May 23, 2012 32 Comments

Guest Post- How to Increase Your Exposure By Defining Your Goals

The following is a guest post by someone I admire a great deal. Michael Hyatt is a writer, a publisher, a speaker, a mentor, and a leader. Here’s his post in support of his AMAZING new book.

I’m convinced that one reason why many people fail at what they try to do (me included sometimes) is that they don’t properly define what they want to achieve.

Let me unpack that a bit…

If you are an author, professional speaker, business owners, entrepreneur, etc. then you need to know what you want to accomplish so that you can plot the proper course. More so than know, you need to write it down. If you don’t, the drift will set in and you’ll wonder aimlessly off the path.

Sounds like common sense right? Well, it is but itís so common that most of us miss it.

If you want to build a brand, attract more followers, and gain the attention you think you deserve (and probably do) then defining your goals is an imperative step.

Platform by Michael Hyatt

Below are 5 ways to do just that from my friend Michael Hyatt, a top blogger and Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers. The tips are from his brand new book Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. It’s really more than a book though, it’s a step-by-step guide to help you do what works in order to be seen and heard. I highly recommend it.

Bonus: To celebrate the launch of the book this week, Michael is giving away $375.98 worth of free Platform bonus content for those who purchase the book between May 21 and May 25. Complete details are available at http://michaelhyatt.com/platform

Five Reasons You Should Define Your Platform Goals

(Adapted Excerpt from Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt)

1. Because it will force you to clarify what you want. Dave Ramsey, author of The Total Money Makeover, helps people who want to become debt-free to be crystal clear on their goals. Every credit card balance, each car loan, every dollar they spendóeverythingómust be written down and tracked constantly. Why? It forces them to be certain about their goals. Ramsey calls it “gazelle intensity.” He got the term from watching a program about how cheetahs stalk gazelles. While the cheetah is the fastest animal on land, it only catches a gazelle about one in nineteen times. “Around our office,” he says, “the counselors can predict who will make it out of debt based on how ‘gazelle-intense’ they are.” Writing down your platform goals can help you clarify what they are so you can become “gazelle intense” about achieving them.

2. Because it will motivate you to take action. Writing your platform goals down is only the beginning. You must execute on your goals. You have to take action. I have found that writing down my goals and reviewing them regularly provokes me to take the next most important action.

3. Because it will provide a filter for other opportunities. The more successful you become, the more you will be deluged with opportunities. In fact, these new opportunities can quickly become distractions that pull you off course. The only antidote I know of is to maintain a list of written goals by which to evaluate these new opportunities.

4. Because it will help you overcome resistance. Every meaningful intention encounters resistance. From the moment you set a goal, you will begin to feel it. But if you focus on the resistance, it will only get stronger. The only way I have found for overcoming this is to focus on the goal. Steven Pressfield’s book Do the Work is must reading on this topic.

5. Because it will enable you to seeóand celebrateóyour progress. Life is hard when you arenít seeing progress. You feel like you are going nowhere. But written goals are like mile markers on a highway. They enable you to see how far you have come and how far you need to go. They also provide an opportunity for celebration when you attain them.

Michael Hyatt is the Chairman of Thomas Nelson publishers and a speaker on leadership and much more. Get his amazing new book here.

ChrisBrogan.com runs on the Genesis Framework

Genesis Theme Framework

The Genesis Framework empowers you to quickly and easily build incredible websites with WordPress. Whether you're a novice or advanced developer, Genesis provides you with the secure and search-engine-optimized foundation that takes WordPress to places you never thought it could go.

With automatic theme updates and world-class support included, Genesis is the smart choice for your WordPress website or blog.

Become a StudioPress Affiliate

  • http://www.mittray.com Mitt Ray

    Great Post  Michael!

    I really enjoyed reading it. From now onwards I am going to make a note of all my goals and revise them everyday. I think I am missing out on some of my goals because of not writing them. I am also going to buy your book – It looks really good. 

