Your Goal Guide - Debra Eckerling

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road trip was the one that led me to Los Angeles in my twenties when my mom and I tailgated across the country in two cars. The drive took us ten days and included a variety of joys: we played tourist, made new friends, ate good food. We also had more than our fair share of challenges. For instance, a massive thunderstorm delayed our initial departure, I got a speeding ticket before getting on the first highway, and there was a snowstorm in the panhandle of Texas, which shut down our direct route and took us hundreds of miles out of our way. Plus, each of our cars broke down in a different city—mine in Oklahoma, Mom’s on the highway in Dallas on Christmas Eve; we were stranded for four hours before a cab driver—on his first day of work—stopped to help. And just when we thought we were in the home stretch, we were hit with three hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic.

      We made it to Los Angeles exhausted, but ecstatic. We were ready for our next adventure to begin.

      * * *

      I have taken plenty of day trips and road trips; I’ve also been on a number of goal trips. As an adult, I worked more than a dozen jobs in two different states and have had too many interests, hobbies, and side projects to count. I’ve maintained relationships and friendships, and dealt with family dynamics and life drama, all while aspiring to find the perfect work-life balance. Many of my friends, clients, and contemporaries have had their own version of this story. What’s yours? And more importantly, what do you want your story to be?

      I believe everyone deserves to be happy in some, if not every, part of their lives. We all have responsibilities, and that means working to earn money to support the life you have.

      But what about the life you want?

      If you are already doing something you love, can you find a way to make it better, more lucrative, more impactful?

      If you don’t have a job or career that you love, is it feasible to change paths and find one?

      And if switching jobs isn’t an option, can you create something in your life that you enjoy, that gives you hope, that may lead to something bigger and better down the line?

      That’s what I am here to help you figure out.

      In Part 1, we will plan your road trip. First, we’ll start by setting your sights on something—anything—that will make you happy. This can be an ideal life, an ultimate goal, your GoalTopia. In the next phase, we will do some research to pinpoint exactly where that is and what that means to you. Finally, we will brainstorm, organize, and strategize in order to create a plan—a roadmap—that gets you where you want to go.

      In this wonderful age of technology and accessibility, trying new things and shifting careers is easier than ever. Since we have an influx of options, we find ourselves constantly re-evaluating our professional—and personal—situations. However, only some people make changes voluntarily. Many wait until they are forced into action due to circumstance (their job is being eliminated, they’re in an unhealthy work environment, they have to move), choice (they want to start or grow their own business, it’s time for a career change, they want to have better work-life balance), or both (they want and need to increase their income).

      Regardless of the motivation behind it, the best way to assure a successful trip is to come up with a roadmap ahead of time to get you to your destination. There will still be joys as well as bumps in the road, but at least you will know where you are going. And in terms of setting goals, that’s the most important part. You can’t get what you want unless you know what you want.

      Are you ready to take your next road trip?

      Let’s start planning.

      Determine Where You Want to Go: Your Mission

      Do you know what you want? Great. Not sure? That’s fine, too. We’ll figure it out together.

      Setting goals is just like planning a road trip. You want to figure out where you want to go (your happy place, your ideal life, your GoalTopia) and decide what vehicle (mission or desire) will take you there.

      So what road trip most appeals to you? For what purpose?

      •Going to the mountains to enjoy nature, have an adventure, and challenge yourself to explore bigger and better things

      •Heading to an amusement park to ride roller coasters, get a little dizzy, and enjoy the ups and downs

      •Going to the city to see your name in lights and receive the recognition you deserve for being a knowledgeable force in your industry

      •Spending time at the beach, relaxing, and realizing there’s more to life than work

      The same theory applies to planning your goals. You not only need to figure out what you want, but give some thought to how doing so will improve your life and the lives of those around you.

      What do you want to do? Why?

      •Find a new job in order to feel more fulfilled in your career

      •Find a new job because your current position is being eliminated or you want to get out of a hostile work environment

      •Start or grow your business to earn more money

      •Share your expertise so others can learn from your experience

      •Make a drastic change—or a series of minor ones—to improve your quality of life

      •Prioritize relationships and family, so you have a happier personal life

      •Increase your income to create financial independence

      •All of the above? Some of these goals may fulfill more than one purpose

      Once you know what you want and what drives you, then all of the long- and short-term goals you set will build upon each other to help you achieve it. Think of your GoalTopia as your focal point. In order to reach that or any destination, you need to decide exactly where you are going, what vehicle to take (mission), and what type of fuel (goals) will get you there.

      In the first five chapters of Your Goal Guide, I will walk you through a variety of techniques, mainly writing exercises, to help you figure out where you want to go and why.

      Visualize Your GoalTopia

      In order to get what you want, you need to know what you want. You should also be able to see it. And if you can hear it, feel it, and imagine it, that’s even better.

      You know how attitude is everything, right? Positive thinking is like magic. So is negative thinking, by the way. A bad or stressed aura brings with it a cloud of darkness. You won’t get any of that in this book. Only positive vibes here.

      The point is this: you are more likely to achieve something if you are able to visualize it happening to you in the present tense. To solidify that intention, you also want to create a visual representation of your desired reality. This could be anything from a billion-dollar check made out to you to a picture of your happy family. Eyes on the prize.

      But we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves. Let’s start by figuring out your definition of GoalTopia, a.k.a. your ultimate goal.

      GoalTopia

      When you think about the life you want, what comes to mind? What are you doing? Where are you sitting? Who is with you? Do you have a happy and balanced life?

      Most people have a dream in their head, something they’ve always wanted to do. This desire may have been sparked during their childhood. It could be altered over time, but that glimmer of an idea—a perfect destination, their GoalTopia—started very long ago.

      Here’s mine. When I was a teenager, I decided I was going to write the Great American Novel. I’d planned this idealistic writer’s life. When I grew up, I would rent out a cabin in Vermont, close out the world, and write. This idea still

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