Reaching goals with simple steps

  • Mike Benbow / Herald columnist
  • Sunday, January 29, 2006 9:00pm
  • Business

Motivational speakers have always confused me a little bit because they’re sort of a cross between preacher and pitchman.

I couldn’t sell water in the Sahara desert, and no amount of motivation is going to make me believe any differently. That said, I enjoyed the talk by Patrick Snow Friday morning at the Greater Marysville-Tulalip Chamber of Commerce.

Snow, of Bainbridge Island, clearly is of the preacher and pitchman mode, with glib phrases such as “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.”

But as you sort through his stories of kids surviving cancer and self-deprecating jokes about extra weight, he has what appears to me to be some solid advice about meeting your goals.

Since today’s goal for me is to wrap up this column, let me share some of Snow’s ideas.

The first is to figure out what it is you want to do. Better health? Better wealth? Better relationships?

Snow says he has a sheet on which he writes down his goals every year. He calculates that he nails about 70 percent of them annually, which he acknowledged to the teachers in the crowd might only be considered an average grade in the public school system.

But for those who aren’t setting any goals at all, 70 percent is a great average.

I try to set goals for myself regularly, but I’m often sidetracked by trying to figure out just how I’m going to get there and how I’ll deal with all the problems I’ll run into.

Snow isn’t worried about that. He just suggests that you get started without knowing how you’ll get to the end.

“Not knowing how is OK,” he said. “Because it will present itself.”

Snow suggests you should really dream about what will make you happy in life.

“The problem is that we only dream while we’re asleep,” he said. “Think about what you want. Think about what are your dreams and write them down.”

Snow talks about freeing your mind of doubt and going after your goals a step at a time. He also recommends that you talk to people a lot about what you’re trying to do, because you never know who might help you get to the next step.

“When you decide what you really want, self-doubt is the only roadblock,” he said, again adding one of his pitchman phrases, “Destiny happens by choice, not chance.”

If you’re operating a business, Snow recommends that you look for partners to team up with for business promotions.

But in the end, he said, you have to learn which risks you’re personally willing to take.

Then its just a matter of taking action to achieve your goals.

“Ideas without action are worthless,” Snow said.

With Snow’s ideas, I’ve taken action and met my goal. Column delivered.

Mike Benbow: 425-339-3459; benbow@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

A closing sign hangs above the entrance of the Big Lots at Evergreen and Madison on Monday, July 22, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Big Lots announces it will shutter Everett and Lynnwood stores

The Marysville store will remain open for now. The retailer reported declining sales in the first quarter of the year.

George Montemor poses for a photo in front of his office in Lynnwood, Washington on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Despite high mortgage rates, Snohomish County home market still competitive

Snohomish County homes priced from $550K to $850K are pulling in multiple offers and selling quickly.

Henry M. Jackson High School’s robotic team, Jack in the Bot, shake hands at the 2024 Indiana Robotics Invitational.(Henry M. Jackson High School)
Mill Creek robotics team — Jack in the Bot — wins big

Henry M. Jackson High School students took first place at the Indiana Robotic Invitational for the second year in a row.

The computer science and robotics and artificial intelligence department faculty includes (left to right) faculty department head Allison Obourn; Dean Carey Schroyer; Ishaani Priyadarshini; ROBAI department head Sirine Maalej and Charlene Lugli. PHOTO: Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College.
Edmonds College to offer 2 new four-year degree programs

The college is accepting applications for bachelor programs in computer science as well as robotics and artificial intelligence.

FILE — Boeing 737 MAX8 airplanes on the assembly line at the Boeing plant in Renton, Wash., on March 27, 2019. Boeing said on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, that it was shaking up the leadership in its commercial airplanes unit after a harrowing incident last month during which a piece fell off a 737 Max 9 jet in flight. (Ruth Fremson/The New York Times)
Federal judge rejects Boeing’s guilty plea related to 737 Max crashes

The plea agreement included a fine of up to $487 million and three years of probation.

Neetha Hsu practices a command with Marley, left, and Andie Holsten practices with Oshie, right, during a puppy training class at The Everett Zoom Room in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Tricks of the trade: New Everett dog training gym is a people-pleaser

Everett Zoom Room offers training for puppies, dogs and their owners: “We don’t train dogs, we train the people who love them.”

Andy Bronson/ The Herald 

Everett mayor Ray Stephenson looks over the city on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2015 in Everett, Wa. Stephanson sees  Utah’s “housing first” model – dealing with homelessness first before tackling related issues – is one Everett and Snohomish County should adopt.

Local:issuesStephanson

Shot on: 1/5/16
Economic Alliance taps former Everett mayor as CEO

Ray Stephanson will serve as the interim leader of the Snohomish County group.

Molbak's Garden + Home in Woodinville, Washington will close on Jan. 28. (Photo courtesy of Molbak's)
After tumultuous year, Molbak’s is being demolished in Woodinville

The beloved garden store closed in January. And a fundraising initiative to revitalize the space fell short.

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, Advanced Manufacturing Skills Center executive director Larry Cluphf, Boeing Director of manufacturing and safety Cameron Myers, Edmonds College President Amit Singh, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, July 2 celebrating the opening of a new fuselage training lab at Paine Field. Credit: Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College
‘Magic happens’: Paine Field aerospace center dedicates new hands-on lab

Last month, Edmonds College officials cut the ribbon on a new training lab — a section of a 12-ton Boeing 767 tanker.

Gov. Jay Inslee presents CEO Fredrik Hellstrom with the Swedish flag during a grand opening ceremony for Sweden-based Echandia on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Swedish battery maker opens first U.S. facility in Marysville

Echandia’s marine battery systems power everything from tug boats to passenger and car ferries.

Helion Energy CEO and co-founder David Kirtley talks to Governor Jay Inslee about Trenta, Helion’s 6th fusion prototype, during a tour of their facility on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
State grants Everett-based Helion a fusion energy license

The permit allows Helion to use radioactive materials to operate the company’s fusion generator.

People walk past the new J.sweets storefront in Alderwood Mall on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Japanese-style sweets shop to open in Lynnwood

J. Sweets, offering traditional Japanese and western style treats opens, could open by early August at the Alderwood mall.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.