powerful goal, you will find it difficult to stop thinking about it. This goal
guides you and motivates you even through difficult times.
To be powerful, a goal must be intensely emotional in a positive way.
This is why test score goals are so weak. Who gets excited and inspired by
tests? In fact, for most people, tests are negative experiences that produce
feelings of nervousness, fear and stress. That’s not very energizing or
inspiring. No wonder so many people feel bad about English.
So how do you find and create truly powerful goals? Begin by asking
yourself power questions. These are questions that help you find your
deeper reason for speaking English. As you go deeper, you will find more
inspiring goals. And the best power question of all is simply, “why?”
Repeatedly asking why is an easy way to find your deeper purpose for
English. For example, you might first ask yourself, “Why am I learning
English?” Maybe your first answer is, “To get a high TOEFL score.” That’s
a weak external goal. So you ask yourself again, “Why do I want a high
TOEFL score?” Maybe you answer, “To get a better job.” Again you ask,
“Why do I want a better job?” Now you are going deeper, finding your true
purpose. Maybe you answer, “To make more money for my family.” And
then you ask, “Why do I want to make more money for my family?” And
you might answer, “Because I love them and want to provide an abundant
and wonderful life for them.” You have found your big internal goal.
Your big goal is not to get a high TOEFL score, your true goal is to create
a wonderful life for your family. English is a tool to help you with that goal.
Isn’t that more powerful and emotional? Doesn’t that excite and inspire you
more? Doesn’t that create much more fuel for your engine?
Of course, everyone is different. Maybe your big goal is to travel the
world and live a life of adventure – and you know that English is the
international language. Maybe you dream of being a rich and successful
international businessperson, and English will help you achieve that dream.
Maybe you dream of studying abroad at an American university. Maybe
you want to make international friends from many countries around the
world. Maybe you have more than one big goal for English.
