Measure Twice, Live Once…

If you have ever baked, then you know just how important it is to measure your ingredients exactly. You don't eyeball some sugar, flour, a few eggs, and a bag of chocolate chips expecting the perfect cookie, do you? You have a recipe that, if you follow, delivers some delicious and amazing results.

Life is pretty much the same. When we imagine the best case scenario for our lives, the only way to achieve optimal results is to set clear, measurable goals. And the best criteria to use is ask yourself, "Could anyone show up in my life and recognize I accomplished my goal?" For example, I often have a vision for rooms in my home. However, saying "I want this room to be clean, modern, and functional" is not very measurable. If I say, "My vision for this room is to have an Anthropologie 8 x 10 rug, 2 Crate and Barrel chairs, 9 black frames on the wall with my favorite black and white photos, 3 tall topiaries… by June 1, 2009." You get the idea, right? Anyone could show up on June 1st and recognize whether or not I had accomplished my goal. This is how specific we need to be in planning our lives. Sure, we may not have all the details figured out initially. But what we think about comes about…so trust the vision to unfold more as you progress.

One of my favorite sayings is "Vague goals produce vague results." Well, if you are anything like me, vague is just not an option. So start thinking about your life, and come up with those measurable goals. They will keep you on track and guide you right to the life that is meant exactly for you…