T

HE A RT O F S ETTING
SMART G OALS
SET WINNING GOALS AND LIVE A LIFE OF ABUNDANCE ,
SUCCESS , AND ACHIEVEMENT .
A NISA M ARKU
 Copyright © 2019 by [Anisa Marku]
The Art Of Setting SMART Goals
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The resources in this book are provided for informational purposes only and should not be used to
replace the specialized training and professional judgment of a health care or mental health care
professional.
Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for the use of the information provided
within this book. Please always consult a trained professional before making any decision regarding
treatment of yourself or others.
 Dedication
This book is dedicated to:
My Boys
-Thank you for always inspiring me, loving me, and bringing me joy! You are always my inspiration
and motivation for everything I do.
My Best Friend
-Thank you for supporting me and my crazy ideas and never giving up on me. Thank you for being my
best friend, my rock, and my partner for life. I can do anything with you by my side!
My Parents
-I am your only child but I have not been the easiest one to raise. Thank you for never turning your
backs on me.
“Setting goals
is the first step
in turning the
invisible
into the visible.”
– Tony Robbins
 CONTENTS
PREFACE: WHAT IS MY WHY?
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1: MY FIRST STEPS OF GOAL SETTING
CHAPTER 2: INTRO TO S.M.A.R.T GOALS
CHAPTER 3: CREATE YOUR VISION BOARD
CHAPTER 4: FIND YOUR PASSION – FIND YOUR WHY
CHAPTER 5: THE POWER OF GOAL SETTING
CHAPTER 6: POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS
CHAPTER 7: LETTING GO OF WHAT DOESN’T SERVE YOU
CONCLUSION
APPENDIX
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ONE LAST THING…
 PREFACE
WHAT IS MY WHY?
I am writing this book because I want to help people improve their lives. I am
inspired to motivate, encourage, and help them be the best version of
themselves.
It is my main goal that this book not only has a positive effect on anyone who
reads it but that it also helps them achieve their own goals by following the
steps that I share.
 INTRODUCTION
Have you ever thought of how your life would change, if you accomplished
something really important?
If you haven’t already figured out what this big, important thing is, don’t
worry—I would love to help you out.
This book will be your guide to find out exactly:
1. What you want to accomplish
2. Why you want to accomplish it
3. How you are going to accomplish it
Are you ready to get started? Let’s go!
We all have the desire to change, improve, and create a better life for
ourselves, but all too often our fears and doubts hold us back.
We think:
● What can I change?

● I am too old.

● I don’t know where to start.

● It’s too late for me.

The truth is:

● You can always change and/or improve something in yourself and your
life.
● You are never too old to achieve your goals and dreams.

● If you never start, you will NEVER reach the finish line.

● It is never too late!

For most people, changing their mindset is more difficult than anything else.
Most of the time, we are too hard on ourselves.
Many of us don’t have a great support system in our life, and while that can
be challenging, that shouldn’t stop us from reaching our goals. After all, if we
don’t believe we can do something, how is someone else going to believe we
can?
We have created this hamster wheel life that we just can’t get out of. And if
nothing changes, we will keep going in circles until the end.
I hope that by the end of reading this book you will be able to find out:
● What you want to achieve/accomplish in your life. What are your goals?

● The reason why you want to accomplish them. What is your WHY?

● How you are going to accomplish them. What steps are you going to
take?
 CHAPTER 1
MY FIRST STEPS OF GOAL SETTING
I have always been a planner, and I have always loved setting goals for
myself. But until I learned about goal setting, all of my goals and ideas about
what I wanted to do with my life were just floating around in my head.
I never wrote anything down and I never thought it could make any
difference.
I was completely wrong!
When I started to write down my goals and break them into smaller tasks, I
immediately saw what a difference it made. Before I knew it, I was achieving
my goals.
When I started college, one of my professors asked us to write down the goals
that we want to achieve in five years. It was January of 2012. Here are a few
goals that I had listed at that time:
● Graduate college

