To The Next Level
Developing Life Changing Goals
By Morris "The Miracle Man" Goodman

Moving to the next level - in any area of life - involves change. Choosing to do what you have always done is choosing to stay where you've always been. All goal setting - self development - self improvement - involves change.

So let's talk about the process of change.

The first step is to examine your life - make an inventory - and decide what changes you need to make. Once you have made an inventory then set a goal. This goal should include what you need to do on a daily basis to get to where you want to go. I don't think anyone needs to be reminded of the New Year's Eve resolutions that they've made and then systematically forgotten. Why does this process of goal setting and forgetting occur? It is rooted in what I like to call the Horse.

Have you ever gone trail riding on a horse? You mount the horse and off you go - or should I say off goes the horse with you on it. You find yourself looking down and around to see what magic has taken place because you know that you haven't asked the horse to move or directed it to the left or the right. Yet, there you are ambling down the same path that hundreds of other trail riders have. Why? The answer is simply habit.

Now, if you are the rebellious sort (or simply desire change) and have tried to deviate from the trail to gallop across a flower filled meadow in your very own re-enactment of Kevin Cosner's "Dances with Wolves," you'll find yourself not only with a disgruntled steed but also still behind the lead horse. You may ask, "Weren't horses created to race freely across the wilds?" The answer is "no." Not trail horses. Trail horses have been trained to habitually follow the path, and when they are asked to do otherwise they will more often than not resist. Habit creates resistance. Resistance hinders change.

Keep this short parable in mind. As you sit down to work on your goals and then move toward accomplishing your goals, your Horse will resist.

It is possible to break a resistant Horse. In fact, there are three ways.

Number One: Argue with the Horse

Let's say your goal is to race across a mountain meadow on the trail horse mentioned above. As you work toward accomplishing your goal you will experience resistance. In order to experience the benefit of your goal you must resist the temptation to quit or to stay on the path. When internal resistance rears its mighty head tell yourself things like: "Just because it feels wrong doesn't mean it's wrong," or "Just because it's difficult now doesn't mean it will be difficult later."

Step Two: Visualization

Imagine how good it will feel to race across the meadow. See it. Taste it. Experience it.

Step Three: Practice

It is possible to argue with the horse, and daily visualize riding the horse. But unless you get out into the field and practice riding, change will not result.

So, that's the process of change. It's time to take control of the Horse. If you do, you will take your business and your personal life TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

Morris Goodman (known as "The Miracle Man") survived an airplane crash where he broke and destroyed every bone, muscle, and nerve in his body. Paralyzed for eight months and only able to blink his eyes, Morris defied medical odds and walked out of the hospital eight months later. He will be the keynote speaker at the BNI International Directors Conference, which is being held November 10-12 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Long Beach, California. It's a story you don't want to miss. You can visit his website at www.themiracleman.org.