    Thank you so much for providing these tips. – Mitt

    • http://michaelhyatt.com Michael Hyatt

      Thanks, Mitt. I appreciate you taking the time to comment!

  • http://www.turndog-millionaire.com/ Turndog Millionaire

    I read about this book yesterday on Dan Blanks site, and it looks like an ideal addition to my to do list. 

    Also, totally agree about creating some Aims…and to write them down!

    You can’t know where you’re going until you know where you are, and creating some defined Aims can help a great deal.

    Matt (Turndog Millionaire)

  • http://propertyagents.co/real-estate-lead-generation-course Muhammad Ayaz

    I totally agree with you chris and certainly writing your goals and checking them time to time that really gives you to judge and proof yourself any result what you have done or what you have to go for.

    I myself looking for some kind of motivational article and that’s seems to me a great post to start with.

    Now, I thinking to make a plan in terms of your five points. Thanks for sharing the great tips!

  • http://www.geekywriter.com/ Romy Singh

    Yeah! Writing our goal down on paper and keeping them in front of our eyes keeps us motivated and fire inspiration on us to turn our goal, dreams into reality, Because we only have talent, we only know what we’ve to do to make my goal alive, we only have what it needs to make our goal and dream alive.

    So thanks Michael for writing such inspiring post and Chris for sharing it with us.

  • Erin Goodman

    Thanks so much for this. Just ordered my copy!! Can’t wait to dig in. :)

    ~Erin

  • johnmurphyinternational

    Michael, love this and I will definitely buy the book – just my sort of reading. I have found the physical act of writing has a profound effect – as opposed to typing them! It really embeds it into the brain.
    Also, a daily review of your goals really keeps the focus.
    Love the “gazelle intensity”

  • http://twitter.com/davelucas Dave Lucas

    Sounds like a book I need to read!

  • http://www.davidpmariano.com/ Dave Mariano

    One of my favorite writers and leaders. I will be reading this book as soon as I get it.

  • http://twitter.com/demoflick demoflick

    So true! There is so much on the Web in the way of amazing (and not-so-amazing) content … whether it be articles, white papers, videos, slideshows and on and on. Giving away a high-ticket bonus like the one featured with this book is a great way to get noticed. If I wasn’t convinced by the fact that the book is featured on your blog, Chris, I’m even more enticed to purchase NOW because of the bonus content that is offered “for a limited time.” Thanks, Chris. Great post as always!

  • http://twitter.com/demoflick demoflick

    So true! There is so much on the Web in the way of amazing (and not-so-amazing) content … whether it be articles, white papers, videos, slideshows and on and on. Giving away a high-ticket bonus like the one featured with this book is a great way to get noticed. If I wasn’t convinced by the fact that the book is featured on your blog, Chris, I’m even more enticed to purchase NOW because of the bonus content that is offered “for a limited time.” Thanks, Chris. Great post as always!

  • http://twitter.com/demoflick demoflick

    So true! There is so much on the Web in the way of amazing (and not-so-amazing) content … whether it be articles, white papers, videos, slideshows and on and on. Giving away a high-ticket bonus like the one featured with this book is a great way to get noticed. If I wasn’t convinced by the fact that the book is featured on your blog, Chris, I’m even more enticed to purchase NOW because of the bonus content that is offered “for a limited time.” Thanks, Chris. Great post as always!

  • Pingback: Steps to Clarity – Starting with the End « The Blog of Bryon Lape

  • Kate

    It’s so true!  If you don’t have a precise roadmap you will wander forever.  With all of the distractions that hit us each day it’s important to have a framework in place to guide you.  Will have to check this one out, thanks!

  • http://www.marcensign.com/blog Marc Ensign

    Thanks Chris and Michael! If you are REEEEAAAALLLLY committed to achieving your goals, try this one too. I set a pretty aggressive goal a few years ago but needed some accountability because it was a bit of a stretch but definitely attainable. I wrote a check for $1,000 to a certain politician (who will remain nameless) that I just found repulsive due to their views of the world. I gave the check to a friend of mine in an addressed and stamped envelope and instructed him to mail in on a specific day no questions asked if I didn’t reach my goal. I reached my goal. 