● Travel more

● Visit my family

● Get my citizenship

At the time, all of these things seemed impossible or very difficult to achieve.
Let me explain why.
Graduate College – The possibility of failure was real from day one because
the odds of graduating were mostly against me.
First was the language issue. English is not my first language. I was able to
communicate pretty well, but the writing and reading part was very difficult.
I was always afraid that I would not be able to understand the lecture or the
assignment, which would mean that I wouldn’t do very well on the tests and
therefore fail some of my classes.
The second was the issue that I had so many gap years in my education. I
never even graduated from elementary school. My family moved to Germany
when I was in 6th grade, so I missed the chance to graduate from 8th grade
(which was the end of elementary school in my country). I never finished
high school either, because I decided to drop out when I was 16 years old.
My academic years could have stopped at that point. But instead, I decided to
stay true to my goals.
I started college 10 years later at the age of 26, while raising two kids.
Even though all the obstacles were going through my head when I was
writing down my goals, graduating from college was on the top of my list.
I wanted to make my parents, my husband, and my boys proud.
I wanted to be able to find a decent job, but mostly I wanted to make myself
proud by achieving something that was really important to me.
It took me almost 5 years, but I graduated in June 2017.
Travel More – My husband and I loved going on family vacation or road
trips, but we weren’t able to travel as much as we hoped we could. There
were financial issues and time constraints. My husband worked long hours
and sometimes weekends as well. I had started college and most of my
weekends were spent doing homework and assignments. Having only one
paycheck didn’t leave much to save for a vacation, either.
In the summer of 2012, my husband opened his own company. He was still
busy, but he no longer had to ask someone else’s permission to take time off
from work. That’s one of the perks of being self-employed.
We managed to take advantage of my semester breaks to travel. Over the five
years, I was in college, we went to New York, Myrtle Beach, France,
Belgium, Las Vegas, Albania, Florida (Disney, Universal, Fort Lauderdale,
Clearwater Beach), and many road trips around Michigan.
This might not seem a lot to those who travel frequently, but for us, it was a
lot more then we were used to traveling!
Visit My Family – I moved to the US in 2003, and I was able to go back and
visit my family in 2013. Over ten years had passed before I was able to go
back. When I wrote this goal down, I was not able to go travel outside the US
because I didn’t have my Green Card yet.
There is a long process that my husband and I had to go through in order to
apply and qualify for our permanent resident status. In 2012 I received my
Green Card, and the next summer I was able to go and visit my parents.
Get My Citizenship – It took us 14 years to finally get our passports. As I
mentioned above, the whole process is very long and expensive. They do not
make it easy to become US citizens, but at least it is possible if you follow all
the rules and laws they have set up.
Getting my citizenship was important to me because it meant that I get to call
the place where I’d been living for the past 14 years, my home. When you are
going through the process, there is a chance that they will deny your
application to live and work here.
Getting my passport meant that I didn’t have to live in constant fear about
having to go back to my country and restart my life all over again. We had
worked really hard to build our family, our lives, and our careers here in the
US.
You see, if I had let my fears and doubts overwhelm me, I would never have
had the courage to write down my goals as I sat in that first-year college class.
I knew I had a long way to go, and that I’d have to work really hard to
accomplish everything I had just written down, but that didn’t discourage me.
It just gave me more hope and motivation for my future.
 CHAPTER 2
INTRO TO S.M.A.R.T GOALS
When someone asks you “what is your goal,” how do you answer?
People generally tend to answer with what their dreams are, not what their
goals are. Goals are more like stepping stones laid in the ground. If you
follow them, there is a path that will lead you to where you want to go.
S.M.A.R.T goals are not the same as regular goals. They are stronger and
more detailed. They will help create a road map to your own success.
S.M.A.R.T stands for:
S - Specific . Make your goal as specific as possible. What exactly are you
trying to accomplish? Write down as many details as possible. If you say you
want “to be healthy,” that is not as specific as “I want to lose 10 pounds.” Be
as clear and specific as you can while setting your goal.
M - Measurable . You should be able to measure and track your progress.
Otherwise how you are going to know that you have accomplished your goal?
A - Attainable. Is your goal attainable? You have to know your limits,
circumstances, and the resources needed to achieve this goal. I would like to
be taller, but it is not realistic. Make sure your goals are attainable; otherwise
it is just daydreaming in the clouds.
R - Relevant. Is your goal relevant to you and your life right now? Example:
One of my goals is to learn French because I want to spend next summer in
France. If I start taking Spanish classes right now (even though learning any
language is always beneficial), it won’t help me reach my goal. The steps or
action plan you are taking now has to be relevant to your goal and what you
are trying to achieve.
T - Timely. There should be a time frame to accomplish your goal. You have
to put a due date on it or you will end up working on it forever.
“A GOAL
WITHOUT
A PLAN
IS JUST
A WISH ”
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Which area of your life to use S.M.A.R.T goals?
Your choice! You can set smart goals for any areas that you need to improve:
● Personal goals

