Principles of Achievement

1999-1-23 10:02:00

I was touched by John's situation, especially since I have been in and out of tight financial situations about as much as anyone.

Finances is probably the greatest problem the spiritual workers of the world have today. Jesus said that man cannot serve both God and mammon, yet we must serve mammon in this age to some degree just to survive.

As we move into the Age of Aquarius disciples will learn to balance the two through the viewing and application of money in a spiritual sense. The Purpose of God and money must be blended with great wisdom.

When I was in a difficult financial situation I began writing advise to myself. This is an unfinished series of articles that I hope to complete when I have reached my success goals. Nevertheless, I have found what I have written so far to be sound advice and perhaps it will help John and others.

JJ

The Principles of ACHIEVEMENT

Copyright By J J Dewey

PRINCIPLE I

DECIDE TO HAVE A GOAL

What good does it do to read books and attend seminars on self-improvement if one has not made the decision to reach for something higher? All of us feel a motivating force within us pushing us on to greater heights, to climb another mountain, to accomplish something we have never done before. Unfortunately, many expect progress and happiness in life to just happen, as if they have it coming by some divine decree. All those in this category will discover their folly. Unfortunately, for many, this discovery comes late in life, when that magical power to achieve has atrophied. Then they fall back upon themselves in self-pity and talk about that which might have been.

Many people in this category have had all the ingredients of success. They were intelligent, they had drive and power and they were able to accomplish any job someone else gave them to do. The one little mistake they made is that they never gave themselves a task. All of their labor was to help someone else achieve a goal, and not themselves.

Think of this statement: All activity that one can engage in is pushing toward the fulfillment of a conscious intelligent goal set by someone somewhere. If you do not have a conscious goal that you are seeking then all your energies are working to help someone else achieve theirs.

For example: If you are working for a successful bakery you may be assured that the owner will have certain conscious goals related to growth, quality and service, even if you have none.

When you pay your taxes you may rest assured there are dozens of people eager to grab the money to further their conscious goals.

When you buy groceries your money spent is furthering the conscious goals of several intelligent people in the company.

Think of all the energy that you expend and you will see that somehow, someway, all of it is directed to fulfill some conscious goal somewhere.

As a general rule in the sales world, 10% of the salespeople make 90% of the sales. That's because only 10% know how to set and achieve goals. It is similarly safe to assume that 90% (nine times more than average) of the world's energy is spent in achieving the goals set by less than 10% of the population. If we look at the power wielded by the individuals in the top 1% the results are startling.

The principle is this: As you double your ability to achieve, your opportunity to use other people's energy and efforts will multiply geometrically.

To get in the top ten per cent where you share in the use of 90% of the world's purpose energy, all you have to do is set conscious intelligent goals and then reach them.

To get in the top one per cent you must set and attain conscious intelligent goals that go beyond self-interest and help many people.

Before anyone can get in the elite one or even ten per cent he or she must start at the first step: One must have a goal.

"But I do have goals," you say! Actually, everyone thinks he has goals, but few really do.

Let us offer a true definition of a goal:

A goal is a specific believable objective set by the mind and accepted by the heart. It includes definite steps that will be taken to ensure its completion at an approximated time.

Examples of what a goal is not:

(1) To make a lot of money
(2) To be happy
(3) To be a good parent
(4) To get a great job
(5) To fall in love

Examples of what a goal is:

(1) To make an extra $500.00 this month by putting in two extra hours a day in my business.
(2) Increase my personal sense of self-worth by helping the homeless three hours a week.
(3) Spend one day a month doing something my children will enjoy.
(4) I will get a better job by getting professional help on a new resume and personally deliver it to twelve decision-makers within 30 days.
(5) I will find a marriage partner with similar values as my own within two years. I will join three organizations that are likely to attract the type of person I want.

The first category are wishes, and the second are goals. Everyone has wishes, but only a few have goals.

The first step in setting a goal is to realize the difference between a wish and a goal. Perhaps the main thing to realize is that a wish takes no effort, but a goal may take substantial effort.

The second step is to make a definite decision that you are willing to put forth the additional effort required to meet goals.

The third step is to actually set a goal.

The fourth step is to evaluate the goal to make sure it is truly beneficial and desirable. Since you may be spending mammoth amounts of time and energy in achievement you do not want the goal to be a waste of time. Here are some questions that should be asked:

1. Is this goal leading me toward the fulfillment of my greatest desire?
2. Can I avoid causing harm or taking away anyone's freedom?
3. Does reaching the goal benefit me and others?
4. Do I feel within my innermost self that the goal is desirable and good?

