I'm a big reader of motivational books. I've both succeeded and failed at numerous aspects of being a son, a brother, a husband, a father, an insurance agent, a salesperson and a business owner. I'm enjoying some success now but had several hurdles to overcome with each venture. Sometimes it seems that nothing comes easy in this life. Fortunately various success-oriented and self-help books have helped me trough many rough times.

One day it dawned on me that much of what I've read in these books can be found in Matthew chapter 7, verse 7. Which reads (KJV): "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you". Asking is about goal setting. Seeking is about looking for opportunities to help you achieve your stated goal. Knocking is about taking action. Only when you have done all three can you get what you want.

Ask and it shall be given you In order to ask, you have to know what you want. You have to define your goal. This, of course, is the starting point. How can you possibly achieve a goal that you haven't set or cannot state? Be specific. A desire to be rich is fine, but that desire does not translate easily into an action plan. "I want to be rich by being the best insurance agent I can be" is a better goal. "I want to be rich by selling health insurance to self-employed people in Connecticut" is even better. Write down your goal or goals. Putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard is better than just thinking or talking about your goals. After you've defined your goal with specificity ask through prayer.

Seek, and ye shall find When you know what your goal is you can look for opportunities to help you achieve that goal. Seek out opportunities that will help you achieve your goal.

Knock and it shall be opened unto you Once you've found an opportunity that will move you closer to your goal, must take action.

Asking, seeking and knocking are not interchangeable or synonymous terms. In order to achieve your significant goals you must take several steps. The first is to ask or state your goal. The second is to seek out the best opportunities to move you towards that goal. The third is to move away from the intellectual exercises of asking and seeking and start doing something concrete and tangible; knock on the door.

The article was originally published on http://www.BadSalesLeads.com/articles/Goal-Achievement-According-to-Matthew.htm.

Alston Balkcom

Alston J. Balkcom has been a Connecticut insurance agent since 1985. His practice primarly involves helping Connecticut residents find health insurance. His focus is on those who do not qualify for health insurance through their employers. Most of his clients reach him after visiting his web site. He has taken several advanced courses over the years to increase his knowledge of health and other types of insurance. His resume includes time with Metropolitan Life, and Mutual of Omaha.