Let your children see you work toward the achievement of goals.

Only three percent of people write their goals and follow a plan of action to bring those goals to fruition. However, that three percent earn more, accomplish more in a shorter period of time, manage time more effectively, are more highly motivated and are more successful in many areas—including financial accomplishment—that the other 97 percent put together.

So, why not be a part of that three percent? Seems to make sense to me.

Write your goals, design a plan of action as to how you intend to accomplish those goals, determine who and what you might need to complete your plan, determine both timelines and deadlines, and evaluate your goals along the way so you can see if you are on the right path or if you need to make alterations. Note: if it isn’t written down, it is not a goal. Rather, it is a wish, a ‘want to,’ or a dream. Certainly, every accomplishment begins with a dream, a vision, or a thought. But when you write it down, you have taken the first step to making that dream become a reality. That’s the first step of goal accomplishment. Write the goal. Specifically.

Let your kids know—and see—that you are committed to writing down and working toward both small and large goals. Let them see the fun you have working toward a goal, your commitment to staying on task, and the rewards for work well done. (The rewards do not have to be financial, but can be personal, spiritual, wellness, etc.)

My kids used to think that I was nuts when I would have everyone sit down, as a family, and write out family goals—both short term and long term. But throughout their years of living with us, they saw this as a part of our lives and a part of our success.

And now, as adults with families of their own, our children write down their own goals. That makes me a happy, proud parent. I find myself smiling with joy even as I write those words.

Let your children see you work toward the achievement of goals.