Special Resource
(to accompany our March 2008 newsletter)

Below you will find some handy tips for creating your personal Goal Ladder. Click on each link to download a printable step for building your ladder (try using recycled paper when printing, if possible).

How to build your Goal Ladder:

1. Write your goal on the Top of your Ladder.
   This is what you'll be climbing toward with each step you take.
    
2. Visualize yourself succeeding with your goal.
   Every morning take five minutes to visualize yourself succeeding with your goal.
    
3. Decide what your first step toward your goal will be.
   Write your first step at the Base of your Ladder.
    
4. Create your Monthly Goals/Steps

   a. If your goal will require one year (or more) to complete, create twelve monthly steps to reach the top of your ladder. You can dedicate your twelfth monthly step to creating the next year's monthly steps on your ladder if it’s going to take longer than one year.

   b. If your goal will require less than one year, but more than one month, create as many monthly steps as you need to reach your goal. Your goals shouldn't be too difficult to accomplish within one month, however. You don't even have to figure out all of the months in advance, either. Do what is easiest for you.
    

5. Create your Weekly Goals/Steps

   a. Once you have a few monthly steps created, break each month into four smaller, weekly steps. Again, you don't have to break each month down right away; do what is easiest for you.
    

6. Create your Daily Goals/Steps

   a. Break each weekly step into five daily steps. Be sure to make the steps easy to meet/climb, so that you don’t become discouraged.
    
   b. It’s nice to make your very first step on the ladder a time to visualize your goal being met!

Have fun building your ladder! You can paste your completed daily steps into the appropriate spaces on the weekly steps. Once you have successfully climbed a weekly step, paste it into the appropriate space on the monthly step. When you have met a monthly step, place it someplace special so that you can continually see it and add the other steps as you accomplish them, as well.

As you complete the daily, weekly, and monthly steps you have created for yourself, you will see your ladder continually growing until one day you find yourself at the very top with an accomplished goal! Can it really be that easy? Yes, it can! Try it and let us know how things progress for you! We wish you lots of little successes that lead to larger and larger ones!