● Professional goals

● Family goals

● Financial goals

● Travel goals

Examples of personal goals:

● Take a yoga class at least once per week

● Learn a new language

● Travel to a new place

● Do a 5K marathon

● Lose 10 pounds

● Quit smoking

Examples of professional goals:

● Change your job or career

● Open up your own business

● Work from home

● Get a promotion

Your professional goals are going to depend on where you right now in your
career and where you are trying to be in the future.
Examples of family goals:
● Visit your family more often

● Spend quality time with your kids

● Travel to a new place

● Have a baby or adopt

Examples of financial Goals:

● Paying off your student loans or credit card debt

● Build a retirement savings

● Save for your first house

 ● Emergency funds

● Set up a college fund for your kids

Just thinking about finances can be stressful, let alone coming up with a plan.
But even though it’s scary, it is so important to set a goal and write down
steps to achieve what you want financially.
When setting financial goals, ask yourself: What is most important to you?
● Being debt free?

● Paying off student loans?

● Paying off that high-interest credit card?

● Saving for retirement?

● Saving for your next family vacation?

Examples of travel goals:

● Travel to a new country

● See/experience a new culture

● Spend next summer in Europe

● Go on a cruise

● Girls trip to (fill in the country or state)

The list above is only suggestions. Your list will (and should) look different. It
will depend entirely on you and what your goals are.
When starting your list, make sure you only choose one category at a time,
then add only one goal to that category. You can build up from there. This
way it is easier and you don’t get overwhelmed with the whole process.
SHORT-TERM VS. LONG-TERM GOALS
After you have set your categories, you can take it one step further and
separate them into short-term and long-term goals.
Short-term goals : These goals are usually completed within a year.
Personally, I consider a short-term goal to be anything that can be completed
within 3 - 6 months.
Long-term goals : These are goals to be achieved in a 3 - 5-year timeframe. A
personal example of a long-term goal was getting my college degree. I took
me almost five years to finish.
Now it’s your turn! Pick a category and write down at least one goal that you
would like to accomplish using the S.M.A.R.T method. Write it in your
notebook or computer. It doesn’t matter as long as it is written down so you
can actually read it and you can go back and edit it if you need to. I prefer to
write in my notebook and also on a note app on my phone for convenience.
My suggestion is that you only work with one category and one goal in the
beginning. You can always add later.
In the next chapter, I will show you how to prioritize what is most important
to you and create your vision board.
 CHAPTER 3
CREATE YOUR VISION BOARD
If you are more of a visual person, creating your vision board will help you
tremendously with setting goals and moving towards them. A vision board is
a collage of images, words, or both that serves as a motivational tool to help
you reach your goals.
Before you start putting together your vision board, you need to prioritize
what is most important to you!
Ask yourself which areas of your life you want to improve. In what area do
you need to focus now to make a positive change in your life? Is it your:
● Health

● Finances

● Marriage

● Career

● Personal Growth

After you have selected one area you are going to work on, the next step is to
visualize your big picture .
You need to visualize the big picture in your head. For me, it was getting my
degree. My big picture was walking up on stage during the commencement
ceremony and getting my diploma.
When you are creating your vision board, try to think with the “end” in mind.
Ask yourself:
● How is achieving your goal going to change your life?

● Where do you see yourself one year from now?

