BOOK Please suggest a book about finding options to achieve a goal

[lavix]

In order to create a strategy for reaching a goal one must know what options are available. Is there a book about finding the available choices? Please suggest some

This question arose from reading Thinking Strategically: The Competitive Edge in Business, Politics, and Everyday Life.

 

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[MHP368]

Thats too vague really , whats the goal? But maybe you simply nean a way to systematize the finding of the possibilities?

Top of my head...

Brian Tracy "goals! How to get everything.."

Although to be frank with you , I think reading another book is doing yourself a disservice. Maybe figure out what you want and then take actions to try and get it?

 

[lavix]

@MHP368
> a way to systematize the finding of the possibilities
I like the wording - that's what I am looking for.

About figuring out what I want - I have clear goals that have been scoped into micro goals. I haven't read that specific book, but I might. Care to share what method he uses?
I have been using visualization, role models ( I wish I had more direct mentors ) & planning.

EDIT: I took a look at the Table of Contents & read the intro.
> "write down your goals, make plans to achieve them, and work on your plans every single day"
I already do that.
Seems he also uses some form of visualization. Okay a bit further into the book - have you seen this?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqRRilxVWZs

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TLzQf21V2A

Since it seems I am familiar with most of the concepts in the book, I'm skimming. Seems like he is taking a lot of books and putting them to one. I really like how he has the concept and then he explains it, very good book.
> Why is it that our profits or our income are not twice as high already?
I like this, asking why are we ( me ) not successful repeatedly until a solution can be found.
Kind of goes on the same lines as Define the Obstacle As a Goal
Okay so I have skimmed half the book, I like the planning part. I will read that more slowly since that is an area which I want to improve in.

EDIT 2: All right I have skimmed the book, read some parts deeply, but mostly ideas I have heard before. I really like that it has so many ideas. It can be a good repeat book to read to look for areas where I am faltering.

 

[Ernman]

First read TMF and UNSCRIPTED.

 

[lavix]

I have read TMF. I will maybe read Unscripted at some point. TBH I am more interested in the nitty gritty books right now. I don't need anyone to motivate me to work on my business.

 

[Rawseed]

Without knowing what your goals are, no one can give you an answer on how to achieve them.

You need to find someone or someones who have accomplished the goals or micro goals that you are trying to achieve.

You can tap these people's brains by reading their books, taking their courses, and/or talking to them directly.

Consider using Clarity to find experts you can talk to.

Clarity — On Demand Business Advice

Make faster & better decisions to grow your business. Clarity is your lifeline that instantly connects you with battle-tested advice from entrepreneurs. Find and schedule a call in minutes.

clarity.fm

 

[Ernman]

I have read TMF. I will maybe read Unscripted at some point. TBH I am more interested in the nitty gritty books right now. I don't need anyone to motivate me to work on my business.

That's great - look for the thread, I read The Millionaire Fastlane and drop a comment. A bar will get added to your name so we know you've read the book.

Now, as to nitty gritty. Remember from TMF we're looking to fill a need. As MJ says, there's no paint by numbers guide. Find the need, explore how to fill the need and execute. The "steps" will reveal themselves as you proceed.

 

[Raveling]

As said before, be WAY more specific. General goal achievement skills are great, but most books retain a lot of inherited pseudoscience.

Tell me your most specific destination and I can give you much better recommendations.

 

[lavix]

Well right now I am looking for channels to do market research, I have a product idea and a specific target market in mind. I have prepared a survey ( distribution via mailing list ) & I am considering a sales page, FB/YT ads and also looking for more opportunities.

 

[Andy Black]

Well right now I am looking for channels to do market research, I have a product idea and a specific target market in mind. I have prepared a survey ( distribution via mailing list ) & I am considering a sales page, FB/YT ads and also looking for more opportunities.

See how this is a much better question (goal) than your opening post?

I’d argue that you don’t want to “learn” how to achieve goals, you want to achieve them.

Make progress by solving the problem right in front of you?

 

[Kevin88660]

Many books are fixated with ideology and one school of thoughts they more reflective of the author’s personal experience than anything.

My opinion is take massive action and reflect upon it. Speed is everything.

Even the counter argument can be sometimes you need to sharpen the axe instead of chopping the tree only. My response would be then sharpen it now and do it quickly.

 

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[lavix]

Thanks to everyone who responded

 

[Raveling]

Many books are fixated with ideology and one school of thoughts they more reflective of the author’s personal experience than anything.

