While training for my half-marathon, I needed some knowledge of running fundamentals. In deciding to become a student of the game of running, I immediately headed to the nearest bookstore. Let me tell you, there are a LOT of books on running and I looked through every single one. In fact, I spent so much time at the bookstore browsing through running books; I got more than one weird look from the sales clerk!

Ultimately, I selected five books to begin my education on running a half-marathon. Out of those five, my favorite two were:

1. Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Half-Marathon Training, written by Heather Hedrick, and
   

2. The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer, written by David A. Whitsett.

Once I read these books, and the other three that I’d purchased, I also spent some time on the Internet. I took a lot of notes and, along with my trainer, eventually developed a training program I could stick to. Beyond that, the information I learned gave me the ability to see the finish line clearly. Before this, both the half-marathon and the actual running of it were nothing more than a fuzzy goal in my mind.

When you take the time to educate yourself, these fuzzy goals become clearer, make more sense, and you can finally begin to truly visualize yourself meeting them.

What I want you to do – RIGHT NOW – is make a list regarding your goals. I want you to answer these questions:

1. What is the category my goals fall in?

2. What information do I currently have on this category?

3. What else do I need to know?

4. Where can I go for this information? Think about the Internet, bookstores, libraries, coaches and/or trainers, and possible mentors that already have this information.

5. What do I hope to learn?

6. How will this make a difference in my meeting my goals?

As you answer these questions and seek the knowledge, you will gain power. Your goal will become more defined and you will be even more anxious to get started! Education is a strong motivator for success. Educate yourself first and success will follow!

Knowledge is power! Learning has never been easier. You can research practically anything on the Internet. Books have been written on virtually every subject known to man. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to do something – the information is out there to teach you.

Cheri Alguire is a real estate, business and life coach who partners with you to help you take your business and your life to the next level of success. For more information on Cheri Alguire's book 13 Lessons Learned in 13.1 Miles, visit www.13lessons.com For more information on Cheri Alguire and Next Level Services, Inc, can partner with you to take your real estate business to the next level, please visit http://www.CoachCheri.com

I can honestly say that – WHATEVER YOUR GOAL – learning the game, becoming a student of the game, will help you get you the results you want. Why? Because you will take the time to inform yourself of the path ahead, and by doing so, you will increase your chances of success by a very large margin.

Regardless of the event, the industry, or the focus of your goal – it is critical to learn about the game, the rules of the game, and the best way to meet the objective of the game. The only way to do this is to become a student of the game.

What does all this mean? Honestly, it’s a lot simpler than it sounds! Delving in a little deeper, let’s use an example of publishing a book along with an example of running. Say your goal is to publish a book you have written. You will want to follow these steps:

1. Learn About the Game: Determine the category your goal falls in. In the example of publishing, is your book fiction or non-fiction? In the example of running, are you interested mainly in getting fit or, do you need to know more about endurance for, say, a half-marathon?

Once you know the category your goal falls in, you will know where to begin gleaning information to educate yourself. If you have written a non-fiction book on Chinese Wedding Traditions, for example, learning about publishers that focus on fiction isn’t going to help you much. Taking that a bit further, you will need to focus on the type of non-fiction book you are wanting to market.

Likewise, if you are mostly interested in endurance training, learning the ins and outs of strengthening your body for a half-marathon are most important on your list. While you could certainly receive worthwhile information by looking at fitness as a whole, you needed to focus more in order to truly “get it.”

Know your goal. Know the goal’s industry. Know the category.

2. Learn the Rules of the Game. Okay, so you know the category your goal falls into. Now, it’s time to learn the rules for that category. Again, using publishing as an example, you want to find the best publisher for your book on Chinese Wedding Traditions. Where do you start? What about the example of learning how to gain endurance for running a half-marathon? Where would you start?

Regardless of the industry, regardless of the category, there are people who have gone before you. Many of those people have written books, articles, created Web sites, and train or teach others how to be successful. These are the resources you want to tap! I recommend starting on the Internet because it’s a free resource that can give you a ton of information very quickly.

After you’ve spent some time researching on the net, you may find books, audio-books, DVDs, or even organizations devoted to what you’re trying to learn about. It’s completely up to you how you choose to educate yourself at this point. You can join some of these organizations, hire a trainer or a coach, purchase a book or five, or any combination of the resources available to you that you want.

Educate yourself. Study the rules. Learn the rules.