● How does your life or lifestyle look now that you have accomplished your
goal?
For example: Say you want to lose 25 lbs. That’s your personal goal. That is a
priority to you because you want to look better, feel better, and live a healthier
lifestyle. You visualize how losing 25 lbs. is going to make you feel about
yourself. How you are going to look? What kind of new clothes will you be
wearing? What types of fun new activities will you be doing? How is it going
to change your eating habits and lifestyle?
After you’ve spent some time thinking (and feeling!) about what your life will
look like when you achieve your goal, it’s time to create your vision board .
There are many ways to create a vision board, but my two favorites are:
● On actual poster board

● Drawn out in your notebook

Using a notebook is more convenient, easier, and faster. I start by putting the
main category I want to work on in the middle of the page, then I add sub-
categories all around the main one. Or, you can start by putting your goal on
the middle and then writing a few bullet points that relate to achieving that
goal.
Poster boards take more time but are also more fun to do. You start by writing
down the main goal/category you want to accomplish in the middle of the
board, then you add photos/images/and inspirational quotes/words all around
it. Try to find photos that represent your goal. Your finished project should
look like the same (or at least very similar) to the vision you had in your mind
before you started creating your vision board.
After you create your vision board, make sure that you don’t hide it in a
closet, never to be seen again. You need to put it in a place where you can see
it every single day. That can be by your bedroom where it is the first thing
you see in the morning, or by your work desk where you can look at it
throughout the day.
 Setting goals
is like putting
your own dreams
on a vision board
with a due date on it.
 CHAPTER 4
FIND YOUR PASSION – FIND YOUR WHY
What do you love to do? You might already know what you want to achieve
in life. You wrote down your big picture and your category, but now you have
to ask yourself WHY ?
The WHY it is going to be your motivating factor. The reason you are going to
work every single day on the goals you’ve set for yourself.
Without the WHY , this whole process does not work because there is no one
and nothing motivating you to work for it.
You go to work because you have bills to pay, so paying bills is your
motivation for waking up, getting dressed, commuting, and doing a job that
you might not even like every single day.
Going back to my goal of getting my degree, my motivating factor (or at least
one of them) was that I wanted a better job.
I studied for the upcoming tests, I did my homework, I finished my
assignments on time, all because in the back of my mind my WHY was always
with me. I had enough motivation, and my WHY was important enough to
keep me on track. With my WHY , I was able to push forward and not give up.
My WHY for writing this book:
1. I want to help others set and achieve their goals, no matter where they
are in life or what their background is. I want to help them be the best
version of themselves. No matter who you are or where you are in life right
now, there is always room for improvement. There is also enough room to
make big goals and crush them. Maybe you always wanted to learn a new
language, move to another country, save enough to take your family to
Disneyland, lose 10 lbs., or whatever else your goal might be. It will be a
great feeling knowing that I am able to help even one person reach what
they want in life.
2. Help my favorite organization in Albania, “Fundjave Ndryshe “. I would
be beyond thankful to have the opportunity to work with this organization.
They work really hard to go all over Albania and help people with food,
clothes, shelter, and whatever they need. They go to the most rural areas
where sometimes there is no access to clean water, give food and clothes to
families, and even build homes for them. Having the opportunity to work
 with them will be amazing, both for people I am helping and for my own
kids. My oldest boys, now 15 and 13, have been born and raised in the US.
It will be such a worthwhile (and humbling) experience for them to get to
help others and actually see that there is an entire world outside of what
they have experienced in the US. I try as much as possible to travel with
them; I want to show them other cultures and how we should accept and
respect other people for who they are. However, it is a totally different
scenario when you travel strictly for work, especially when you are helping
others. I want to show my boys how rewarding it is when you give to
others and help make their life a little bit easier.
3. I want the self-fulfillment of reaching my goal. Not too long ago, I wrote
down “write a book” as one of my long-term goals. I don’t really
remember how the idea got to me or why it stuck, but I am so glad it did.
As I wrote it down in my notes, I didn’t think much about it. A few weeks
later, I attended a conference in Orlando. After I registered and got my
welcome bag that first day, I received a book by Chandler Bold called
Published . I started reading it right away. I thought to myself: is this really
a sign, or just pure coincidence?
I will never know for certain, but that book helped me go from writing a note
to publishing my own book. OK, reading the book wasn’t enough to do all
that. The rest was up to me—taking the necessary steps toward those goals
and following the path that I was supposed to lead to this book. My point is,
just because I received a book it doesn’t mean that I would read it or be
interested in it. The same thing applies to my goals: just because I wrote down
a goal doesn’t make that goal happen. But persistence, discipline, and courage
do.
To achieve a goal you need to:
Be Persistent - Do what you need to do every single day within the timeframe
you set for your goal.
Have Self-Discipline - You cannot give up on a goal just because you find it
to be too difficult, you get distracted, or because you are a procrastinator.
Have Courage – You must believe in yourself and your abilities.
Don’t repeat the same old beliefs of I’m too old, I can’t learn, I’m not strong
enough, I’m not smart enough, I’m not young enough… These thoughts
won’t get you anywhere except the place you are in right now. And guess
what? As long as your thinking is negative, there is no room for improvement
or any positivity in your life. Even when all the doors of opportunity are open
right in front of you, your mindset won’t be able to see it.
 CHAPTER 5
THE POWER OF GOAL SETTING
Just writing any goal down on a piece of paper won’t make it happen.
However, by taking the necessary steps (even small steps) towards your end
goal, you will make it happen before you even know it. That is the power of
goal setting.
But how do you take those steps? The answer, as we’ll explore below, is the
difference between wishing and planning.
WISHING VS. PLANNING
Wishing you could do this and that won’t make anything happen. Taking the
steps to accomplish what you wish will help you achieve it. If you just wish to
quit smoking, for example, but still carry a pack of cigarettes with you, what
are the chances that you are going to quit?
Instead, if you make it your goal to stop smoking, and then make a plan and
take the actions for it, your chances for quitting are higher, right?
It will look something like this:
-First, you make it your goal to stop smoking
-Then you list the reasons why you want to stop smoking:
● Save money

