–[       ]– 4 Dear Friend,                     Achievement and accomplishment are among the most satisfying pleasures of all. Finishing a project on time and within budget, improving product and service quality, beating the competition to market with a new idea, ridding yourself of an unproductive work habit – these give delight and define success. But achievements and accomplishments don’t happen on their own ... and they rarely occur through luck. They are the result of clearly defined goals acted upon until completion. Goals determine what you will (or will not) do and become  – in business and in life. And the irony is that, while goals are so vitally important, they are the things for which most of us receive the least training or guidance. It’s no coincidence that there are fewer winners than there are also-ran’s. “To be, or not to be” is directly related to your ability to set, or not to set, goals! Careful planning, thoughtful strategy, and faithful execution are the factors that lead to success. And they must be preceded by identifying clear, definable targets to shoot at. We don’t say, “ready, AIM, fire!” for nothing.                                       Goal Setting for Results addresses the fundamentals of setting and achieving goals – of moving yourself and your organization from where you are, to where you want (and need) to be. My goal in writing this book is to offer goal-setting methods, insights, and sug- gestions to those seeking to enhance their businesses and their careers. View these lessons for what they are: proven fundamentals that work. Your first goal should involve becoming a master of these fundamentals. It is, after all, your future that’s at stake.               Be sure to read this powerful book with a pen and highlighter in hand.      It takes study and practice to produce good results. But the efforts required will prove to be minor when measured against the payoffs!

–[       ]– 5 I wish I had read a book like this when I was younger. I’m confident I would have achieved more throughout my life – with less wasted effort ... and with fewer bumps and bruises that I now call “experience.”                 The lessons in Goal Setting for Results are realistic. They don’t provide quick fixes or cure-alls. Apply what you read with diligent effort, and your results can be substantial. In a rapid-fire presentation, this book introduces you to the fundamentals of goal setting. It explains how you must think, plan, execute, manage, and eventually celebrate your way to success.                                                    Goal Setting for Results is separated into bite- sized portions and packed with a powerhouse of information. It is most effective when read from cover to cover, in order. This is a logical step-by-step journey. It’s what it takes to set and achieve your business (and personal) goals. Each section is important ... each one counts. My overriding ambition is that one day, not long from now, knowing how to set and achieve goals will be as common in organizations as knowing how to operate a phone or fax. When that happens in your organization, you truly will have realized your ultimate competitive advantage.          My goal is simply to help you achieve yours. So let’s get busy and learn to master the fundamentals of goal setting. Gary Ryan Blair