Written by Brian Tracy

In numerous conversations with top salespeople over the years, we've found that they all have one thing in common. They have taken the time to sit down and create a clear blueprint for themselves and their future lives.

Even if they started the process of goal setting and personal strategic planning with a little skepticism, they eventually become true believers.

Becoming a True Believer
Salespeople are amazed by the incredible power of goal setting and strategic planning. Believers often accomplish far more than they ever believed possible in selling and they ascribe their success to the deliberate process of thinking through every aspect of their work and their lives, developing a detailed, written road map, and continually working towards where they want to go.

The Definition of Happiness
Happiness has been defined as "The progressive achievement of a worthy ideal, or goal." When you work progressively, step-by-step toward something that is important, you generate a continuous feeling of success and achievement. You feel more positive and motivated.
You feel more in control of their lives, happier, and more fulfilled. Feeling like a winner, you will soon develop the psychological momentum that enables you to overcome obstacles and plough through adversity as you move toward achieving the goals that are most important to you.

Determine Your Values
Personal strategic planning begins with determining what you "believe in" and "stand for"-your values. Your values lie at the very core of everything you are as a human being. Your values are the unifying principles and core beliefs of your personality and your character.
The virtues and qualities that you believe in are what constitute your person today. Your values, virtues, and inner beliefs are the axle by which the wheel of your life turns. All improvements in your life begin with a clear definition of your personal values and then committing yourself to abide by them.

Fuzzy or Clear?
Successful people are successful because their values are very clear. Unsuccessful people are unsuccessful because their values are fuzzy. Complete failures have no real values at all.

Build Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem
Value clarification is the first step to improving your life and establishing your goals. It builds your self-confidence and self-esteem and defines your personal character.
When you take the time to think through your fundamental values and then commit yourself to living your life consistent with them, you feel a surge of mental strength and well-being. You feel stronger, more capable, closely centered, and more competent. You will accomplish the goals you set for yourself.

Action Steps
1. Decide for yourself what makes you truly happy and then organize your life around it.
2. Determine your true values, what do you "believe in" and "stand for"?
3. Commit yourself to living your life consistent with your values.
4. Write down your goals and then make plans to achieve them.
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Brian Tracy is one of the world's leading authorities on personal and business success. His fast-moving talks and seminars are loaded with powerful, proven ideas and strategies that you can apply immediately to get better results in every area.