Without goals, it's unlikely that you'll achieve anything in life - anything good that is. Goals help you decide what you want from life and the means of achieving your aims. They'll also keep you on track towards achieving your objectives by highlighting any deviations from your best route.

Let us now take a closer look at goals and their relevance to achieving success and wealth. Most successful businesses, as many millionaires willing to share their secrets will tell you, are entirely dependent on the establishment of realistic and achievable objectives. If you don't know where your business is heading, there is every chance you will get lost along the way. Goals channel your every effort into achieving success.

As an entrepreneur, your most important task is to set aside sufficient time to setting your goals and deciding the best means of achieving them. Once established, goals should be kept in mind at all times. Perhaps it goes without saying that goals should always be held in the highest esteem and never be allowed to fade at the expense of something which might at the time seem more important. Goals can, though, be amended in the light of changing circumstances, but they should always be increased in value, except in exceptional cases. Bear in mind that to downgrade goals is generally a sign that one lacks the courage of one's convictions. For this reason it is vitally important to only set goals which are both realistic and attainable.

Generally speaking, people who achieve success:

* Know exactly what their goals and objectives are. You should not only know that you want a better car, luxury house and improved salary, you must also know the exact model of car, locality of house, and the specific salary or profit level you want. Really successful people keep their goals constantly to the fore. For many, this means pasting pictures of the tangible things they want from life in as many places as they are likely to visit during the day: on bedroom walls, on top of the television, on the office notice board, on the fridge, and more.

* Identify and obtain the equipment needed to achieve their goals. Consider what other things are necessary for you to achieve your objectives. These things can be physical or intangible items; they might consist of stationery, office furniture, a word processor or computer. Alternatively, you might need extra time, or more experience before you can operate your business efficiently.

* Design a timetable setting targets and completion times. Know exactly what you need to do today, tomorrow, next week and next year. Stick to your timetable and make whatever amendments are necessary. But always make changes on an upward trend, as long as your goals remain realistic and achievable.

* To comply with these tips, be realistic. Don't, for instance, commit yourself to 20 extra hours of work a week, if you already have a full time job you want to keep. This job might leave you with only a few hours to spare each week for pursuing your business. Also make sure that your timetable fits in with the needs of those around you, your family and work colleagues, for instance.

What Kind of Goals?

The goals you set for yourself might include some of these...

A better relationship with your partner and childrenMore time to spend on your hobbiesThe chance to take more holidaysEarn more moneyGet a job you really likeFeel in less of a rutLose weightBe more assertiveGet a new carBuy a new house in an exclusive neighbourhoodAsk for what you want and be able to get itLearn to danceAchieve a more balanced lifeGet into politicsEarn money in your spare timeWrite a book

Whatever they are, do remember to be specific - it gives you a firm target to work towards.