● Be healthier

● Smell better

-Then you list the small steps you have to take towards quitting:
○ Going from one pack a day to one pack every three days

○ Then one pack every seven days

○ Then 10 days- making it 2 cigarettes a day

○ Eventually quitting altogether

○ Not having easy access to a pack

○ Stay away from people that smoke for a while

○ Get professional help if needed

○ Acupuncture
You see, when you write down a goal with an action plan, it seems more
possible, doesn’t it?
 CHAPTER 6
POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS
“ It always seems impossible until it’s done!”
- Nelson Mandela
Now that you have set your goals and know what you want (and why you
want it), it’s time to work on the how.
People are often presented with many opportunities, but because of the way
that they perceive themselves, they step back or don’t really acknowledge
what is in front of them.
Here is a list of excuses I often hear (and maybe I am guilty of thinking some
of them too):
1. I’m too old to do ABC.
2. People, where I come from, can’t do XYZ…
3. I don’t have time for this or that…
4. I’m afraid that people might judge me…
Do you struggle with staying motivated?
Here is a list of 10 things that will help you stay motivated, no matter what
you are currently working on and what your goals are.
Remember WHY you started - Always try to remind yourself why you set
these goals in the first place. It will keep you going forward (if the reason is
important enough to you). What are you working on right now? Are you
thinking of starting your own business? Are you trying to finish your degree?
Or maybe you are trying to be healthier and lose some weight? No matter
what you are trying to accomplish, always remember the reason why you are
doing it. It might give you the little push you need to keep going.
Reward yourself for every step of the way - Every little step you go forward,
give yourself a little reward.
Take it one day at a time – Focus on your goals one day at a time. That is how
it works. So instead of rushing and trying to do it all at once, take thing
slowly, go one step at a time, and keep moving forward.
Get rid of what doesn’t work – This can include negative people and thoughts
that slow your progress. Instead, surround yourself with positive people and
always try to think positively.
Set S.M.A.R.T goals – Remember, smart goals are specific, measurable,
attainable, relevant, and timely.
Stop comparing your progress to others - I started a course about blogging a
few months ago, and one thing that stood out to me was “don’t compare your
beginning to someone else’s middle.”
Write down your progress - Create a vision board. Some people are more
visual than others, and vision boards are really helpful tools to help you see
your goals with much more clarity.
Eat healthier and be active - Eating healthy and being active is important to
looking and feeling great. When you feel good, you have the desire and the
energy to keep up with everything that needs to be done. Always keep in
mind that we might have all kinds of resources at our disposal, but if we don’t
use them, they are useless.
Don’t be scared to fail - No one likes to fail, but failing is an important step
on any learning process. There is no other way to learn if we don’t fail.
Quitting should be more difficult than failing.
Stop procrastinating - I honestly think that procrastination is the biggest
enemy to any success. Instead, make a list of things that need to be done and
prioritize them.
 CHAPTER 7
LETTING GO OF WHAT DOESN’T SERVE YOU
Even as a child, I always seemed to have a vision of what I wanted to achieve
in my life. I blame that on being an only child—I didn’t have anyone to fight
with. Instead, I spent my time thinking or daydreaming.
As an adult, you don’t really have time for daydreaming anymore. With work,
school and family, sometimes it feels like you are nothing more than a robot
of flesh and blood—or at least that’s how it felt to me at times!
Every single minute of every single day has to be planned out, otherwise,
things get out of hand pretty quickly. And sometimes they still do, but I
learned how to let go and not feel like the whole world has collapsed on me
because I missed one of the appointments or kids’ activities.
In order to keep up the stamina to meet your goals and improve the areas of
your life that need improving, it’s very important to let go of anything that is
weighing you down or holding you back.
Here is a list of some common things that can hold people back from
achieving their goals. You should practice letting go of them!
Let go of:
Perfection - This is the need to do everything perfectly. Left unchecked these
thoughts can be all-consuming, and they drain your mental energy on things
that don’t really matter.