    Looking forward to reading this book as I need to refresh my goals and commitments this year. Thanks for sharing!

  • http://www.weboutsourcing-gateway.com/ Web Outsourcing Gateway

    A goal is very important as it give us direction on where we should go, what we should reach, but a goal will remain just a goal if we won’t do something to achieve it.

  • http://www.BigButtonRemotes.com/ John @ Easy Read Remotes

    Always consider pros and cons before taking any action. Make educated decisions and keep that ultimate goal in mind at all times. Its easy to get distracted or discouraged by all the things that can happen from A to Z.

  • bodybuildingfactory

    If I wasn’t assured by the truth that the publication is presented on your site, Bob, I’m even more tempted to purchase NOW because of the reward articles that is provided “for a short while.” Thanks, Bob. Great publish as always!

  • http://www.topdogsocialmedia.com/ Melonie Dodaro

    But “But written goals are like mile markers on a highway. They enable you to see how far you have come and how far you need to go.”So tHaving clear and specific goal gives you motivation and a better understanding of what you really needed to prioritize and achieve. It makes you accountable and motivated to continue. Without it you won’t see clear results and progress.

  • Pingback: PLATFORM: I’m Currently Reading This Book. Maybe You Should Too! | Edelman Australia Blog

  • content marketing

    Having a plan is essential to any business and excluding your online presence from your overall business plan is a common mistake. Setting goals for what you want to achieve with your time online is the only way to quantify if it is working for you. It is only by setting clear goals that you can decide on an effective way to move forward and, because it is a bad plan that can’t be changed, tracking the progress of your online efforts is essential.

  • http://twitter.com/RobinDickinson Robin Dickinson

    Thank you Michael and Chris.  Defining your platform goals – what you say YES to -  also helps to clarify what you must now say NO to.  This in turn, makes for highly effective goal achievement.

    Best regards,

    Robin
    @robindickinson

  • http://www.webvideochefs.com Chip Dizard

    This book has resonated so much with me.  Goals are so important and it really does provide a roadmap for where you want to go. It’s so easy to get distracted, especially if you money comes your way, but I am learning to stay focused with laser-like precision to hit my targets.   It also helps if you have an accountability partner to help you with these goals. 

  • http://mybeautymart.com/ Tine Dnaliorf

    Im an SEO , Im spend a long time in virtual world. Im not fun of roaming around. But I learn from you that I should have to be my self. Why not try to invest .. making friends… go networking.. right?

    Sure it helps :) and thanks to you Im now motivate my self..

    God Bless

  • http://ajileo.com/ David Ramirez

    It’s so true!  If you don’t have a precise roadmap you will wander
    forever.  With all of the distractions that hit us each day it’s
    important to have a framework in place to guide you.  Will have to check
    this one out, thanks!

    • http://www.ebzj.com/ wedding dresses

       surly,  I agree with your opinion

  • http://www.mitprof.com/ MIT IT RECRUITMENT

    Defining your goals will really drive you to succeed. By knowing what you want and what you are striving for you will have more than enough reason to endure and keep going. This post just keeps my head going with all of my goals. Thanks for posting!

  • http://www.guestgalaxy.com/ Jamesbartonx

    Make sure goals do not conflict with each other. Do not go after too many goals at the same time, stay focused. Work on goals first that will help other goals later on.

  • Valerie Deveza

    Defining your goals will make you more focused, and it will most definitely give you more sense of clarity.  I totally love # 5 that reminds us to celebrate each milestone that we make as we progress towards our goals.  It helps us to relax a little as we hunger for more.

  • http://www.onedayinacity.com/ Gina

    This was just what I needed to read right now – good to have a reminder it’s important to write down goals and have a concrete plan in place. Time to get to work on mine.

  • gas causes

    this is to focus on the goal. Steven Pressfield’s book Do the Work is must reading on this topic.

  • zetaclear

    I know of is to maintain a list of written goals by which to evaluate these new opportunities.