Episode 061 – Vision-Based Goal Setting: Get Rich Using This Breakthrough Methodology
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Note: This blog post serves as an accompaniment to the corresponding podcast episode of A Changed Mind, where we’ll distill down the core ideas of this week’s theme, along with additional distinctions and insights. If you haven’t listened to the episode yet, you can go here to do so. Enjoy.
When I look back on my journey from financial insecurity to where I am now, I realize just how crucial it is to have the right approach to setting and achieving goals. A decade ago, I was in a pretty dark place—bankrupt business, two homes in foreclosure, drowning in credit card debt, and with almost no money in the bank. I felt stuck and hopeless, despite all the advice, strategies, and frameworks I had tried. None of them seemed to work, and I know I’m not alone in this. The truth is, most people don’t achieve their goals, whether they’re trying to lose weight, find a meaningful relationship, grow their business, or reach financial prosperity. But why is that? And more importantly, how do we change it?
Why Most Goal-Setting Approaches Don’t Work
There are countless goal-setting frameworks out there, but the reality is that most of them fail to produce results. How do we know this? Because if they worked, more people would be achieving their goals. But instead, what we see is a lot of people stuck in the same place year after year. They’re not losing the weight, they’re not finding the right relationship, they’re not gaining clarity on their purpose, and they’re certainly not experiencing the financial abundance they desire.
I was in that exact situation about ten years ago. My business was going bankrupt, I had two homes in foreclosure, a mountain of credit card debt, and almost no money left. It was a tough time. But fast forward to today, and I’m living a life that I love. I’ve built one of the fastest-growing coaching and consulting companies in America, with a $35 million transformational coaching business. I’m happier now, living in my dream home, married to the woman of my dreams, and making a real impact in people’s lives.
So what changed? I found a new approach to goal setting, one that actually works. And it’s not like any other framework you’ve heard of before. It’s a scientific process that helps you achieve your goals consistently and predictably, whether they’re financial, health, relationship, or clarity goals. And today, I want to share that process with you.
The Brain as a Goal-Achieving Machine
One of the most important things to understand is that your brain is a goal-achieving machine. It can produce any outcome 100% of the time if two things are in alignment: your desires and your beliefs. If you’re clear on what you want—whether it’s making more money, improving your health, or finding the right relationship—and your beliefs support that desire, you will achieve it. It’s that simple.
But here’s where most people go wrong: their desires and beliefs are out of alignment. For example, if you desire financial prosperity but believe that money is hard to make, your brain will produce thoughts and emotions that reinforce that belief. You’ll feel stress, anxiety, and overwhelm, which will lead to unproductive actions or no action at all. And ultimately, you’ll get the result that matches your belief: not enough money.
I’ve seen this pattern over and over again, not just in others but in my own life. When I was stuck in financial insecurity, it wasn’t because money was inherently hard to make. It was because I believed it was. And that belief dictated my thoughts, emotions, and actions, which in turn produced the exact result I was afraid of—financial struggle.
The Power of Spiritual Vision
Before you even start setting financial goals, it’s crucial to align yourself with something bigger—a spiritual vision. This is what I call a purpose, but it’s more than just finding your passion. It’s about understanding who you’re meant to be in the world and what you’re here to do. Your life has been preparing you for this purpose through every challenge, skill, and experience you’ve encountered.
For me, my spiritual vision is to end all human suffering. This vision drives everything I do, from my business to my personal life. It’s the reason I’m able to persevere through challenges and continue moving forward, even when things get tough. And trust me, there have been plenty of tough moments on my journey to building a $35 million business. But because my work is aligned with my spiritual vision, giving up was never an option.
When you’re clear on your spiritual vision, it becomes a powerful motivator that keeps you going, no matter what obstacles you face. It’s like a hill you’re willing to die on. And that’s the first step to achieving financial prosperity—aligning your goals with your spiritual vision.
Life Vision: The Next Level of Prosperity
Once you’re clear on your spiritual vision, the next step is to create a life vision. This is where you get to dream about what your life will look like when you’ve achieved financial abundance. What kind of home do you live in? What kind of car do you drive? How do you spend your time? What experiences do you want to have?
When I started this process, one of the first things I wanted was freedom with my food. I remember going out to dinner with Carol, who is now my wife, and feeling stressed about the possibility that she might order something expensive, like filet mignon or a bottle of wine. I didn’t want to live that way anymore. So instead of focusing on what I didn’t have, I started focusing on what I wanted. I wanted to be able to eat whatever I wanted, wherever I wanted, at any restaurant in the world. And today, I can do that.