3. Learn the best way to meet the Objective of the Game. You’ve spent some time educating yourself on the ins and outs of the industry and the category of your goal. You have a lot more information about this than you previously did – CONGRATULATIONS! Now, take this information and you apply it to your personal goal.

Back to our example of publishing a non-fiction book on Chinese Wedding Traditions, the research conducted should give a clear idea of the correct publishers that would be interested in this type of book. Along with this, the knowledge of how to approach these publishers should also have been learned. Now, you know the proper way to begin meeting your objective.

In the goal of running a half-marathon, you should learn about running in particular. How you need to train and what to do each step of the way, such as the best way to increase your endurance, stretching exercises for before and after you run, and additional tips that will help you plan your attack. All of this knowledge will allow you to better plan so you will be ready to run a half-marathon when the time comes.

Research the rules. Understand the rules. Plan your attack.

4. Becoming a Student of the Game. By following the above three steps, you can become a student of any game! This is the best way to achieve the goal in front of you, regardless of what your goal is.

You absolutely need to acclimate yourself as much as possible. This will allow you to SUCCEED, which is the point of making a goal, isn’t it?

When you take the time to educate yourself and plan accordingly, even the seemingly most difficult objectives become easier to manage.

ü Learn About YOUR Game.

ü Learn the Rules of YOUR Game.

ü Meet YOUR objective.

People all over the world are learning new things every day. Education is an important facet in life, in all professions, and in almost every single thing we do.

Wrong!  When I decided to get out there and just do it, I found it far more difficult than I’d anticipated.  Who knew running (the sport or running a business) would be so hard?  I realized, quickly, that I’d not only underestimated the sport itself, but my own ability to acclimate by just doing it.

You may find yourself in a similar situation, depending on what your overall goals are.  It’s not fun feeling like we’re in over our head and goals are ripe for this.  What do you do if this happens to you?  Basically, you have three choices:

1.  Give up.  Wow, this is so much harder than I thought!  I was completely deluding myself into believing this is something I could do.  No way can I accomplish this goal at this time in my life, so I’m going to set it aside and focus on something I feel more comfortable with.

2. Blindly forge ahead.  Okay, so this is harder than I thought, but that’s alright.  This is my goal and I’m determined to reach it, so I’ll just forge ahead.  Eventually, everything will sink in and I’ll be more comfortable and everything will be fine.

3. Learn the game.  Maybe you’re feeling a little discouraged, but you’re not ready to give up.  You’re also not ready to forge ahead without more information.  So you decide to learn the game, inform yourself, and then plan your strategy.

What are you learning to “run?”  You might not be learning to run long distance, but you might be learning to run your business in slower economic times.  Or you may be learning to run your Real Estate Business in a Real Estate market that is so very different than when you first learned it.

What are you going to do?  Give up?  Blindly forge ahead?  Or learn the game?  The choice is yours to make.

 Cheri Alguire is a real estate, business and life coach who partners with you to help you take your business and your life to the next level of success. For more information on Cheri Alguire's book 13 Lessons Learned in 13.1 Miles, visit www.13lessons.com For more information on Cheri Alguire and Next Level Services, Inc, can partner with you to take your real estate business to the next level, please visit www.ProRealEstateCoach.com

Think back to all the goals you've ever made - from the simple ones to the large ones. Which goals were achieved and which weren't? Make a list of at least ten goals you can think of, writing "MET" or "NOT MET" next to each one. This visual exercise may help you understand at least one of the reasons why the NOT MET goals were - well, not met.

My guess is your MET goals were accomplished with the help of at least one other person. A friend, spouse, parent, or colleague who was in on your goal, perhaps because it was a goal they shared with you, or perhaps only because they were interested in you and how you were handling it. Regardless, every time you bring another person into a goal, you have a better chance at realizing that goal.

Without accountability, most people are likely to forget why it was so important to them, quit progressing toward it, or simply decide it's not worth the hassle. However, with accountability - meaning you know exactly what you want, when you want it, and there is at least ONE other person who has the same knowledge - guess what, you will more than likely continue toward the finish line.

While humans are really good at admitting defeat to themselves, they are far less able to admit defeat to another person. It's actually (in most cases) easier for them to keep working toward their goal just so they DON'T have to admit they "gave up" to another person.

Accountability works for the following reasons:

• Shared Intention - When you share your intention with others, it becomes more real to you, which raises the stakes.
• Responsibility - By confiding in another person, you're claiming responsibility to the goal you want to pursue. This creates a more focused outlook as you pursue your goal.
  
