Dear daughter,
Something important that we need in our lives is to have goals! Here, I want to give a summary of the book GOALS! How to Get Everything You Want – Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible by Brian Tracy.
One thing I like about this book is that it has a lot of background explanation that makes you think about why you need goals. In the beginning, it might look like too much information, but as you read, you understand why the author wrote all that information.
So, let’s start.
From the very beginning, the author states “any plan is better than no plan at all”. I cannot emphasize enough how important this is.
So, my daughter, do you have a plan?
Keep reading and you will find out why.
CHAPTER ONE Unlock Your Potential
This chapter is about the potential that all of us have.
Sometimes, we think that people who achieve a lot are special.
Ok, they are special in a certain way. Do you know how?
They are special because they unlocked their potential. And you can do the same.
I know for sure that you are special. I mean, I know you since you were born. But did you unlock all your potential? Wouldn’t be nice if you did?
There is a phrase that I really like in this chapter and for me is the core of what Brian Tracy wanted to tell: “Success is goals, and all else is commentary”.
If goals are so important, why most people don’t have them?
Here is what the author says about that:
- Some people don’t realize how important goals are.
- They don’t know how to set up goals.
- People have fear of failure. They might feel that if they set up a goal, and they fail, it will be a very bad thing.
- They have fear of rejection.
From my side, I can also tell you that the majority of people have debt, they don’t have an emergency fund, they don’t invest, they are not financially free, etc.
Does it make sense? No, it doesn’t! But it is like that. That is also why many people never achieve what they want, or think they want, to achieve in life.
Here, the author also introduces two key points that are of utmost importance to be successful:
- Clarity. Do you know what you really want? When? What price do you have to pay for it? Etc.
- A burning desire. Do you really want it? Or do you just think you want it?
In conclusion, understanding you have unlimited potential is the starting point of goal setting.
Remember that the book aims to teach you how to set goals.
CHAPTER TWO Take Charge of Your Life
The second step to setting up your goals is that you need to understand that you are responsible for everything that happens in your life.
Knowing that you are responsible for your life, leads you to take charge of your life by doing the following:
- “Identify your biggest problem or source of negativity in life today. In what ways are you responsible for this situation?”
- “See yourself as the President of your own company. How would you act differently if you owned 100% of the shares?”. You can read here about shares and the stock market.
- “Resolve today to stop blaming anyone else for anything and instead accept complete responsibility in every area of your life. What actions should you be taking?”
- “Stop making excuses and start making progress. Imagine that your favorite excuses have no basis in fact, and act accordingly.”
- “See yourself as the primary creative force in your own life. You are where you are and what you are because of your own choices and decisions. What should you change?”
- “Resolve today to forgive anyone who has ever hurt you in any way. Let it go. Refuse to discuss it again. Instead, get so busy working on something that is important to you that you don’t have time to think about it again.”
Dear daughter, are you ready to take charge of your life?
CHAPTER THREE Create Your Own Future
Remember when I talked to you about going to the university and finishing a degree?
Your degree, which might be (hopefully) your career is part of your future, not your whole future.
Do you know that you can design your future?
Here are some recommendations that Brian gives in his book:
- Think about the future
- Create a five-year fantasy
- Imagine no limitations
- Practice blue sky thinking. Imagine everything is possible by looking at a clear blue sky, with no limits. Imagine your perfect life in the future if there was no limit, like in the clear blue unlimited sky.
- Refuse to compromise on your dreams
- Practice no-limit thinking
- Imagine your perfect family life
- What is your ideal health and fitness
- Be action-oriented. Just do it.
- Design your perfect calendar
The goal of doing this is to get more clarity on what you want.
Remember, clarity is of utmost importance in goal setting.
CHAPTER FOUR Clarify Your Values
This chapter is about the role of your values on your goals.
Here, you will find information on how your values can impact your goals.
I cannot explain better what the author wrote in this chapter. Here, I’ll just recommend you read it from the book. The explanation is great!
Only one point that I want to emphasize: be true to yourself. Always have integrity as one of your core values.
CHAPTER FIVE Determine Your True Goals
Start with The Great Question: “What do I really want to do with my life?”
Here is what the author suggests:
- Start with general goals and then go to specific ones. Divide them into categories: family, career, financial, and health goals.
- Identify what are your major concerns and think about what you can do to overcome those concerns.
After that, you can do the following:
- “Write down your three most important goals in life right now.”
- “What are your three most pressing problems or worries right now?”
- “If you won a million dollars cash, tax-free, tomorrow, what changes in your life would you make immediately?”
- “What do you really love to do? What gives you the greatest feelings of value, importance, and satisfaction?”
- “If you could wave a magic wand over your life and have anything you wanted, what would you wish for?”
- “What would you do, how would you spend your time, if you only had six months left to live?”
- “What would you really want to do with your life, especially if you had no limitations?”
For the rest of the chapters, you will find very useful information on how to decide what is your major purpose, and how to achieve your goals.
I’ll tell you here the main takeaways from the rest of the chapters:
- Start at the beginning. The one thousand walk starts with the first step.
- Make sure you measure your progress. Take note of what you do and the results.
- Study more so you can be more knowledgeable.
- Make a plan and take action.
- Review your goals daily.
- Think about your goals daily and talk about them to your closest friends, family, or your significant one.
- Do something every day that put you closer to achieving your goals.
- Persist, always persist.
- If you fail, learn from the failure, and try again now with more knowledge.
Dear daughter, the conclusion of this book couldn’t be better: “Take action today!”
Always remember, when you read the book, you will find a lot more insights and knowledge than what I could summarize for you. Don’t forget to read the book.
Love you, Dad.
I share the letters I write to my daughter so more people can benefit from them. If you want to buy this book, you can check it out on Amazon using this link.