You are Your Greatest Achievement

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you

become by achieving your goals.”

– Henry David Thoreau

(1817-1862) Author

Scouting is all about goals.  Young people are taught that there are many things to strive for, badges, ranks and achievements.  Everyone in the Scouting program must learn how to set goals, have plans for the achievements of those goals and following that plan through.  The principle of goal setting is a key part of the whole Scouting program.

                Success-minded people love to achieve their goals.  After all, that is what achieving success is all about.  We know what we want and then we create a plan to achieve it and work hard at that plan until the prize is ours.  The achievement of a goal is a wonderful feeling that energizes the success-minded person to head off to the next - even bigger - goal.  As author and speaker, Les Brown said, "If you set goals and go after them with all the determination you can muster, your gifts will take you places that will amaze you."

                However, there is an element to the principle of goal setting that is greater than the goal itself.  It is more important and will create more results than any prize we have put our eyes on.  That is the person we become by the process of goal setting.  No one can pursue a goal without it making changes in your life.  As success expert, Jim Rohn use to say, "If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you. Whatever good things we build end up building us."

                Success-minded people know that to achieve a goal you must know the person you must be to live in that reality.  Once you know what kind of a person you must be to live in your goals, become that person.  Goals do change us.  I have hear many people say that if they were successful, wealthy, productive or influential, they would not change.  "I will always be me."  I am sorry to tell you that is not true.  Change in our life changes us.  The problem is that people tend to think that change will be to the worse where in fact it is to the better. 

                The achievement of a goal develops confidence, hope and courage.  Once you know that you can succeed, you are braver when facing challenges in the future.  You learn more, grow more and believe more as you move through the process of achieving your goals.  You in fact, become a different person than when you started and that person is better, stronger and has far more to offer to others.  Do not fear change, pray for it.  If you stay the same you will never advance in life farther than were you are.  You have far more to offer than that.

          

                You matter!  You matter to the world and to yourself.  Remember to be your best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.

John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Life Coach and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at http://www.growthcenter.net or www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2014 John Patrick Hickey