I know, it sounds like the beginning of an Abbott and Costello skit. However, knowing your “why” is one of the most important steps in achieving any goal or moving forward in any project. In fact, “why” is the most important word when setting any goal. If you don’t know why you want something, then you probably don’t need it or want it and most probably won’t ever achieve it.

In any great life transition, it is imperative to know your why. Is your why in alignment with your values? One of the first steps is to imagine what it will be like when you are there. What will it feel like? What will you be doing? What will you have? We need to stop and visualize the end result. As Stephen Covey says “Begin with the end in mind”. If we know what the end will look like, we are more likely to work hard to achieve it.

If you have trouble understanding the principle of why, try asking yourself why at least five times. The first answer is likely to be somewhat superficial. However, with each successive answer you will be going deeper and deeper into the true reason for your goal. This is not always an easy exercise, yet it will certainly solidify your why once you have done it.

All too often, we have great ideas and get enthusiastic about them only to talk ourselves out of moving forward because of the “hows” or the “whats”. We start asking ourselves, “How will I ever do that?” or “What was I thinking?” or “I don’t know enough about that so I’ll never be able to do it”. There are many of reasons not to do something, so your “why” had better be strong enough to get you through.

Once you understand your why, the hows and the whats will just seem to appear. They will no longer be the obstacles they seemed to be at the outset. If the why is strong enough, resources will show up or you will be inspired to seek out the answers wherever they may be. The internet, people we know, books are all great sources of information that will help remove the fog of the unknown. If the why is strong enough, you will do everything in your power to find out how to make it happen and what needs to be done.

Brainstorming with a friend, using a trusted mentor to bounce ideas off, or using a coach are some of the ways that will help you determine your why, organize and prioritize your whats and hows. Beware though, your why may not be good enough for other people and they will try very hard to discourage you. Be careful of who you tell your goals to, and know that they may not understand your why.

What is one thing that you would really like to accomplish? Now ask yourself why you’d like to accomplish that. Think about it for a few minutes. What will that accomplishment give you? Will it serve others? Once you know the why, close your eyes and visualize what it will be like when you achieve it. Hold that picture and make a mini-video of what you will be like, what you will feel like and what it will mean to others. Run that video in your mind first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Remember, we become what we think about.

Bryan Gorrie is a certified professional coach (CPCC) and accredited (PCC) by the International Coach Federation. He works primarily with entrepreneurs to help them prioritize their business goals and balance their life. He is also a certified retirement coach and works to help people design and live the best years of their life in retirement. Please find more information at http://www.p3learning.ca and http://www.thenextchapter.ca and read his blog at; http://www.bryan-thenextchapter.blogspot.com