My opinion is take massive action and reflect upon it. Speed is everything.

Even the counter argument can be sometimes you need to sharpen the axe instead of chopping the tree only. My response would be then sharpen it now and do it quickly.

Kevin's totally on point. Learn what you think you need to defined by your destination and always be learning but TEST what you learn by APPLYING it. It's only useful if it's useful to you in the REAL WORLD.

 

[ZCP]

set your politics to the side and learn about 'how' to make decisions ....

Amazon.com: Decision Points (9780307590633): George W. Bush: Books

Amazon.com: Decision Points (9780307590633): George W. Bush: Books

www.amazon.com

 

[Raveling]

Well right now I am looking for channels to do market research, I have a product idea and a specific target market in mind. I have prepared a survey ( distribution via mailing list ) & I am considering a sales page, FB/YT ads and also looking for more opportunities.

Much better lavix, now I have general suggestions, but if you can get EVEN MORE specific, I can better focus my suggestions, or admit I don't have any that fit your needs. Please be as SUPER SPECIFIC as you can without giving away your secret sauce recipe.

Remember that you have finite time, so the more you can focus you learning, the faster you can start applying it toward a business. "Market research channels" could be a lifetime study, which may be great for academia or the joy of learning, but if you want to APPLY IT, more specificity please

BTW almost everyone's secret sauce isn't a secret and has already been done by someone in some variation, but not always. You can leverage their success to guide your own, don't start from scratch unless you have no better choice.

The more micro-specific ( about EVERYTHING, product category, tartget market ( and why / how you arrived at that target market, any specifics about the products itself as far as you can..., the better I can help you or not help you.

Something like this:

"I have an accessory that's used with a stick blender made out of silicone or similar material that helps users scrape the walls of the container while blending protein shakes.

My target market is people who are into fitness, bodybuilding, and health and frequently use powdered supplements... I think they're my target market because most protein powder is marketed with muscle-bound young men, or yoga model looking young women with flat beautiful abs on the package.

I think that this means gym goers between 20 and 35 with great bodies are my primary market."

That MAY be true, or it might be that aging seniors who live along and couldn't be bothered to cook would rather whip up a healthy shake than spend an hour cooking for one.

OR, fat lazy couch potatoes who want the hot body without the work ALL buy it, then never pair it with the exercise required for said body. The market is full of surprises.

The more specific you get the better I MAY be able to help.

 

[lavix]

My product is curtains for a very specific niche. I have verified demand for a similar product and am looking to improve on that product. My goal is to verify whether that improved product fulfills the needs of the verified demand.

The target market is night shift workers, night owls, gamers or more generically people who want to completely remove all light from the room. There is a bit more specificity, but perhaps giving away all the details is not a very good idea.

 

[Raveling]

Respect, that makes helping you a world easier. Tell me more, this is what I do myself, find ways to improve in-demand products. Which niche, what do, not do or should do better? Can you share the links?

Which distribution channels are you using to sell it?

You may need a tool like Jungle Scout on Amazon rather than a book if iyou want it primarily sold there.

So far it sounds more like you need a specific action you can take rather than a book, and I rarely say that.

The ultimate place to do market research is IN THE MARKET. Without more detail still, I'd say, if you can possibly afford it, do a real-world test market sale.

That said you should balance reckless speed to market ( and wasted cash ) against analysis paralysis ( know everything about nothing and failing to act ).

I need still more to make the best recommendation if any at all.

I study a lot on these topics, but you're still speaking too broadly for me to help. Social media marketing is huge, but nothing like selling on Amazon, though they may be combined.

What is your exact, UBER specific goal RIGHT NOW, what precisely are you trying to learn or find out, then act on?

ie. "I want to find the price point of what my target market will pay for the product based on their income."

is a world different than:

"I want to StoryBrand this product, so I need to find which tribe they best identify with."

which is universes away from:

"I want to sell blackout soundproofing curtains to high-income shiftworkers who would pay anything to get a decent day's,/afternoon's/night's sleep."

Pull back the curtain ALL THE WAY on your curtains if you want the best and Fast(est)Lane help,

Tim

 

[lavix]

@Raveling Since I already know that there is demand for the general niche, I'm thinking of doing prototype sales - basically market simulation.

 

[lavix]

The first distribution channel will be Amazon. However I am not at that stage yet.
List of things I still have to do before that:
Finalize design (blocks market simulation)
Hard Proof ( market simulation )
Setting up a brand
Manufacturer
Marketing preparation

> real-world test market sale
Thanks that what I was looking for.
> I want to sell blackout soundproofing curtains to high-income shiftworkers who would pay anything to get a decent day's,/afternoon's/night's sleep.
You're not far off.

