There is a step in a successful goal setting that many people miss. Let me share a story with you that illustrates this step beautifully .... (This story began in 2008 - see below for updates)

Start of 2008 -

Jesinta Campbell - that's probably a name you haven't heard before, but I have a sneaking suspicion it is one that you might well catch in the future (and remember you heard it here first lol!).

Jesinta is an adorable young 17-year-old, who is about to graduate from high school, who sits with the world at her feet. I've known Jes since she was 7-years old, and in recent years she was Connor's #1 babysitter. I couldn't have prescribed a better role model for my daughter.

Now you may be wondering where is this going? And, what has it got to do with goal setting? Well, bear with me for a moment or two ...

Jes has been picked up by a modeling agency, and she's about to head overseas to do some modeling. But her real focus is on becoming an actress. She is using the modeling as one of her stepping stones, toward her acting career. From this platform, she wants to be able to contribute to the world through charity work.

As she excitedly told me about her plans, she made the comment that some 'wiser' people have told her to have backup plans 'just in case'. My response to her was "Ignore them!" I asked her, "Does that advice come from people who are living the life that you aspire to?"

Her response in a moment. Let's take a look at why you don't want a backup plan. Even how it could be a hindrance to successful goal setting ...

For Successful Goal Setting a 'Plan B' Could be a Hinderance

I have read many books and interviews by/about highly successful people. It seems the vast majority of them have a Plan A, and never a Plan B. Because Plan B just isn't an option. If they are excited by and drawn to something, then they commit to it whole-heartedly.

Put a backup plan in place. Guess what you are calling to you. The backup plan. Having a backup plan tells yourself and everyone else that you don't back yourself. You don't believe you have what it takes to achieve your dreams.

Give yourself a way out, and you give yourself a sure-fire way to sabotage your success.

Check out what Seal had to say to a contestant during The Voice Australia, 2013, about having a backup plan.

The biggest challenge, the biggest obstacle, most of us face when trying to achieve our goals/dreams/desires is what goes on within our mind.

And unfortunately, most of us have a sabotage button built in to ourselves! Because you may have experienced some failures in your life, your belief in yourself may not be as strong as it was when you were younger. Therefore, your internal chatter can have a deeply negative impact on your performance.

So to reiterate ... For Successful Goal Setting ... have only a Plan A!

For Successful Goal Setting Give Your Undivided Attention to What You Want

Focus on what you want and give it your undivided attention. Every time you think of what you want, fill yourself with the expectation that it is going to unfold perfectly. Try to banish, as much as you can, those negative nelly thoughts.

Michelle Obama lives a meaningful and accomplished life. Which I believe she would have done even if she hadn't been married to a POTUS. She appears to stick mostly to a 'Plan A' only view of the world. Michelle is quoted as saying "failure is a feeling long before it's an actual result"

When you only have a Plan A, you may fail. But if you have a Plan A, and a Plan B, most people's self-worth and focus isn't strong enough to stay focused on Plan A. So they often settle for Plan B. Which means a real fail.

Let me encourage you. Your biggest obstacle is often that space between your ears! It's not as hard to achieve success and your goals as you make it out in your head.

I know, that when I first went into business for myself there was a part of me that thought: "If push comes to shove and it doesn't work out - I can always go back into a paid job."

As my inner circle knows, that almost happened in the early days of this business.

Then one day, I awakened with a decision firmly implanted in my mind. I decided, "No, a job is no longer an option for me". That day I unreservedly committed to my dream.

Amazingly, once Plan B was no longer an option, then magic happened.

Committing myself to my dream meant all of a sudden opportunities started coming my way. Seemingly out of the blue. If anything was to convince me that successful goal setting started first in my head, it was this experience!

With that alignment, it was easy for the Universe to get behind me and help line up all that it is I wanted.

I sit here today having faced some challenging times. But so completely happy! It is about faith without evidence.

Do you really know how electricity works? If you're like the vast majority of the population you don't. Yet each time you flick on a light switch you aren't thinking about a Plan B. That's how you want to treat your goals. Just flick the switch and have a positive expectation that it will eventually unfold. 

I'm not saying there may not be detours.  But always keep your focus on Plan A!

I'm so glad I made the decision to only have Plan A. And yes, it was as simple as that - a decision. So, for successful goal setting, make a firm decision to give your undivided focus to where you are heading.

You Need to Know What is Calling You

What dream, hope, desire do you have that you've been sabotaging because you have a plan B? Or, worse still you're living Plan B? Break off the shackle and give your undivided attention to what you want. My challenge to you is ... after reading this article, ask yourself,

For more tips on successful goal setting, you can access our free training Potential into Reality. With this training you will deepen your belief in focusing on what you want.... not settling for second best.

For Successful Goal Setting You Must Bring Yourself into Alignment

When you fill yourself with hope, joy, enthusiasm about your dream, and consistently hold those emotions, you move yourself a long way down the path to drawing your dream to you.

Potential Roadblock: If every time you think of your dream, you come from a place of desperation, fear, sadness, uncertainty, disillusionment - you will likely push it away. You will put the brakes on your successful goal setting process.

The balancing act is to be joyfully expecting your dream to manifest, while being very very happy with where you find yourself today. I love a line of Abraham's "Happy where I am, and eager for more!"

Like Colonel Sanders, of KFC fame, you may have grey hair before you achieve your dream. Yet, if you can be happy along the way and hold the faith, you can't help but be successful in the real sense of the word.

I've discovered that when I hold myself to living in a place of delighted anticipation, joyous hope, happy to be experiencing each moment, however, it unfolds ... well, life is delicious. Even when I haven't quite achieved yet all that I desire.

But I never put a Plan B in place. I simply ask myself: What new actions, focus, feelings do I need to have around my goal to bring it to life"