Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Who Sets Your Sail? 10 Steps To Creating Your Personal Development Roadmap

"It's not the blowing of the wind, but the set of the sail that determines your destination" -- Jim Rohn


"If you learn to set a good sail, the wind that blows will always take you to the dreams you want, the income you want, and the treasures of mind, purse, and soul you want."--Jim Rohn


Have you ever stopped to consider why you get the results that you do? Do you wonder why some people seem "lucky" and are able to glide through life always achieving more, while others toil daily just to make ends meet? Do you know where you want to go in life?


Where you end up in life is predominantly the result of the little choices you make each day. Small, seemingly inconsequential, decisions can have a major impact on your life later on. Imagine you were on a flight from Phoenix to Chicago. If the plane was off course by just 1 degree, where would you arrive? I don't know exactly, but I do know it wouldn't be anywhere close to Chicago!


When Jim Rohn says it is the set of your sail that determines your destination, he is referring to the way you live your life every moment of every day. Setting your sail involves knowing exactly where you want to go and having a specific plan for getting there. When you know these things, then you are able to factor that information into your decision making process to ensure that you are moving closer to your goals. Without the information, you will have no way of knowing where your decisions may lead you.


The key is to remain focused on your destination and flexible on your route. The "how" will change, just like the wind. When that happens you must be willing and able to adjust your course; to re-set your sail to capitalize on the change.

The following 10 steps will help to build your personal development roadmap and set your sail to achieve your dreams:



  • Clearly identify, in writing, the results you want to achieve (your destination).

  • If possible, find pictures/images that represent your destination. This helps to make the visualization of the end result more concrete.

  • Identify all the reasons why you want to achieve these results (why do you want to arrive at your chosen destination?). The reasons must be personal and compelling; they must be your own.

  • What will you need to learn or do differently? What critical information or skill are you lacking that is preventing you from moving forward?

  • What have you done in the past that can help you get to where you want to be in the future? What skills can you build on?

  • Who will you need to help you in your journey?

  • When do you expect to arrive? How long will it take to achieve the results you desire?

  • How will you get there? What is your plan? Think about the last step you will need to accomplish before you finally reach your destination. Then, continue to work your way backwards with each step until you reach the present. Realize and accept that the plan will change and evolve as you progress, learn, and/or encounter obstacles.

  • What will you do and how will you feel when you have reached your destination? Decide in advance how you will celebrate and appreciate your accomplishment. Use your vivid imagination to see and feel yourself achieving!

  • Choose a new destination and repeat the process; always focusing on continuous improvement and designing your future.

To your success,

Scott Thomas

P.S. The most effective way to learn how to "set your sail" is to join iLearningGlobal and get high quality, high impact training from the best teachers in the world delivered to you instantly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The best investment you will ever make is investing in yourself. Discover the future of continuous learning and personal development at http://www.ilgachievers.com/. You're worth it!

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