 

[Raveling]

First singular recommendation. The one thing. And also the last, you need to focus on ONE thing you need to execute next. The only caveat, don't bogged down overanalyzing which one thing. Just identify a shortlist and execute on the most immediately executable ONE.

In MJ's word "be monogamous", orgies may follow later, just stay focused for now.

While it's not specific to how to do anything above, it is a great primer on how to focus and identify "the one thing which if I do it will make all other things that follow easier" ( paraphrased )

The first distribution channel will be Amazon. However I am not at that stage yet.

Check out Jungle Scout, and their free training.

List of things I still have to do before that:
Finalize design (blocks market simulation)

I could probably give you specific suggestions from my brain, I'll ponder if I know of any good book on that.

Hard Proof ( market simulation )

I'll ponder if I know of a good book on that. Not sure if I can help, the real world is the ultimate simulation.

Setting up a brand

Building StoryBrand, Made to Stick, Almost anything by Seth Godin, Hooked by Nir Eyal

Manufacturer

Learning this myself now with a mentor, I don't know any specific books for this./ JungleScout free training.

Marketing preparation

Be way more specific

> real-world test market sale
Test on Amazon, they had a fair bit of free info on how to set it up, but it's been years since I did it so no promises there;-)

Thanks that what I was looking for.
> I want to sell blackout soundproofing curtains to high-income shiftworkers who would pay anything to get a decent day's,/afternoon's/night's sleep.
You're not far off.

I was a shift worker, I know that experience well. I MAY have some ideas for you, IFF you, want to / are willing to get far more specific.

And

The one thing.

One final thought ( for now ), as you learn DOCUMENT any questions or especially relevant points that resonate with your specific venture, by highlighting copy-paste, a journal... so you know specific gaps and focus points going forward, fill those gaps, rinse and repeat.

 

[Raveling]

Lavix,

Excuse me posting here, I can't find the link to the product video. WRT my numbers, "millions" is arbitrary, but the point is the same. It'll take a LOT of money to move on that product. I hope you're able to prove me wrong.

You won't really know the cost until you can get a manufacturing quote, not for a similar product already available on Alibaba, but a REAL quote for your exact design on Alibaba.

If you're married to that specific product, I'd start by learning how to get a real quote from a manufacturer ( including shipping and customs costs ) to an FBA warehouse.

Jungle Scout's free training goes through some videos about how to communicate with Chinese manufacturers, and I'm sure there are forum members much more knowledgeable than I about that ( which I'm also currently learning myself ).

On the flip side if you're committed is to the process of wealth and entrepreneurship, but not a singular product or path, consider whether your current product is the best fit to get started if you don't have serious cash in hand.

 

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[lavix]

@Raveling I appreciate the feedback I'll give it my all until I can verify what the actual numbers are, even if I don't get to do this product I am sure I will learn a lot on the way

 

[Raveling]

@Raveling I appreciate the feedback I'll give it my all until I can verify what the actual numbers are, even if I don't get to do this product I am sure I will learn a lot on the way

You totally will lavix.

Maybe the most precise goal setting technique that always works is:

"Start with the end in mind", but I found the 7 habits in general too vague and general to be usable for me.

Tony Robbins describes the best way that actually works in one of his books but I forget which.

In short:

Start at the destination then ask yourself what do I need to do JUST BEFORE THAT?
Answer the question.
Repeat that process over and over until you have an actionable step you can do Right F*cking NOW (RFN)
THEN DO THAT STEP!

This is the only method I use because it's so pragmatic. It works in the real world every time without wasting time over analyzing goals.

Combined with the ideas in the one thing, you're done FOREVER!
After reading many books on goal setting, I don't and more, because I don't need to.

That said, if anyone in this forum knows of a goal setting book I should read ( that works better than the above) please share it with everyone.

 

[SeePetey]

In order to create a strategy for reaching a goal one must know what options are available. Is there a book about finding the available choices? Please suggest some

This question arose from reading Thinking Strategically: The Competitive Edge in Business, Politics, and Everyday Life.

Typing this on my phone, apologies for brevity and spelling.