Closed mentality - You have to be more open-minded to everything that
comes into your life. Having a closed-minded mentality will only prevent you
from seeing other people’s perspectives. Usually, closed-minded people are
very stubborn, and it is very difficult to have any kind of discussion with
them. They don’t like doing things differently or listen to new ideas.
Resentment/grudges - The sooner you forgive, the better it is for you and
your own well-being. Holding on to these negative feelings is the same as
carrying a heavy weight around with you all the time. It is not physically
heavy, but it weighs you down mentally and emotionally. Learn how to let go
of grudges so you can feel lighter within yourself.
Toxic relationships - Here I am talking about relationships in general—a
friend, spouse, family member, co-worker, etc. You have to know when that
relationship is not good for you and your health. Some people just drain your
life completely, and most times they don’t even realize it (or maybe some of
them do it intentionally).
It is up to you to acknowledge it and make a change. You don’t have to get
into an argument or be rude to them; you can simply distance yourself from
that person. Of course, it can get more complicated than that when it comes to
a spouse or a close family member, but at the end of the day, you are
responsible for your own life and happiness. You can’t live miserably just to
make someone else happy.
Worrying - Can you change whatever you are worrying about? Stop worrying
for no reason! Worrying comes from fear and anxiety. I have been dealing
with fear and anxiety for most of my life. The difference is that now I control
it and it doesn’t control me like it used to. I wasted so much of my time and
energy worrying about things that don’t really matter and didn’t actually
happen.
Other people’s perceptions/opinions - What others think of you it is not your
problem, it’s theirs. Most of the time, their opinion of you is completely
wrong. They say things how they see it, not how they are in reality. It is what
they perceive from the outside, and some people just feel the need to have an
opinion about everything and everyone. It’s just how they are. It doesn’t have
anything to do with you.
Trying to please everyone - If you try to please everyone, you will suffer as a
result. If you try to make everyone around you happy, you are going to say
and do things that go against what you believe and think.
Taking everything personally - Has someone been mean or rude to you?
Forgive them and don’t take it personally. Maybe it didn’t have to do anything
with you. Maybe they were just having a bad day and wanted to vent at
someone. It’s not fair, but it happens all the time. We all have bad days, but
that should not give anyone a free pass to be rude to others. However, it might
give you some insight into why they are reacting to you that way. A lot of
times someone’s bad attitude has nothing to do with you personally, so don’t
take it as such.
Anger - Feeling angry is not good for your soul. It just takes away from your
happiness and drains your energy. First, you need to acknowledge why you
are angry. Sometimes we might feel anger toward someone and we don’t
know where it’s coming from. Once you find out the WHY , you can work
towards letting go of anger because it just doesn’t serve you at all.
Control – Let’s face it, you can’t control everything going on around you. As
much as you try, some things are out of your control. Accept it, acknowledge
it, and move on.
The past - Stop thinking about what happened. It’s in the past, so leave it in
the past. I personally know many people who keep bringing up their past and
the things they did or didn’t do. I feel like it is such a waste of time and
energy to be talking or thinking about the past. You cannot turn the time back,
can you? Instead, invest your time and energy into something useful, like
working towards your goals for a better future.
The need to be always right - You don’t always have to make someone else
see your point of view. Having your own opinions should be enough without
explanations. You can’t force someone to agree with you.
Past failures - Whether it’s a failed relationship, a marriage, or a business
venture, we can always learn from our past mistakes. Look at those failures as
good teaching lessons. You can choose to see them as failures, or you can see
the positive life lessons that they offer you. Nothing happens for no reason.
Learn from your mistakes instead of feeling like a failure.
 CONCLUSION
Congratulations! You have stuck with it, and now you are well on your way to
setting and achieving your goals. With preparation, planning, and dedication,
you will start to see your life transform before your very eyes. You deserve it!
Quick Recap
● Write it down

