Are you REALLY sure you want that??????

I was browsing LinkedIn for some interesting subject matter to read when I stumbled upon a question that Tony Robbins posed to his LinkedIn followers. The question Tony posed was  "Do you want to build a multi-million dollar business?". As I considered the carrot Tony had dangled in front of his followers, I decided to read the 240+ responses that the click-bait question had elicited. 

As I scrolled through the fervent hot tub motivated "Hell Yeah!", "Absolutely", "OMG Yes!!!!!" type responses that I have come to expect on social media; I wasn't the least bit surprised that I didn't see a response such as this: "Yes Tony I want to create a multi-million dollar business provided that it is financially  profitable, customer centric, environmentally friendly, a "good corporate citizen" that supports my local community. A values based business that engages in work that I find personally rewarding and fulfilling. A business that is structured in a way that enables me to live a lifestyle where I can be present with my family, have fun with my friends and one in which I can pursue growth and learning opportunities when I want."
That's quite a wish list isn't it? Or is it?  Personally, I don't believe it is a wish list. I prefer to call these criteria. These are some of the criteria that I personally would need to meet, in order for an outcome such this to be worthwhile pursuing, achieving and maintaining. I am willing to go out on a limb and guess that you too would also have key criteria that would need to be met in order for you to pursue an outcome such as creating, building and maintaining a multi-million dollar business.

All too often I see people, like the ones responding to Tony's question, wanting something or pursuing an outcome without defining the criteria that need to be met in order for the outcome to be worthwhile achieving. So to help you out, here are a set of questions you might want to ask yourself (or someone else) that will help you mitigate risks, maximise opportunities and ensure that every fibre of your being aligns to the act of pursuing, achieving and maintaining your goals.

1. What do I want?
2. When do I want it? Where do I want it? Who do I want that outcome with?
3. For what purpose do I want it?
4. How will I know I have been successful? What would I see, hear and feel?
5. How would other people know I have achieved my goal? What would they see, hear and feel?
6. What are the potential upsides of achieving my goal?
7. What are the potential downsides of achieving my goal?
8. What people, processes, policies, procedures and systems need to be considered when making my decision? What needs to preserved, what can be adjusted and changed and to what degree?
9. What adjustments or refinements might I need to make to my goal in order for it to minimise the downside, maximise the upside and align with my original intentions for wanting the goal?
   

Of course this isn't an exhaustive list, however I wonder what sort of responses Tony Robbins might have received  if he posed those questions alongside his original question? I doubt a "Hell Yeah!!!" would be considered adequate in that context.

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