By now you will have your goals written as if they are already achieved with dates for completion. Please take some time to review them to ensure they are still what you want and that they are sufficiently specific. You need to be as clear as possible about which model, how much money and by when. If at some point you realise that you have changed your mind, simply remove the goal from your list and replace it with a new one. Earlier this year one of my goals was to own and live in a house I had seen in Chichester. I had seen it from the outside and I could visualise myself happily living in that house. One day I noticed that a similar house was for sale. It was the same style and layout as my dream house so I made an appointment to view it, enabling me to get a real 'feel' for living there. Certainly it had many of the lovely features that I had envisaged, but oh dear, there were more aspects that I couldn't live with. After viewing the house I decided that I wouldn't consider living in the house even if I was paid to. I went home, deleted the house goal and wrote a new one.

I was very grateful to the universe for giving me the opportunity to try the house out before I was too committed to my goal. It gave me the opportunity to think again and make a new choice.

So, if you are happy that you have all the goals you need right now it is time to take the actions needed to create the life of your dreams. Because you have written and dated goals you are already on your way to success and achievement. But it is perfectly possible to accelerate the achievement of your goals by adopting some proven methods. This is where the hard work and excitement begins.

Take a separate sheet of paper for each goal and write the goal in a circle in the middle of the sheet. Now 'chunk it down'. You are going to mind map all the steps you think you will need to take to achieve the goal and put them in circles around the centre circle. Join them to the centre circle and other related circles with a line. Then date each action step in the order you will need to complete them and put them in a diary to ensure you take the required action. You may need to take a course, so put that in a circle plus the step of researching where you might go for the course. You may need to find extra funding or do research on the internet or read some books. List all the steps.

One of the most important steps you can take is to experience it for real. So if your goal is to own a house, make an appointment to view a similar house. If you want a car, take one for a test drive. If your goal is a specific job, ask someone who is already doing it how they got the job, what qualifications you need and if you could shadow them for a day to get a feel for the job. It is perfectly possible to do this and greatly accelerates your progress. My son did it and as a result had a wonderful day shadowing someone who is currently doing his dream job, made lots of new friends and is now even more convinced that he would love to do it for a living. I have also done it and I know that it helps to maintain momentum and can also prevent mistakes.

Once you have all the steps written down and dated for achievement and written them in a diary do everything you can to stay on task and complete each step on time. Sometimes life comes up with unexpected extra tasks and steps that you initially had no idea needed to be taken. That is fine. Reassess your priorities, slot the new tasks into your schedule and push on to success.

Last week I mentioned that goals should be set in your stretch zone, but goals in your panic zone could still be tackled. The way to do this, again is to 'chunk it down'. Take steps back from the goal until you reach a step that you could take that just feels like a stretch and do it. Then work out another small step that would stretch you a little further towards your goal, and so on. In that way, in small steps you change your stretch zone to your comfort zone and gradually bring your panic zone into your stretch zone. It is surprising how quickly you can achieve this. When I first accepted a place to be coached on Jack Canfield's "Success Principles" course I was so far out of my comfort zone that it was a mere dot on the horizon even through binoculars! Now I am comfortable with having coaches and mentors. I have moved these achievements out of my stretch zone into my comfort zone and my confidence has grown as a result. So will yours once you take the first steps. I felt the same the first time I sat in a car to be driven round Goodwood on a Track Day. Frankly, I was terrified and I spent most of the session with my eyes closed. Now the experience is just on the stretch side of my comfort zone and I can keep my eyes open for most of each lap. Huge progress.

The next issues demanding attention are the irritating, negative demons that sit on your shoulder and tell you that you can't possibly do that, who do you think you are, it is too scary, you are too old or whatever else they can think of. They mean well and want to help and keep you safe from harm but they come from a negative past and have no place in your new life. Jack Canfield calls them 'considerations and fears'. He advises that they are a normal part of the process and will always appear. Most people see them as a stop sign. In reality you just have to learn to deal with them in any way that works for you. Some people give them a silly voice. One woman I know has given her demon a voice that sounds like Leslie Philips. She can't possibly take it seriously when it tells her she can't do something. Others have the voice get higher or lower until they can't hear it properly. Personally, I tell the little demons to go into the corner and chat amongst themselves while I just get on with doing the task. I then tell them to watch and learn because this is how it is going to be from now on – I am in charge. Others ask the demons to rephrase their concerns in a more positive and supportive way. Try these methods or invent one of your own. Just don't let the little demons win. You are in charge of your life now!

Another tool in your success acceleration toolkit is visualisation. It activates the creative powers of your subconscious mind and focuses your brain by programming its reticular activating system to notice all available resources. It also magnetises and attracts to you the people, resources and opportunities that will help you achieve your goals. Research shows that your brain sees no difference between visualising something and actually doing it. This is why it is used by sports psychologists and peak performance experts. So visualise your goals as already achieved, every day. The subconscious thinks in pictures, so when you visualise vivid, compelling pictures of you living your ideal life it will do all it can to make the picture a reality.

You could also create a vision board by cutting out images and words that convey your goals and pinning them on the board. Look at the board often and visualise yourself already enjoying them. A step on from this is a Goals Book. Write your goals as already achieved and dated, one to a page and illustrate them with pictures and captions. Make it as visual and compelling as possible. Add the phrase
"This or better is manifesting in my life for the greatest good of all."
There just might be something better out there that you can't imagine and you wouldn't want to miss out on it, would you?

Yes, there is a lot to do, but it is fun and very exciting when you achieve a step or you can see that a big goal that you thought was impossible is just within your grasp. I know. I have had a lot of "wow" moments in my life since following these steps and so have people that I have coached.

It is vitally important to stay positive and maintain a strong belief in your ability to achieve even your biggest goal. The Law of Attraction states that you get what you focus on. So if you focus on what is wrong in your life you will get more of it. If you focus on the good in your life you will get more of that. I know what I want more of!

Next time we will consider tips to keep your motivation high by asking the right questions and taking 100% responsibility for your life.

Happy visualising.



Sue Courtney is a Personal Success Coach and Image Consultant. She can be contacted by email at sue@successandimagecoach.co.uk