Writing it down

I was once told that a person has an 80% greater chance of succeeding with a goal when it is written down. Just by putting pen to paper, and writing down your desires does something to help you achieve them.

I spent today at a division retreat where we had a member of the university faculty come and talk to us about customer service. It is hard to sum up all the different facets of his presentation in a single sentence, so it is much more than that. I learned a number of things about myself today (we did the DiSC assessment for anyone familiar with that) and have a couple of "ah hah" moments to share.

1. If you aren't green and growing, you are ripe and rotting.

What exactly does this mean? To me, it means that we need to be constantly progressing, moving forward with your goals, dreams, and potential.

2. Awareness is the beginning of progress.

Again, the word according to me.....you can't change anything without first knowing what needs to be changed, what needs to be done, and isn't that half the battle, just knowing?

3. Some people go to their graves with their music still in them.

Talk about poetic!! I'm not sure if these quotes come from someone in particular or if they are just phrases that are used by this presenter. (Tim Border if you are familiar with WSU). I have to take this back to writing. How many of us have a story to get out, but never do? Do I want to go to my grave with my story still in me? Certainly not!

4. If you don't write it down (goals), you don't want it bad enough.

Wait just a minute. Did they just say that if I want to write that book badly enough, I'll write that goal down???? Deep breath inserted here. Light bulb flashing above my head. Yes, that is exactly what was said.

So, I have sit back a little bit and assessed myself a little bit. What do I want bad enough. Here is my list, in particular order:

1. My family to be eternal. (This then raises the question of what am I doing to achieve that!)
2. A trip to Scotland, preferably with my honey!
3. Write a book, get it published (Technically two things, but hey, it's my list!)
4. Have a clean house.....(Should be fairly easy, right? NO!)
5. Send my children to college.
6. Be healthy. Yep, that old "loose weight" just doesn't cut it. It's all about the heart health, baby!

Now, I've made lists before. I even have a couple tucked away in my scriptures, a journal, and probably my cedar chest in the front room. Most of my six goals above have been on the list, in one form or another for years now. Some come and go, but mostly, these are the mainstays. I wonder if writing them down on all of those lists has helped me move any closer to their fruition? Some I know will be a constant road of progress, such as number one. I have to break that one down into smaller, more manageable goals. Hmmm, can that be the answer to all of them?

As I sat and listened....okay, somewhat listened, my mind started going a million miles an hour on how to make some of my goals into reality. I pictured in my mind, sticky notes on my bathroom mirror asking my how many pages I'd produced, or little reminders taped to my sun visor in my car.

So I don't have a plan. A blog isn't exactly the tangible paper that is generally how one would write down goals. But today it's going to have to do. I have the big picture, and now it's time to break it down. Hey! I have a start though!