Goals!

About the Author

Brian Tracy is a world-renowned speaker, author, and expert in personal and professional development. With over three decades of research and experience in business, economics, psychology, and philosophy, Tracy has authored more than 70 books and given over 5,000 talks worldwide. His works, including "Advanced Selling Strategies" and "The 100 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Business Success," have helped millions achieve their personal and professional goals. Tracy's insights are based on a deep understanding of human nature and the principles of success, making his advice both practical and powerful.

Main Idea

In "GOALS! How to Get Everything You Want, Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible," Brian Tracy emphasizes the transformative power of setting clear, written goals. The book provides practical strategies for identifying what you truly want in life and outlines actionable steps to achieve those desires. By focusing on goal-setting and execution, Tracy explains how to unlock your potential and reach new heights of success and happiness. The book covers the psychology and physiology behind goal-setting, teaching readers how to combat frustration and maintain motivation.

Table of Contents

1. Unlocking Your Potential
2. Taking Charge and Creating Your Own Future
3. Clarifying Your Values and Finding Your Purpose
4. Analyzing Your Beliefs
5. Start at the Beginning
6. Measure Your Progress
7. Eliminate the Roadblocks
8. Keeping Your Goals at the Front of Your Mind

Unlocking Your Potential

Tracy begins with the premise that success is driven by goals. He shares a compelling study from the 1979 Harvard MBA program, where only 3% of students had written goals, yet this small group earned ten times more than the other 97% combined a decade later. This underscores the critical importance of goal-setting. Tracy identifies four main reasons people fail to set goals:

• They don't understand the importance of goals.
• They don't know how to set goals.
• They fear failure.
• They fear rejection.

He encourages readers to make daily goal-setting a habit, focusing on desired outcomes rather than fears. This habit helps maintain focus and motivation, driving individuals toward their goals. Tracy emphasizes that successful people are intensely goal-oriented and use their personal power to achieve their dreams.

"Success is goals; all else is commentary." - Brian Tracy

Tracy explains that making a habit of daily goal setting and achieving can transform one's life. By focusing on the things you want rather than the things you don't want, you resolve to be a goal-seeking organism, moving unerringly toward the things that are important to you.

Taking Charge and Creating Your Own Future

Tracy stresses the importance of adopting a mindset of self-employment, regardless of one's actual employment status. By viewing yourself as the president of your own personal services corporation, you take full responsibility for your life and career, setting goals and creating strategies for success. This shift in perspective empowers individuals to take charge of their future.

"You are not a victim. Stop complaining, stop whining, stop making excuses and start to take control of your life." - Brian Tracy

Negative emotions such as fear, self-pity, and anger can hold you back. Tracy advises identifying and eliminating sources of negativity, which can include justification, rationalization, hypersensitivity, and blaming others. By freeing yourself from negative emotions, you can focus on achieving your goals.