What is a goal?

We could take the text book definition, as supplied by Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary: “the end toward which effort is directed.” While that is accurate, it is also rather limiting. Your goals can be much more.

Jim Byrnes, a Billion Dollar Agent, defines a goal as “your dreams combined with your passion, purpose, a defined plan, some playfulness, and a time line.” He goes on to say: “Goals are a progressive journey of constant and never ending improvement and abundance. Goals are an extension of your core values and beliefs.”

That is a pretty wide open definition of goals. They can be a one-time deal, such as to sell your current house and purchase a larger one, or to hire a new buyer’s agent for your team. Or, your goals can be ongoing, such as to improve your relationship with your spouse, to spend X hours a week with your rapidly growing-up child, or to work out 5 times a week.

No matter what type of goals you are thinking of setting, you must write them down and review them frequently. Update them as needed, celebrate them when they are achieved, and learn from your failures.