In realizing goals you need to create a sense of urgency for it to accomplish. In other words, think of your goals as such a pressing matter which needs full attention for the attainment. Why is this necessary? As humans, we give undivided attention to the important things, and treat the unimportant things with negligence, or lack of consideration. In other words, if it’s important, I’ll care. If it’s not important, I’ll treat it with contempt.

How do you create a sense of urgency? Stephen Covey in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective people said, we should begin with the end in mind. For example in your personal life, consider this scenario I heard at a seminar: Imagine you are retired, and there is a surprise retirement party for you. Your friends, your family, your co-workers are all present. They are going to give a speech about what they think of you as a person, and the impact you had in their life. As of today, what will they say?

Will your husband/wife give thanks for you? What will your kids say? How does your friends perceive you now, and if nothing changes what will they say, the same with co-workers? (If you are “perfect”, and silly me thought I was when I was younger until I stole someone’s cookies while they were watching, talk about a sheepish grin. I know then that I probably won’t succeed as a thief as a career choice, and I learned to dispel of that “perfect” illusion fast).

If you don’t want to hear what they’ll say, then I’ll suggest this calculation as a time line to change..(How old do you want to be when you retire and how old are you now? Subtract your age now from your retirement age, and that’s how long you have to change people’s opinion about you). I had a lot to change, so I started pretty early in life, and I invite you to begin today and as the late Michael Jackson said, “I’m starting with the man in the mirror, I’m asking him change his ways, no message could be any clearer, if you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and make a change.” Why? You want to leave a legacy.

In business, I was told to create an ideal day. You’ve accomplished the goals, how will it make you feel? Let yourself go in the experience of the day in your imagination. Write everything on paper. When you write out that day you’ve accomplish your goals, when you come back to a sense of reality, how long do want to take before it’s accomplish it? Consider the sense of urgency for that day to come to pass, and the goal will be accomplished.

Remember, what Covey said “begin with the end in mind.”  This is what it will look like because I’ve written it, and have a sense of ownership to it because I’ve played it in my imagination. Therefore, this is where I want to start to accomplish it, and I begin.