Lead Yourself First lead
Goal-Setting Lessons from the Original Self-Made Man set make Another benefit of goal setting that is often overlooked is leadership development. Leadership development? From goal setting? Absolutely. By setting goals and seeing them through, you are leading yourself.
While moral perfection may be a little lofty for many of us, Benjamin Franklin’s approach to self-improvement and achievement is something we can all use to set and reach our goals. National Director 9 Alex Reynoso knows a thing or two about goal setting. He began shopping as a Melaleuca customer in May 2008 and began building his business immediately after. He is now in qualification to become Melaleuca’s newest Corporate Director in the near future—a feat he accomplished in just over seven years. Daily attention to progress has paved Alex’s success. It’s worked for him in his fitness goals as well. He has worked diligently to lose body fat. He began at 19% body fat and is now at an impressive 14% with the goal of getting to 11 or 12%. “To achieve a goal, you have to get to work and stick with it,” Alex says. “It’s not easy, but you have to form a habit so you will continue to progress regardless of whether you feel like it or not.” Making Excellence a Habit
And you have to lead yourself first and foremost to effectively lead others. The fundamentals of goal setting are familiar to most: write down your goal; break larger goals into smaller, short- term goals; create actionable items; give yourself a deadline; follow your plan to achieve your goal and then celebrate. While those fundamentals never change, delving deeper into goal-setting strategy can help you achieve your goal easier and faster. You’ll also develop skills you can apply in other aspects of your life, helping you not only accomplish your personal goals, but lead others toward theirs, creating a lasting legacy beyond yourself. Since I cannot govern my own tongue, tho’ within my own teeth, how can I hope to govern the tongues of others? —Benjamin Franklin At 17 years old, Alex Reynoso left Mexico to attend college in the United States and become a physician. He was unable to afford the high cost of his education and dropped out of school before completing his degree. He enrolled as a Melaleuca Marketing Executive in May 2008. Through focused goal setting and consistent activity, Alex has progressed steadily, advancing to National Director 9 in January of 2014. His next goal? Become Melaleuca’s next Corporate Director. Keep your eyes on Alex because, just like Ben Franklin, when he sets his sights on a goal, it’s only a matter of time until he achieves it. Name: Alex Reynoso From: Brea, California Status: National Director 9
When Franklin was just 20 years old, he tasked himself with obtaining moral perfection. He wrote a list of thirteen virtues he felt encompassed perfection. Every day he monitored his actions and if he violated one of his virtues, he marked it on a chart. Eventually, he came to grips with the fact that while he would never have a spotless chart, he could always improve himself and he never stopped trying. His daily routine reflects what we know about leading yourself and reaching goals. He set a goal every morning and reflected upon it every night; he was organised; and he planned for success. Writer and philosopher Will Durant expanded upon an idea of Aristotle’s when he said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” Franklin found power in routine and persistence, creating habits of excellence throughout his life.
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DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 | MELALEUCA.COM
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