By Management Expert and Business Coach: Nancy Proffitt MBA CBC

Do you have clearly defined written goals? Research shows that those people who actually sit down and write out their goals not only end up achieving them, but have greater incomes and elevated perceived success and satisfaction. Many people think setting goals is just for managers or business owners. Not so!

Mark McCormack, in his book What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School, tells of a Harvard study conducted between 1979 and 1989. In 1979, the graduates of the MBA program were asked, "Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?" It turned out that only 3 percent of the graduates had written goals and plans. Thirteen percent had goals, but not in writing - 84 percent had no specific goals at all.

Ten years later researchers found that the 3 percent of graduates who had clear, written goals when they left Harvard were earning, on average, 10 times as much as the other 97 percent of graduates all together.

FACT: All successful people have goals, and outstanding high achievers have clearly defined written goals.

So why do so few people actually write out their goals?

Many people say they can't be bothered to take the time to sit and write them out, preferring to keep them in their heads. The real reasons are probably deeper, involving the fact that if goals are kept in the head, they are easy to change, revise and ignore. This avoids personal accountability. Looking further into the reasons, we find the following:

1. First, most people don't realize the importance of goals. Setting goals is a habit and a matter of ATTITUDE - Yours... Start NOW! Your ability to set and achieve goals will have more of an effect on your life than any other talent.

2. They don't know how to set goals. Some people confuse goals with dreams and wishes. A goal is different. Successful goals meet the following criteria: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistically high (you have to stretch to get there) and Time specific. Of course they must be written and harmonious to what you want from life.

3. They have a fear of failure. If goals aren't written down, we can change them to match what is actually achieved without having to face any feelings of failure. No one will ever know!

4. They have a fear of rejection. People don't set clear, written goals because they fear they will be seen by others as ridiculous if they fail. They don't want to face criticism or be seen as incapable. With the exception of sharing your goals with your coach or a trusted peer, you may want to keep your goals private.

Once you have aligned your goals with your life purpose, you will find them easier to accomplish. A professionally trained business coach is an expert at helping you to achieve what you want. He or she can also help you with the goal setting process to ensure that your achievement of your goals is your true measurement of success.

Nancy Proffitt, MBA, Certified Business Coach is the president of Proffitt Management Solutions and Proffitt Management Leadership Institute, an internationally recognized Leadership coaching firm dedicated to unleashing the full potential of individuals and organizations.