Just imagine if there was a strategy that could always ensure you reached your goals.

What do you want is one of the most basic questions you can ask yourself. It may even be the ultimate question. Everything you do has a purpose, whether you are aware of it or not. Being clear about what you want in the short term then making it real is the key to taking control of your life.

Many people mistake tasks for outcomes. Tasks are what you do to achieve outcomes. You may or may not enjoy them. When you know they are getting what you want you can bring more energy to them and enjoy them more. An outcome is what you want, something positive you move towards, not what you don't want - something you move away from. Journeys must have a destination. Anywhere other than here is not a useful direction. You could finish worse off than at present.

Many people can describe in detail of what they're doing wrong. Often blaming themselves and others but nothing changes because they looking backwards instead of forwards to what they want. This is why goals that involve losing or giving up something are so difficult. For example, losing weight or giving up smoking. Any goal that has the words lose, give up, or don't want is expressed in the negative and not directly achievable. To turn a negative outcome into a positive one ask yourself: What will this goal do for me if I got it? or What do I want instead? So giving up smoking may be part of feeling different, becoming more healthy, or even having more money.

What do you want? People who achieve what they want in life have compelling goals. The NLP process of modelling high achievers, people who consistently achieve their goals, have pinpointed the difference that makes the difference, the difference between the ritualistic goal setting that ends up in the bottom drawer and the compelling visions that uplift and motivate.

Formulating well-formed outcomes is a method used in NLP to achieve changes in our lives by determining what are our goals and desires.

Communicating without a desired outcome is like travelling without a destination. You may end up in a place you really enjoy, or you may not. Enjoying your trip is a perfectly good outcome; ending up at the destination you want is also productive.

An outcome is the result you want, defined in terms of the way you would like to see things happen, the way you want to feel, and what you will hear when you have your outcome. Outcomes are goals that have been clarified and finely honed by the use of the well-formedness conditions. In other words, if goals and objectives are like pencils just out of a box, outcomes are like sharpened pencils that are ready to do what you want.

Outcomes are specific, sensory-based, desired results that meet clearly formulated criteria. An outcome is what I want, described in terms of the senses or representational systems. Thus it has to be stated in terms of how I want to see, hear, and feel when I’ve got it - and, if appropriate, what I will smell and taste. Unless I know precisely what I want , I am unlikely to achieve it and, more significantly, unlikely to know if I have achieved it.

Outcomes need to be stated in a positive way. What I want; not what I don’t want. Outcomes also need to be concrete in content and in tone, attainable, and ecologically sound.

POWER is New Oceans well-formed outcome strategy which provides you with a set of questions that if you follow will enable you to creating compelling goals. So give your outcomes some POWER now !!!

The POWER Well-Formed Outcome Strategy

POSITIVE: What do you want?

Make sure your outcome is positive - expressed as moving towards some desired outcome. If instead it is just moving away from something undesirable, ask yourself; What would do you want instead? What larger outcome is this part of?

OWN IT: What do YOU have to do?

For a outcome to be realistic, YOU need to be able to act directly to achieve it and take responsibility for the outcome. What can you do directly to achieve your outcome? If your outcome is dependent on others, what do YOU need to do to make them positively want to help you achieve your outcome?

WHAT SPECIFICALLY DO YOU WANT?
What, where, when and with whom do you want this?

Make the outcome as specific as you can. Make it tangible and measurable. Choose the places and situations you want your outcome, and the people involved. Also choose any where you would not want it.

EVIDENCE: How will YOU know when you have achieved this?/font>

Act "as if" you have already achieved your outcome. Unless you are clear about your evidence, you will never know if you have achieved your outcome. The evidence will be through your five senses. What exactly will you see, hear and feel when you have achieved your outcome? What will other people see, hear and feel when you have achieved your outcome? How will you appear differently to others?

ECOLOGY: What are the consequences of achieving this?

When you achieve your outcome there will be consequences for yourself and others in many areas of your life. There may be new opportunities and challenges. You may need to make new choices. Think of what else could happen as a result of achieving your outcome.

Who else is affected and how will they feel? Other people are bound to be affected as you achieve your outcome. What are the consequences for others? How does the outcome appear from their point of view?

What will you have to give up by getting this? You are probably doing things currently that will prevent or hinder your progress towards this outcome. What will you have to give up by getting your outcome? Think not only of possessions, but also of relationships and behaviours.

Think about the positive by-product of your PRESENT behaviour. (What do you get out of what you do now?) Consider how you might keep these benefits and incorporate them into the changes you are proposing.

Ask yourself: "What will happen if I do achieve the outcome? What will happen if I do not achieve the outcome? What won't happen if I achieve the outcome? What won't happen if I don't achieve the outcome?

RESOURCES: What resources will help you achieve this?

You have many resources that you can draw on, both external and more important inner resources. What inner resources and personal qualities will help? Think of your personal qualities, skills and abilities, and previous positive experiences that will help you achieve this outcome. What others might you develop that would help you? What time and effort are required to achieve this? Who do you know that can help? What role models do you have? What else might you need?

ROUTE: What is your route plan?

You have taken a significant step already towards achieving your outcome. Now you need to act. Outline your action plan. HOW will you achieve this outcome? Start with something you can do right now. Make the plan as detailed as you wish, and be prepared to change if it is necessary.