marketing newsletter currently read in 15 countries, world-wide. In a nutshell, I do two things: 1. I show you how to attract a reliable, steady stream of pre-qualified leads who are ready to do business with you NOW... 2. And I increase your net profits and cash-flow, by increasing your customer, client, or patient value -- often, dramatically. How do I do this? By developing, and helping you implement, unique, personalized lead generation and marketing strategies... using compelling sales messages that push your customers emotional buy-buttons. I've worked with over 300 clients in more than 104 different industries, since March of 2000, and I really enjoy what I do. I'm a stable, reliable, happily married family guy with three kids who loves life and always follows through on my commitments and promises. I love to listen to music, workout, read, travel with my family, take pictures, and go bass fishing. I always say "Yes," when it comes to good cigars, good books, and good coffee :-)

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