○ Visualize the big picture of what you want to achieve

○ Write it down!

○ Find your WHY that will motivate you to work on your goals every day

● Make it S.M.A.R.T goals

○ Specific

○ Measurable

○ Achievable

○ Relevant

○ Timely

● Break it down by:

○ Task

○ Time

● Hold Yourself Accountable

○ Find an accountability buddy

○ Remind yourself that you are the only person responsible for yourself,
your life, and your success
● Don’t forget to reward yourself

○ Recognize that with every step, you get closer to your end goal

● Repeat the process

○ Make it a HABIT

○ Habits are formed and they stay with you forever

This whole process can be repeated, and every time it is going to be easier
and more exciting when you achieve something you really are passionate
about.
And when you get overwhelmed working towards your goal, keep in mind
that…
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
- Abraham Lincoln
APPENDIX:
My Favorite Inspirational Quotes
● “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” –Abraham Lincoln

● “ All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” –
J.R.R Tolkien
● “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

● “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” –
Tony Robbins
● “Put your future in good hands—your own.” – Mark Victor Hansen

● “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you
become by achieving your goals.” – Zig Ziglar
● “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu

● “Don’t let your dreams go unanswered.” – Scott Allan

 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many thanks to everyone that has supported, helped, and contributed to the
production of this book. I am forever grateful for this opportunity that maybe
would not have been possible without your help:
1-Clair Whiteman
2- SPS Community
3- Coach-Scott Allan
4-My Family
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 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anisa Marku
Anisa Marku is the founder of My Third Culture Kid. She is a wife, mom of 4
boys, blogger and currently working on her next SMART goals. She is
Albanian, that lived in Germany while growing up and moved to Michigan 15
years ago. As a high school drop-out ( at 16 years old) her future didn’t look
very secure. Until she decided to set some goals for herself and turn her life
and career around. Anisa started College 10 years later and graduated in June
2017. Now she is working on building her online business and pursuing her
passion as a writer while taking care of her family and traveling the world
with them.
Email: anisa@mythirdculturekid.com
Web: www.mythirdculturekid.com
Email: anisa@mythirdculturekid.com
Can You Help?
Thank You So Much For Taking Your Time and Reading My Book!
I really appreciate all of your feedback, and I love hearing what you have to
say.
I need your input to make the next version of this book and my future books
better.
Please leave me an honest review on Amazon letting me know what you
thought of the book.
Thanks so much!
Anisa Marku
ONE LAST THING…
If you enjoyed this book or found it useful I’d be very grateful if you’d post a
short review on Amazon. Your support really does make a difference and I
read all the reviews personally so I can get your feedback and make this book
even better.
Thanks again for your support!