• Ownership - Own your goals by bringing another person or persons into the loop. When you take control by placing ownership on your goal - success is far easier reached.
• Commitment - Simply by communicating your plan with others forces you, like little else does, to commit. You know they'll be asking about your progress, checking in to see how things are going, and they'll be very interested in the entire process. You almost have no choice but to commit at this stage!

So who can help you keep accountable to your goals so you can move them from the UNMET to the MET category? Do you need an accountability partner? Do you really own your goals by bringing another person into the loop? Who is that person going to be? Just make sure it is someone who will really stretch you, and won't hold you back to their level. It can be a friend, colleague or professional coach. Whoever it is, make sure they will REALLY hold you accountability to setting and moving those goals to the "MET" category!

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Small Business Coach Cheri Alguire partners with Working Moms, Small Business Owner Moms, and Real Estate Moms to hold them accountable to creating and following the plan that will take their businesses and their lives to the next level. Find out more at www.CoachCheri.com and www.RealEstateMoms.com

Accountability is serious! In the world of small business, more and more information is necessary to keep things running smoothly. This increased amount of information is a form of accountability, as is communication, and while company will have different levels of accountability, I guarantee you that none exist without it.

In our families and personal lives, accountability is just as essential as in the real estate world. What we want, how we go about getting it, and the overall success can be related back to – yep, you got it, accountability. Think about how successful your kids would be in completing their chores if there were no accountability.

I remember speaking with a friend shortly after agreeing to run a half-marathon. This friend of mine is an avid runner, so she was immediately interested in the event and, wonders of wonders, even wanted to do it with me. If, by any stretch of the imagination, I wasn’t fully committed before this moment, agreeing to run this marathon with my friend Jennifer sealed the deal.

With Jennifer holding me accountable, I had no choice but to follow through – after all, I couldn’t rely on anyone “forgetting” about my commitment now! My friend didn’t live near me, which meant we couldn’t physically train together, but every time we spoke – she asked about MY training. Between you and me, I hadn’t even started to train at this point, but I certainly didn’t want to fess up to that! So, I’d lie through my teeth and say, “Great!” every time she asked.

Well, let’s be honest here – I could lie all I wanted to, but the proof would be right there in front of my friend’s eyes on the day of the marathon. By her continually bringing it up and reminding me, I was forced to keep it in mind. This propelled me to (eventually) get moving so I’d be able to answer her honestly!

As I said before, accountability is one of the essential elements in your succeeding at any goal you set. So, who are you accountable to?

You hold people accountable all the time, your buyers, your sellers, your kids, your husband. But who holds you accountable to doing what you need to do every day to be successful in business (following upon leads, creating the marketing plan) and in life (taking “ME” time, balancing time off?) Maybe it is time you found someone to help hold you accountable.

Maybe it is time to enlist an accountability partner or hire a coach. Maybe it is time to really do what it takes to get to the next level.
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Small Business Coach Cheri Alguire partners with Working Moms, Small Business Owner Moms, and Real Estate Moms to hold them accountable to creating and following the plan that will take their businesses and their lives to the next level. Find out more at www.CoachCheri.com and www.RealEstateMoms.com

Goals.  I have talked about having SMART Goals in the past.  Here are two more fun acronyms to use to make sure you have set great goals. 

Is it a PURE Goal?  Answer the following: 

• Positive – Is your goal positively stated?  Our brains are tricky and if you have any negative connotations surrounding your goal, you'll have a less likely chance of success.

• Understood – Are you sure you completely understand your goal, the methods for achieving it, and the results you want to attain?   

• Relevant – Is your goal significant to you?  Does it connect in your life in an appropriate and significant manner?

• Ethical – Does your goal pertain to a high standard?  Is it an honest and moral goal?

Now, let's move on and discover if your goal is also a CLEAR Goal:  

• Challenging – Is your goal challenging to you?  Does it fill you with excitement at the possibilities?

• Legal – Of course, you don't want to break any laws, so be sure your goal, and the steps to achieve it, all are legal.

• Environmentally Sound – Does your goal make sense within your environment?  In both your work and your home environment, be sure that your goal is achievable.

• Appropriate – Is it an appropriate goal for you to be focused on?  If not, why not? 

• Recorded – Have you recorded your goal and your steps in any form?  Checklist, to-do list, calendar – whatever your way, finalize your dreams by putting them into a tangible form.

