Chapter 5: Turn Your Mission Statement into a Motto
Section 2: Explore Different Destinations: Your Options
Chapter 6: Begin Directed Journaling
Chapter 9: Research the Possibilities
Chapter 10: Select a Destination
Section 3: Brainstorm Your Route: Your Path
Chapter 11: Brainstorm All Goals
Chapter 12: Organize Professional Goals
Chapter 13: Organize Personal Goals
Chapter 15: Choose Alpha and Beta Projects
Section 4: Tips for a Successful Trip
Chapter 17: Create Itineraries
Chapter 18: Don’t Drive Every Day
Section 5: Car Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Chapter 21: Create Rules and Rewards
Chapter 22: Deal with Detours, Roadblocks, and Car Trouble
Chapter 23: Find a Support System
Chapter 25: Enjoy Your Adventure
Navigating This Book
Before going on a road trip, you need the essentials: paper and pen, a map, and a destination. You want to make sure to have a full tank of gas, predetermined stopping points, and plenty of snacks. A plan gets you started. Fuel and motivation keep you going. The same is true for your goals. Your destination is GoalTopia: that ideal place where you achieve the objectives you set and live the life you want.
Hi, I’m Deb. And I love helping people set and achieve their goals.
My passion for goal-setting started several years ago, almost by accident. I was doing events for Barnes & Noble, and one of my customers asked if I’d start a writers’ support group. I said, “If you think people will attend, I’d be happy to try it out.”
It was a hit. And I saw the power of goal-setting and accountability firsthand.
At these meetings, people would share what they were working on, report on their goals, and set new ones. Almost everyone, including me, would get something done for the next meeting. Seeing others achieve is encouraging—“If they can do it, so can I”—but the positive feedback you get when you reach your goals is even more motivating. The process works!
Fast forward several years. I had moved to Los Angeles and frequently talked about this awesome goals group I led at Barnes & Noble. It was time to start it up again. Over the years, the group—which was named Write On!—has gone through many changes and now also embraces creatives and entrepreneurs. We have live meetings where I give out “stars”—a gold star when you achieve the goals you set, any color star for effort. There’s also a substantial online community: a page and group on Facebook, as well as a #GoalChat on Twitter.
This group led me to start coaching after a member asked if I would help him one-on-one. I also began speaking and leading workshops, live and online. Over the years, I’ve helped people around the world set and achieve goals through strategizing, troubleshooting, and offering resources, encouragement, and deadlines. Their projects ranged from writing books and starting blogs to social media, business development, and more. I’ve also worked with businesses to turn their ideas into reality.
After years of working on and polishing my goal-setting and productivity techniques, I adapted it into a simple roadmap, The D*E*B Method, which is the process used in Your Goal Guide.
The Goal Conundrum
What stops you from achieving your goals?
•Not enough time?
•Not enough motivation?
•Not a clue as to what you want to do?
You’re not alone.
It’s difficult to focus on your goals when you have to invest time and energy you don’t really have into something that may reward you down the line. However, if you make your goals a priority and work on them for short periods of time, you will eventually reach your desired destination.
The Roadmap
The D*E*B Method is the approach I created to help people figure out what they want and how to develop a plan to get it. The process, which we will go through in Part 1 of the book, is as simple as planning a road trip.
The first step—D—is to Determine Where You Want to Go: Your Mission. What type of place would you like to go on your road trip? What makes you happy? The beach, the mountains, the city? Do you want an adrenaline-fueled adventure, or would you rather relax at a resort?
Whether you are planning a trip or plotting a goal, you need to get a clear vision of where you want to go and what you want to accomplish. This section will help you figure out your GoalTopia and the mission behind it; this will serve as the driving force that propels you through your journey.
Once you know your ideal target, it’s time to E—Explore Different Destinations. You know you want to go to an amusement park, but which one? You want to start a side business for fun and profit, but