I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty proud of myself right now.  Today I’ve been struggling with feeling like I’m getting nowhere in regards to my debt payments, and this has been a bright spot for me.  My FICO score is now 747, which is much higher than it has ever been before!  Here’s a screenshot from my account today:

It’s nice to see some sort of visual confirmation (from a source other than myself) of my progress.  One of my long term goals is to keep my FICO score above 700 for at least 6 months in a row.  Now I’m half way there!  I think my next goal will be to reach a score of at least 800.

See, now I feel motivated again!  Sometimes the small things can really make a difference when it comes to how you look at things.  So next time you start feeling like you’re just treading water, just remind yourself that what you’re doing may be difficult, but it really is making a huge difference in your future!  I know I will.  Have a great day everyone!

Last year I made a list of 101 Things in 1001 Days.  That is, a list of 101 specific goals that I want to accomplish in 1001 days.  Here’s my list.  It has been a huge motivator for me in the last year, and I’m definitely planning on starting another list as soon as my 1001 days are up!  (Want to start your own list of 101 Things in 1001 Days project?  Look here to get started!)

How can just sitting down and making a list of your goals really help you to start living the life you want?

Writing your goals down will help you get a clear idea of exactly what it is you want to accomplish.  Putting it down on paper or the computer will help focus your I think you’ll be surprised at how much of an effect it has on your motivation when you are always thinking about what you want to accomplish.

Goal Setting Tips

• Make your goals specific; write down  exactly what it is that you want to do.
• Make them achievable.
• Break your goals into categories.  My categories are: finances, health, hobbies, travel, work, learning, and personal growth/relationships.
• Give yourself a time frame for accomplishment.
• Set goals that YOU want to achieve.  Don’t make goals just because someone else thinks it’s a good idea.
• Keep your list handy, so you will be reminded of your goals.  (Remember: Out of sight, out of mind!)
• Revise your list if necessary.  I’ve changed quite a few of my original goals since I first made my list.  I realized that I didn’t really want to do some of them, or they just weren’t realistic goals.  Doing this is okay

How to Make Goals Work for You

• Visualize yourself achieving your goal.
• Update your progress often.
• Tell people about it!
• Map out your way to achievement.  Making a plan for your goals will really help.
• Celebrate your accomplishments!
• Just Do It.  Sometimes you just have to get tough with yourself.

What Now?

My challenge for you is to sit down and list your goals.  Make plans for achieving them, and get excited about it!  Feel free to share some of your goals here.  And feel free to ask questions.  Good luck, and have fun!

Good thoughts are no better than good dreams, unless they be executed.  -Ralph Waldo Emerson