GOALS – “Think the Things You Want”

If it isn't the money itself that we want, but rather the things that it will produce or purchase for us, then what is it that we really want? Let's take a look into the future and see yourself with the million dollars that you've earned. How have you spent it? What are you doing? Now we are going to get a true picture of your real major goal in life.

Are you living in a beautiful, spacious home? What kind of home is it—Colonial, ranch style or what? Picture it in your mind. What kind of car or cars are parked in the driveway? Cadillac or Continental, or Rolls Royce? What style body are they—sedan or convertible? What kind of driveway—circular or what? Car port or garage? Be specific in the creation of this mental image.

What are you and your wife doing in this mental picture? What is your position? What titles do you have? How are you dressed? What is your position in the community? What does the neighborhood surrounding you look like? What rooms does your home contain? What hobbies do you have?

Don't stop now. Keep going. Visualize every little detail. Step up your mental calendar to the time of fulfillment when you have your million dollars twenty years hence, thirty years hence, or forty—whatever it is. How have you spent it and what are you doing with it?

Now you have something real and genuine for your sub-conscious mind to go to work on.

Let me pause here just a moment to make a brief comment about money. There are some that feel the accumulation of wealth is evil. Oftentimes they are right but more often than not they do not understand both sides of the coin.

First of all, any wealth that has been accumulated by violating the rights of others is admittedly evil because it has been wrongfully obtained. It is impossible to succeed at the expense of others. Then there are the relatively few who actually worship money and give it a first place in their hearts and minds. Obviously, this is an evil circumstance.

Perhaps the most common evil of our times stemming from the accumulation of great wealth, is the effect that it has on the children of rich parents. More often than not these children have grown accustomed to getting something for nothing. They don't know what it is to survive through struggle. They never learned the value of a dollar. They come to rely almost solely upon the crutches of their wealthy parents. They grow up soft and complacent in this sense of security which has been provided for them. Generally speaking, as a whole, they are totally unprepared for the pitfalls which are scattered along life's highways. Many daughters have overcome this handicap. When a son does, he has earned his place in the Hall of Fame.

Otherwise, money is good. Money is a blessing - Money enables our great churches to remain in existence. Money sends missionaries abroad. Money alleviates pain, suffering, starvation, and many of the other worldly ills through charitable donation. It is money that provides the means for government to operate. Yes, money is good. May your every effort to earn an abundance of it be crowned with success.

Let me say this—make your long-range goal sufficiently grandeur that you won't reach it in just a few years. Make it truly long-range and make it big— bigger than you ever dreamed of up to this point. Keep it realistic, but now that you know who you are and who is your mediocrity.

I would like to pause for another brief observation. You know, it's a crying shame the way most people surround and clamor after the wealthy of our day. I count many multi-millionaires as close acquaintances in the same manner that I do other friends, black or white, employee or servant. Most people would give their right arm or eye-teeth for a partnership with one of these wealthy men or women. Yet there's nothing different or special about them at all. They have merely put into practice these same principles of success that you are reading here and now. Then, like the farmer who plants his seed in fertile soil, cultivates and attends to it, is inevitably rewarded with a bountiful harvest.

The point that I want to make is this: I don't need a Kennedy, Rockefeller, Hunt, Getty, Kaiser, Stone, Disney, or Ford for a Partner I already have real Co-Partner, don t settle for one—the same partner that R. G. Le Torneau has found. I don't need any other. You don't need any other. He'll be with us wherever we go. He s the greatest, most powerful, most wonderful partner in the whole world. Here's good news—it won't cost you a dime to form your partnership with Him. Do it now and watch the world stand aside to let you pass.

In addition to maintaining a mental image of your major goal, write it out on a piece of paper and place it in a convenient location so that you can review it daily. Holding the mental image and daily reviewing the written statement have a tendency to register the impression upon the sub-conscious mind.

With regard to telling others about your major purpose in life, some authorities say, "Never tell others of your goals, for some might try to trip you on your ways Others recommend that you announce your plans in order that some, knowing of your ambitions, will be able to assist you. I feel that a satisfactory solution to this rather contradictory situation would be to announce your plans only to those whom you feel could contribute to your achievements. Let the rest of the world see what you've done after you've done it.

One reason that some fail to achieve their goals or fail in setting their goals high enough in the first place is because the achievement of such goals seems to be too gigantic a task. In looking toward the accomplishment of the goal, the burden will be lightened if you break the overall journey down into small parts.

You don't climb a mountain in one leap but if you break the climb up into a number of progressive short  climbs the task will be lightened. At least it will seem easier to accomplish.

One reason that so few life insurance agents write a million dollars face amount volume per year is because this staggering volume seems impossible to achieve. A good supervisor or general agent doesn't ask his men to write a million per year. He urges them to average only $4,ooo per day or $20,000 per five day week. These amounts are not staggering, so they make these short-range goals without difficulty. Twelve months later they've written a million.

So we need short-range goals as well as long range goals. Whatever it takes to reach your long-range goal, just break the journey up into short segments and let these segments be your short-range goals. Check them off your list as you reach each destination and continue on your journey.