Your life vision should be expansive and filled with desires that inspire and excite you. It’s not about being materialistic; it’s about creating a vision of your life that aligns with your true desires. And when you focus on what you want, rather than what you lack, you start to align your thoughts and emotions with your desires, which in turn helps you achieve them.
Your Living Income Plan: A Practical Approach to Financial Goals
Now that you have a spiritual vision and a life vision, it’s time to create what I call your Living Income Plan. This is where goal setting becomes practical. Look at your life vision and ask yourself, “How much would it cost to finance this life?” Break down the costs into monthly and annual figures, and you’ll have a clear financial target to work towards.
For example, if your current lifestyle costs $5,000 a month, but your desired lifestyle would cost $25,000 a month, you now know you need to generate an additional $20,000 a month. This figure isn’t arbitrary; it’s rooted in your vision for your life, making it a powerful motivator.
If you’re in a career, this might mean negotiating a raise, seeking out a promotion, or exploring side hustles that align with your spiritual vision. If you’re an entrepreneur, it’s about dialing in on your business strategies, refining your messaging, understanding your ideal client, and optimizing your pricing and offerings to meet that financial target.
The Core Four: Building a Successful Business
For those of you who are entrepreneurs or business owners, let’s talk about the Core Four. These are the foundational elements of any successful business, and they’re crucial for achieving your financial goals. The Core Four consists of knowing who you serve (your ideal client or avatar), having powerful, differentiated messaging, structuring your client journey, and mastering enrollment skills.
When you know who you’re serving, have a clear and compelling message, and offer the right products or services at the right price, you’re well on your way to achieving your financial goals. And if you’re already in business, this might mean refining your offerings or increasing your prices to meet your financial target. For example, if you charge $5,000 for a 90-day coaching program, and you need to make an additional $20,000 a month, you know you need to enroll four more clients each month. If that seems like a lot, it might be time to increase your prices or streamline your offerings.
From Financial Insecurity to Abundance: The Path Forward
Achieving financial abundance isn’t about chasing money; it’s about becoming the person who naturally attracts it. By aligning your desires, beliefs, and actions with your higher purpose, you become a magnet for the resources and opportunities that will bring your vision to life.
It took me years to understand these principles and to develop a framework that works. But once I did, everything changed. I went from financial insecurity to creating a thriving, multimillion-dollar business that not only fulfills me but also impacts the lives of others. And I believe you can do the same.
A New Approach to Goal Setting
The old way of setting goals doesn’t work. Deciding that you want to make more money to get out of financial insecurity is not how money works. Money is a form of energy, and it flows where it can be put to good use—where it can grow, expand, and evolve. When you set goals that are aligned with your spiritual vision and life vision, you create a powerful synergy that propels you toward success.
Think about it: money wants to flow to you to become something—whether it’s a new home, a better car, a thriving business, or a life filled with freedom and joy. But it won’t flow to you just because you’re tired of being broke. You need to give it a reason to come to you, and that reason comes from your vision for your life.
Taking the First Step: Aligning with Your Vision
So where do you start? Begin by getting clear on your spiritual vision. What are you here to do? Who are you meant to be in the world? This vision will guide you through challenges and keep you committed to your goals, no matter what obstacles arise.
Next, create a life vision that excites and inspires you. Dream big—think about what you want your life to look like 18 to 36 months from now. Don’t hold back. List out all the things you want, from the home you’ll live in to the experiences you’ll have. This vision is your roadmap to financial abundance.
Finally, create your Living Income Plan. Determine how much it will cost to finance your life vision and set that as your financial target. Whether you’re in a career or running a business, this plan will give you a clear, practical goal to work towards.
The Final Piece: Trusting the Process
I’ve seen this framework transform lives, including my own. By aligning your goals with your spiritual vision and life vision, and by creating a practical Living Income Plan, you can achieve financial abundance consistently and predictably. This isn’t about luck or chance—it’s about understanding and applying the principles that govern success.
So take that first step. Get clear on your vision, create a plan, and trust the process. Your brain is a goal-achieving machine, and when you align your desires, beliefs, and actions, there’s nothing you can’t achieve. Financial abundance is within your reach, and with the right approach, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes your reality.