Using acronyms such as SMART, PURE and CLEAR are great ways to make sure you are writing goals that are really specific enough, clear enough, detailed enough.  By having this kind of a goal you can really measure it, you can really create a plan around it, you can really achieve it.  How are you doing with your goals for 2008?  Maybe it is time to review your goals with a coach who can give you an outside perspective on your goals and your progress.  Set and go after those goals and make it a GREAT 2008!

Coach Cheri Alguire has helped hundreds of small business owners, Realtors, and moms set and achieve goals far above what they would have ever imagined possible.  See what her clients say about her coaching services. 
If you are ready to take your business and you life to the next level of success, contact Coach Cheri today.

While part of me had thought my past client might forget about the commitment I'd made to her regarding the half-marathon, I still took the time to focus on my goal.  This turned out to be a good thing, because she didn't forget!  In the summer of 2005, Valerie contacted me again and asked if I was ready to sign up and begin my training.  My half-thought promise turned into a full-fledged commitment! 

I knew if I was truly going to follow through, I needed to finalize the setting of my goal.  This was a little scary, as it was far above anything I had ever imagined myself doing.  The marathon was 13.1 miles.  Even for people who do run, that's not a short hike.  For me, the non-runner, those miles seemed excruciatingly long.

While I did workout, and tried to keep myself in shape, I was not an athlete by any stretch of the imagination.  I was a business owner and a mother to three teenagers.  However, I was also a coach.  I knew how to stretch my clients to help them move out of their comfort zones in order to reach the successes they dreamed of.

In the way life is, I was about to become my own client.  I was about to use all the skills I taught others to ready myself for the biggest "race" of my life.

What is the first thing I did?

I carefully set my goal and I made sure it passed my goal tests.  This process started with the SMART Goals I mentioned earlier.

So, what is a SMART Goal?  It's a method used by companies and individuals worldwide, though the process itself differs slightly from organization to organization.  I am going to share with you my version of creating and setting SMART Goals.  To begin, answer the following questions:

1.    What do you want?  Be specific.

2.    Is the goal stated in positive terms?

3.    What are the logical and chronological steps you'll need to take in order to achieve this goal?

4.    Is the goal within your control?

5.    What stops you from having this goal right this instant?

6.    What kind of person (behavior, attitude, etc.) do you need to be to attain this goal?

7.    How will you handle potential obstacles?

8.    Is the outcome harmful to anyone?

Once you have these questions answered, you must ascertain that you have a SMART Goal.  Use the following to define your goal and to see if it is indeed a SMART Goal.

Is it a SMART Goal?  See for yourself:

• Specific – When you are specific about your goals, you have a far greater chance of seeing success.   Vague goals are much more difficult to accomplish.  To set a specific goal, you must take into consideration the six "W's."

1. WHO – Who is involved in the goal?

2. WHAT – What results do you want?

3. WHERE – Where is this goal in your life?  Is it a career goal?  Where in your career does it fall?  For example, if your goal is to increase awareness of your business, it falls within the marketing aspect of your career.

4. WHEN – What is your timeframe for this goal?  When do you want to see the results?

5. WHICH – Which steps are needed to achieve the results you want?  Are there obstacles?  Name them.

6. WHY – What are your reasons for accomplishing this goal?  Be specific.

• Measurable – It is essential to develop the exact method you'll use for measuring your progress toward the realization of your goal.  Progress that is measured allows you to stay on track, gives you concrete target dates to reach, and puts you in control of the process.

• Agreed – When you agree to accomplish a goal, you must be accountable to someone else.  You will focus harder and achieve more when there are other people in the loop.  Pick a business colleague, a family member, or a friend and let them in on your goal, and each step you'll need to take to achieve it. 

• Realistic – With every goal you decide to achieve, be sure it is a realistic goal.  This does not mean it can't be a high one!  Reach for the sky, but be sure you have the ability, methods, and resources available to make it happen.

• Timely – Determine if it's an appropriate time in your life to work on each of your goals, as well as the length of time you will need to achieve them.  Be honest with yourself and develop a time frame that will lead you to success.

Are our goals for 2008 SMART goals?  If not, it may be time to rework them.

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Cheri Alguire is a real estate, business and life coach who partners with you to help you take your business and your life to the next level of success. For more information on Cheri Alguire's book 13 Lessons Learned in 13.1 Miles, visit www.13lessons.com For more information on Cheri Alguire and Next Level Services, Inc, can partner with you to take your real estate business to the next level, please visit www.ProRealEstateCoach.com

• Increasing sales.
• Enhanced employee relations.
• Better time management.
• Advance a new marketing plan.