Posted by Peter Arnold / Canada on December 20, 2002 at 12:38:45:
Dear PN Partners:
As a follow-up to Part I (What 'IS' MLM?) -- with your permission, here is Part II for our consideration...
We will soon be enjoying the Holiday Season. My hope is that most of us are able to be with our friends, family and loved ones at this special time of the year.
This is a time to reflect and a time to count our blessings, regardless of our challenges.
I believe it is also a critical time for us to PAUSE - LOOK AHEAD - and PLAN for the future.
I believe we need to be thinking about where we're GOING in our life's journey -- and how best
to GET there. I believe it is a time we need to be thinking about L-I-F-E -- and NOT just our CAREERS / BUSINESSES / PROFESSIONS.
As we try to find some quiet (?) time during this period to reflect on the year just past -- and
to set important objectives for 2003, I believe we need to 'wipe the slate clean' - start fresh -
reflect on the past - and set our sights high for the future - OUR future -- but in a "broad" sense.
GOAL SETTING - This is what I'm referring to -- BUT in terms 'bigger' than what we're used to seeing and doing.
FREE WORKBOOK - Below, is a link to a great Workbook ("Goals 2003 - Creating a Life on Purpose"). It's in PDF File, and so can be printed off. It's one of the "best" I've come across -- because of it's approach to the BIG PICTURE. I think you'll agree when you see it.
G-O-A-L-S ARE CONTROVERSIAL' - Setting GOALS is a highly controversial subject. There are some who
believe there is actually a 'dark side' to this exercise -- there are those that say - 'forget your
goals - learn to love the journey' (that we should live only 'in the moment' - be absorbed in
the task at hand - not sidetracked by long-term results) -- there are some that suggest the
very 'pursuit of a goal' should give us something we want - independent of the 'goal itself' -- there are some that are afraid of 'failing', so they feel it's better to not make commitments that might end in disappointment -- some are afraid of 'succeeding' (as odd as this may sound, they hesitate to set goals because they are uncertain or fearful about the personal 'changes' that may be necessary - and that success will bring) -- others simply don't know 'how' to set goals -- on and on...
MY 'OWN' CALL - Is 'Goal Setting' important? Our heart, lungs and brain are vital to our very existance. Without them, we're extinct. GOALS serve very much the same purpose in my opinion. Goals are all about PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT - and without that - we're decaying. For any chance at life, plants need SUNLIGHT -- fish need WATER -- and our body needs OXYGEN. Make no mistake - a LIFE of "meaning" needs GOALS + specific PLANS to achieve them. We should consider them the PULSE of our lives I feel. Without them, we're toast - roadkill - history.
Clearly defined GOALS and strategy are the single most important 'structure' in the long term effectiveness and profitability and sustainability of our success in life. I believe history is littered with corpses of those who failed this lesson.
MY 'OWN' GOALS - In my previous Corporate world, I set goals. In my Business and Financial Consulting world, I set aside a few days of intense planning every year at this time (my practice would be like a rudderless ship if I didn't).
In my MLM world, it's every bit as urgent - perhaps more so, because (1)- of the constant need for PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT -- and (2)- so much of my own business is Online, and involves increasingly accelerated technology, "automation" - this means a greater need to PLAN for impacting the 'most important' part of our business -- the know / like / trust / RELATIONSHIP factor. With 4Life / PN, I have exciting personal goals ahead for 2003 (and these are only enhanced with the announcement of the new 'Rising Star Bonus' to be released in January). I hope you do too. And I know that the 'only' way to achieve my 'own' goals in this area, is to first, 'help others' achieve theirs. I hope you do too.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT is a 'lifelong' pursuit, because LIFE is a work in progress. We never totally arrive -- there's always some polishing to do - knowledge to gain - and love to deepen.
Self-development ends only when WE run out of time. As I see it, we are - and will always be - a
'self in evolution'.
There will never be a day that will not require dedication, discipline, good judgment, energy, and the feeling that we can IMPROVE. Each day offers an opportunity for improvement. Each moment, an advance or retreat in the pursuit of our LIFE goals.
LIFE is an ongoing journey, with lots of beginnings and continuations. We NEVER get to a point when all knowledge is attained and understood - when our bodies function flawlessly - when we completely honor our values, and achieve every Goal.
We GET better when we DO better. And we DO better when we KNOW better.
Personal Development is the "way" that we purposely make everything count -- and it "starts" with setting worthwhile GOALS in my opinion.
Thanks for the opportunity to share my thoughts on this with you.
I especially appreciate it, because I know it's a subject that is hotly debated.
Again, ere's to a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON for everyone.
Sincerely, Peter A.
Peter Arnold, CLU, CFC
Business Achievers Academy
Nova Scotia / Atlantic Canada
Proud members of Professional Networkers - 4Life.
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Below is a link to the 'Goals Workbook' I mentioned above. I hope it works. Sometimes even though a link works in an e-mail - it won't in a website (something about 'cookies'). If that's the case, I'll come back and post the actual URL, so we can put it into our Browsers : >)