Dreams, Desires and Goals!!

I am the biggest dork because I love to go hang out at bookstores and READ...It's quiet and there is just a plethora of information that makes it so intriguing. Anyway, I went and spent 3 hours there last night and then decided I should probably just buy a couple books and go home before they kicked me out ;) I had heard about this book "Never Eat Alone" but when I picked it up, my first response at the title was ..."Oh dear Lord, not ANOTHER dating book...but don't worry, its about business so its all good!...haha
Anyway, I started reading and I just kept writing down so many quotes on random receipts from my purse, so that's when I knew it was a book I had to buy... After I got home last night, I couldn't put it down so I finished it already!...hehe...
Holy Cow! This book totally rocked my world! The poor book is all marked up and highlighted and I wrote stuff all through the margins but I was just so inspired! If you haven't read it.. I highly suggest you do!
The last few weeks have been a time of figuring out my goals and what I want from life so this book was the icing on the cake. I never truly realized the importance of setting goals...I had ideas in my head but ultimately I was just focused on succeeding in life (whatever that means)...The problem is, you cant succeed if you don't have a plan and you wont have a plan if their aren't those dreams and goals that are the foundation to activate that plan... Yeah so I got a swift kick in the pants!
Check out this quote from the beginning of chapter 3...

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat
"I don't much care where-" said Alice
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat
-Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carol

I've been like Alice.. I have made countless requests to God for direction but if I don't even know where I want to end up...then what good will his direction do?...Make sense?? I still will seek Him for direction in life but God steers moving vehicles, if you know what I mean. So over the past week or so I developed 4 basic core values of what I want in life to serve as foundations to measure my dreams and goals next to...

1. Give Back: Live a life devoted to others. Growing up, there were so many people who sacrificed and poured into my life and I want to "pay it forward" as a lifestyle
2. Legacy: I want to leave a legacy...how will people remember me? Its not about being famous..I could care less honestly, I just want to live a life that my children and children's children can look back on and benefit from. This stems from a Nichole Nordeman song called "legacy" that is a cry to live a life that will be remembered for all the right things... Did I chose to Love? Did I glorify God with my words AND actions...etc... This value holds me accountable to attitude and actions on a continual basis
3. Availability: Open, willing and available to be used of the Lord in any capacity
4. Have Fun: This is KEY in my life. I want to enjoy life to its fullest...Life is too short to not enjoy! :)

Then after reading this book, and using its suggestions for goal setting, I wrote and wrote and wrote and developed a goal list, and an action plan to achieve the goals that stemmed from my core values! I am totally stoaked now!
OK...so yeah...go read this book...:) The whole 'goal' stuff is only the beginning! It also offers some really rich information that is key to not only having a successful business but a successful life...one relationship at a time :)