Goal SettingGoal Setting Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail Napoleon Hill coined the phrase: "Whatever the human mind can conceive and believe... it can achieve.” Go ahead and take a look around you. What do you see? Everything that you see started as someone’s idea that eventually came to fruition. The chair you are sitting on, the light you are reading with, the computer screen or book you are reading – all are ideas that came to life. Some people thought of the ideas, had belief in the product and faith in their ability, found the required help to fill in the holes to some of the knowledge they were missing, and finally saw their dream (goal) through to completion. Isn’t the situation the same with you and your business? Isn’t that an idea? Isn't that a goal? There are always two sides to every coin… and the other side to Mr. Hill’s coin could be Henry Fords’ adage, “If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you are right!” Often when you are talking to someone and that person has an idea or a desire to go into business, he or she quickly discount it by saying: 1. There has to be someone out there who already has thought of this idea, or 2. If I thought of it, it couldn’t be good, or 3. I don’t have the brains for this, or 4. I don’t have the knowledge to do this, or 5. I don’t have the money to pull it off, or 6. It would take too much work;
Which of these excuses, if any, apply to you? Another flip side to Mr. Hill’s coin could be: that “if we don’t take the time to “conceive” and “believe”, we will not achieve!” In other words, we need to take the time to think and plan, because by doing so there is a better than average chance that we will realize the following: 1. There are enough customers out there willing to buy that it would be impossible for only one photographer to have a strangle hold on the entire market; 2. We all have an equal chance to get or develop that one amazing idea or that fabulous talent; 3. There are lots of people who can and will help us with the areas where we are unsure or have little knowledge – we all have unique talents; 4. We can always find people to complement our skills and knowledge to mentor or coach us, so that we will have the knowledge needed. 5. With a good business plan and a burning desire to succeed, there are many places to find the money that we need: family, friends, banks, investors, and angels; 6. When we love what we do, we get juiced by the prospect of being successful and know we will be financially rewarded for giving good value for our efforts, there would rarely be an instance when the work would be too hard or too much. What the mind of man can conceive and believe – IT CAN Achieve. Believe it!!! In Chapter Two of my book Photography: The Art of Success, we learned about the various styles of photographic suitability: the maple, fir, willow, and oak. From this exercise, I trust you have more insight into what suits you better, or at least, that you have seen some of the traits that, if acquired, will significantly smooth out or straighten your road to success. If you haven't read the book, click on the link below and start on your road to success. Let me help you by being your coach!
On the other hand, if you have been in photography for some time, it may give you the impetus to “re-invent” yourself. This idea is not so much to make you into a different person, but perhaps to give you a different perspective about what you need from your business to make it work better for you. Why did you buy this book or go into the one-on-one mentoring program, if not to improve? In the following chapters, we will go over a variety of ideas and methods that will bring you much more satisfaction and peace. Now, we will take some time to start planning our lives, studios, and strategies for success. There are dozens of examples of people who had a dream, did their homework, were persistent, had to re-invent themselves, and, despite incredible odds, succeeded. They set their goals. They worked their plan. They succeeded because they were willing to do what it took to succeed. Do you have what it takes to succeed? Of course you do! Look at what Lance Armstrong, super cyclist, winner of the Tour de France, had to overcome: severe injuries, cancer, and personal tragedy. A reporter asked him, after he had won the Tour de France for a record sixth consecutive time why he thought he won? He told the reporter – “I believe the man that works the hardest deserves to win. When it’s pouring rain and you ride for six hours with no one on the side of the road cheering or booing, that’s why you cherish nights like tonight. What are you doing Christmas Day? Riding. It’s total and complete commitment.” But there was more involved than riding his bike. He had a dream, he had a scheme, he had a team, and they had a plan that they stuck to. He believes in goal setting. Now let's answer the following questions: A. List the five things you value most in your life and then rate them in priority 1-5 (1 being highest, 5 being lowest). ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ B. What are your three most important goals in your life right now? Rate them in priority 1-3 (1 being the highest, 3 lowest). ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
C. What would you do if you only had six months to live? ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
D. What would you do if you had a million dollars? ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ E. What have you always wanted to do in life? ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
F. What are you afraid to attempt? ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
G. What gives you your greatest feeling of importance? ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
H. Imagine getting a pill that guaranteed success. What one amazing thing would you dare to dream and do? ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________
I. How much money do you want to make (realistically) this year? __________ __________ three years from now? __________ five years from now? __________ ten years from now? J. How much money do want available when you retire? _____________ Does this compute with how you answered question "I"? _____ yes ____ no. If no, then go back and redo question "I". Let me help plan and ensure your success – click here!
Photography: The Art of Success
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