Set Your Life Goals Like Indiana Jones

A few years ago, I was attending a conference about personal growth and witnessed something rather special. I was standing in the foyer of the hotel and saw the promoter of the conference welcoming a small dark-haired man who had just arrived. He gave him such a huge welcome, the kind which I thought was reserved for superstars.

Who was this little man? He did not look very special to me. Well later that afternoon, I found out; the man was John Goddard, who has been called, 'The real life Indiana Jones.'

Goddard's claim to fame started when he was 15; he created a list of 127 'life goals'. At the time of the conference, he had accomplished over 100 of these, plus many others on the way.

Please do not make the mistake of thinking that he made life easy for himself, by setting goals which could be easily achieved. Many of those on his list were extraordinary by any measure.

Here are a few examples: climbing major mountains, for example Kilimanjaro, running a mile in five minutes, exploring the full length of some of the world's major rivers.

When we listened to his presentation, it was hard to reconcile this mild, ordinary looking man with such great adventures. The stand-out lesson from his talk was clear - it is important to know what you really want out of life.

If you want to achieve your goals, can you see that it would be a good idea to follow John Goddard's secrets? He chose his dreams and he wrote them down.

Nowadays people talk a lot about having SMART goals: that is, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound.

S - Are you being specific? 'To have more success' is just too vague. What do you mean by success - money, fame more free time? Make it fit you; maybe it is to start new business, perhaps your dream is to be able to speak in public, or start a family.

M - Can you measure it? $50,000 in the bank can be measured, 'having more money' is just too vague. One time I was in a coaching group, Bob Proctor asked what we wanted to achieve. One of the group said "I want more money". He gave her a dollar and said "there, you have achieved your goal! Are you sure that was what you wanted?"

A - Is it Achievable? Can you actually do it? Does it stretch you on the one hand and have you given yourself enough time on the other?

R - Can you realistically do the task in the time allowed? Many people can be fairly clear on the amount of money they want, but not so clear on how long it will take to pay the price - by doing what will be necessary.

T - Do not forget to set an end time to reach the goal; without the time-frame, it is not goal setting, but wishful thinking.

John's goals were all of these and he followed his plans to reach each one.

Another important point is to write them down and put them where you will see them every day; by the side of the bed, on the fridge, the bathroom mirror or on the home page of your computer. Question - do you look at it every day? If yes, then it is a good place.

Next Steps: check that they really are your goals for you, not someone else's. Work out a plan of actions; first this, then...

List the benefits, will the world be a better place if you reach your goals? If not then find a way that it will.

You could talk the goals through with a mentor or partner; this will help your commitment, if you involve someone else and make yourself accountable.

Remember John Goddard's example: write them down, review them, make them SMART and get out there and do them.

More about John 'Indiana Jones' Goddard and goal setting
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