Robert Middleton of Action Plan Marketing comes up with some pretty creative ideas. Kudos! This one is on goal setting. Interestingly, I did a short post on SMART goals (Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) in the not too distant past and have since noticed that it’s a popular post (according to key word searches). Well, all you SMART goal fans, get ready for a whole new acronym. It’s not pretty, but it’s catchy in its own special way.

Since I’m all for visualization, I dig his encouragement to tap in and think big. Why not? What kind of life do you want to live? Making the most of it? or making it day by day for the duration?

Granted you could look at these as two techniques for two different goal types. One being the big picture compass setter that points you to the land of Oz, and the other one to define the steps to get you there. I’ll let you sort out which I think would be SMART and which would be ITOCA.

And now, Robert’s not-so-famous (yet) I.T.O.C.A. Formula:

1. IMAGINE you’re on your death bed looking back. And you say to your loved ones gathered around, “You know I’ve had a pretty good life, but I really wish I’d done X.” What is X? That’s your unreasonable goal.

2. THINK about it all the time. Don’t push it out of your mind. Obsess about it; brainstorm and draw mind maps. Get the idea out of the abstract and into the concrete. Form a mastermind group and kick around ideas. Make it real.

3. Be aware of OPPORTUNITIES and coincidences that present themselves. You couldn’t see them before, but now, with increased focus on your goal, you’ll start seeing, reading, hearing about things that are connected to your goal. Explore these things. They’re there to help you.

4. When the time is right, make a COMMITMENT. On the TV poker shows they talk about going “ALL IN.” Don’t hold back. Make a promise, not based on knowing how to achieve your goal, but on your desire to make it real. If you have to know how ahead of time, you’ll never take the leap.

5. ACTION. Now it’s time for the real work, and that consists of putting one foot in front of the other every single day. Keep things alive by creating action plans, researching, asking for assistance, and networking with like-minded people. In other words, create an environment in which the goal can be realized.

Imagine, Think, Opportunities, Commitment, Action: I.T.O.C.A. Now that’s a pretty bad acronym compared to S.M.A.R.T., but I promise you it’s a better formula for getting what you truly desire.

By Robert Middleton of Action Plan Marketing. Please visit Robert’s web site at www.actionplan.com for additional marketing articles and resources on marketing for professional service businesses.