For too often, personal development "gurus" talk about goal setting - setting aim towards your dreams. And certainly, this is important. After all, how can you possibly expect to hit a target you don't have? However, not enough attention is giving to the next step in the process - firing at the target. In my travels, I'm beginning to believe that this is where most people get stuck.

They write out their goals. They make elaborate plans to reach them. And then they just stop. In a sense, they are like the sharpshooter who spots his target, aims his rifle and then just sits there looking through the crosshairs. He's done everything necessary to hit a bull's eye, except for the most important thing - pulling the trigger.

Have you pulled your trigger? Or are you still squinting through your long-range scope waiting for the perfect moment to squeeze off a round? If you're like most people, then you're probably in the latter category; at least, in some area of your life.

You've identified the new neighborhood in which you'd like to live, you've priced the homes in the area, perhaps even talked to your banker about financing, but you're stuck in the crouch. Or maybe, you've identified a business you'd like to start.

You've planned out how you would deliver the product or service, how you would raise the initial seed capital, and you've even picked out a name, but for some reason, you're stuck in the crouch. Or perhaps, your indecision involves a marital relationship or friendship. You've identified the problem, formulated a solution, but for some reason, you're waiting for the "right time" to bring up your concerns. In other words, you're stuck in the crouch.

Pull the Trigger! (Part II)

In my travels, I've been blessed to meet many extraordinary men and women; people who have accomplished great things. And while their stories of achievement are different, almost all of them Well, as we both know, you will never hit a single target until you pull the trigger. You can't possibly move into that new neighborhood until you make an offer on a home. You can't possibly start that new business until you sign a lease, a vendor contract or an investment contract. And you certainly won't improve your relationship until you have a heart-to- heart talk with the other person.

Of course, knowing that you're stuck in the crouch is only half the battle; you also must know how to get out of it. This is always the hardest part because it's not always enough to simply know you should do something. You also have to know how to get yourself to do that thing. In this case, the answer is for you to remove the two great myths that are holding you back. Once, you remove these obstacles from your path, the road to success will be clear.

Myth #1: You Only Get One Shot. Often times, the reason we get stuck is because we somehow convince ourselves that we only get one shot at our goal. As a result, we want to make absolutely sure that we can't miss. We check and re-check our calculations, the wind conditions, etc. And we do this repeatedly as life continues to pass us by. Well, the truth of the matter is that you get an almost infinite number of shots at your goal. For instance, if the seller of the first house rejects your offer, you can find another seller - and another - and another. If you're unable to procure product for your business in a profitable manner, you can switch to selling another product - and another - and another. And if your heart-to-heart talk falls on deaf ears, you can try to have another talk - and another - and another. You can keep firing until you hit your target.

Myth #2: You Can Fire Later. This is probably the most destructive myth of all - the myth of "later." I can't stress enough that you might not have a later. Think about it. Last night, thousands of people went to bed expecting to wake up today; they didn't. You never know when your time on the shooting range will be over. And even if your time isn't up, the target may be taken down. For many goals, you only have a narrow window of opportunity to take action. If you wait, you could very well miss your turn. If you don't believe me, ask all of the people who waited until 2000 to start their dot-com companies. Many of these people got stuck in the crouch and ended up getting their you-know-whats caught in a sling.

Therefore, if you currently have a target in your sights (and you should), squeeze off a shot. You won't regret it.