If you can answer yes to all these questions, then there is no reason to delay setting your goal. Pick something that you desire to accomplish. You have now taken a major step.

Summary of Part 1:

1. Know the difference between a wish and a goal.
2. Be willing to put in additional effort.
3. Pick a goal
4. Evaluate the desirability of the goal.

THE PRINCIPLES OF ACHIEVEMENT PRINCIPLE 2

Put Your Goal into Words By J J Dewey

Very few goals that improve our situation in life are actually reached. One of the main reasons for this is that they have not been clearly defined and reduced to the written word. There are several important guidelines to follow in doing this:

1. Be specific and avoid generalities. WRONG: I want to make a lot of money. RIGHT: I will make an extra $1000.00 this month. We have all heard that the subconscious mind is like a computer. How can any computer do any accurate computations with the phrase "a lot of money?" A computer can, however, deal with a specific like the number 1000. 2. The written goal must be believable. Goals are like steps on a ladder and ladders must be climbed one step at a time. To make the goal believable it must outline a possible next step. Presenting the final outcome is fine as long as increments are included. Let us say that you are fifty pounds overweight. The final step on your ladder is the loss of 50 pounds, but if you try to make the goal a one-step process you will fail. For instance, if you merely write: "I will lose fifty pounds in six months," this is like telling yourself: "I will climb a twelve foot ladder in one step." Your inner computer doesn't have the data that the ladder has twelve steps which must be taken and doesn't know how to reach the top; thus failure is assured.

Telling yourself that you will lose 50 pounds in six months is fine if you include believable steps that you will take. What is your first step? It could be the loss of five pounds. How are you going to take this first step. Are you going to exercise, diet, join a group, visualize or what? Let your subconscious know in no uncertain terms what the process for that first step is and when it is to be attained as you are striving for the final goal.

Here is a possible wording: I will lose 50 pounds and go from 250 pounds to 200 pounds by September 1. My first step is to lose five pounds by March 15. To accomplish this I will jog 30 minutes a day five days a week and live on no more than 1200 calories a day.

Now you have given your subconscious data that computes and you are on your way toward weight loss.

Once you have your goal defined in words that are desirable and believable, you have taken a major step toward fulfillment. Just as the builder of a home needs a blueprint, so does the builder of a dream. Your written goal is a blueprint which, if followed to the letter, will make your dream come true. Can you imagine opening a blueprint and all you see are the words "a beautiful home?" What does that tell the builder? Nothing. You must create a blueprint for your goal that clearly tells your subconscious mind how to build and when the job is to be completed. If your blueprint is accurate and you have the determination to follow it, then you have unlimited power to reach any goal.

Once you have your plan in written form the next thing you must do is plant it in your mind. See the written plan as a seed and your mind as fertile soil. Your desire is the water that makes it grow. To plant the seed correctly requires you to keep your attention on the plan. The best way to do this is put your written goal on an audiotape.

It is quite popular to play motivational tapes by some author or lecturer to help you reach your goals. This may sell a lot of tapes for some person, but the repetition of the voice of someone you do not personally know, giving you general motivational concepts, is low in effectiveness. Use other people's tapes for learning only, NOT for the planting of your "seed," or goal.

For effective planting of your goal into your mind, you need three people: (1) Yourself (2) Your mate or best friend of the opposite sex and (3) Your best friend of the same sex that is available.

Your goal must be recorded three times, first by the person of the opposite sex. Before reading your goal into the tape this person should call you by name in a loving manner and say these words: "I believe and have great faith in you. I know you can do whatever you say you can do. I give you all my belief and support and I joyfully look forward to you fulfilling the goal I am about to read." Then after your written goal is read, the person ends with: "I believe and have faith that you will accomplish all the words I have spoken."

The next step is to have your friend of the same sex read into the tape using these same words.

Finally, you read them with this introduction: "I believe and have great faith in myself. I know I can do whatever I say I can do. I joyfully look forward to fulfilling the goal I am about to read." Then read your goal and end with: "I believe and have faith that I will accomplish all the words I have spoken."

Now listen to the tape three times a day and in about three weeks you will discover new avenues of power unfolding for you to fulfill your dreams. You will discover a power of accomplishment that was never before available.