Read pg 25 of James Clear's bookAtomic Habits. "Achieving a goal only changes your life for the moment. That's the counterintuitive thing about improvement. We think we need to change our results, but the results are not the problem. What we really need to change are the systems that cause those results. When you solve problems at the results level, you only solve them temporarily. In order to improve for good, you need to solve problems at the systems level. Fix the inputs and the outputs will fix themselves."

 

[SibuPMazibuko]

@MHP368
> a way to systematize the finding of the possibilities
I like the wording - that's what I am looking for.

About figuring out what I want - I have clear goals that have been scoped into micro goals. I haven't read that specific book, but I might. Care to share what method he uses?
I have been using visualization, role models ( I wish I had more direct mentors ) & planning.

EDIT: I took a look at the Table of Contents & read the intro.
> "write down your goals, make plans to achieve them, and work on your plans every single day"
I already do that.
Seems he also uses some form of visualization. Okay a bit further into the book - have you seen this?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqRRilxVWZs

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TLzQf21V2A

Since it seems I am familiar with most of the concepts in the book, I'm skimming. Seems like he is taking a lot of books and putting them to one. I really like how he has the concept and then he explains it, very good book.
> Why is it that our profits or our income are not twice as high already?
I like this, asking why are we ( me ) not successful repeatedly until a solution can be found.
Kind of goes on the same lines as Define the Obstacle As a Goal
Okay so I have skimmed half the book, I like the planning part. I will read that more slowly since that is an area which I want to improve in.

EDIT 2: All right I have skimmed the book, read some parts deeply, but mostly ideas I have heard before. I really like that it has so many ideas. It can be a good repeat book to read to look for areas where I am faltering.

You truly have given pure gold out with these audios

 

[ChrisV]

The leading expert on Goal Setting theory is Edwin Locke. Highly recommended.

 

[Raveling]

Typing this on my phone, apologies for brevity and spelling.

Read pg 25 of James Clear's bookAtomic Habits. "Achieving a goal only changes your life for the moment. That's the counterintuitive thing about improvement. We think we need to change our results, but the results are not the problem. What we really need to change are the systems that cause those results. When you solve problems at the results level, you only solve them temporarily. In order to improve for good, you need to solve problems at the systems level. Fix the inputs and the outputs will fix themselves."

I haven't read it yet, but it's on my list. Is it anything like Nudge or Switch by Chip and Dan Heath or Charles Duhiggs Better, Smarter, Faster ? All excellent reads. It just seems from the little I know of it that it's along a similar vein.

 

[Real Deal Denver]

The first distribution channel will be Amazon. However I am not at that stage yet.
List of things I still have to do before that:
Finalize design (blocks market simulation)
Hard Proof ( market simulation )
Setting up a brand
Manufacturer
Marketing preparation

> real-world test market sale
Thanks that what I was looking for.
> I want to sell blackout soundproofing curtains to high-income shiftworkers who would pay anything to get a decent day's,/afternoon's/night's sleep.
You're not far off.

You already have your path defined by the steps above. Good job!

Now, break down each phase into steps. The easiest way to do that is to plan the total picture of each phase, and then cut it in half, and put it on a timeline. Keep cutting the pieces in half until you have them into bite-size pieces that you can do in a day or less. I worked in a software development lab, and this is how they managed their projects, which were massive when you looked at the big picture, but in reality, they were actually many many individual bricks in a big building. Break it down to one brick at a time.

It's the old saying - How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Don't over-analyze. You can get paralysis by analysis, and spend WAY too much time working on how you're going to solve your issues, instead of working on the issues themselves.

There is a time and a place for books. You are beyond that. Hoist the sails and set off on your adventure - you have the map and the compass. Cherish every step of the journey! When you have finished the journey, you can look back on it as one of the great achievements of your life!

 

[Walter Hay]

Lavix,

Excuse me posting here, I can't find the link to the product video. WRT my numbers, "millions" is arbitrary, but the point is the same. It'll take a LOT of money to move on that product. I hope you're able to prove me wrong.

You won't really know the cost until you can get a manufacturing quote, not for a similar product already available on Alibaba, but a REAL quote for your exact design on Alibaba.

If you're married to that specific product, I'd start by learning how to get a real quote from a manufacturer ( including shipping and customs costs ) to an FBA warehouse.

Jungle Scout's free training goes through some videos about how to communicate with Chinese manufacturers, and I'm sure there are forum members much more knowledgeable than I about that ( which I'm also currently learning myself ).

On the flip side if you're committed is to the process of wealth and entrepreneurship, but not a singular product or path, consider whether your current product is the best fit to get started if you don't have serious cash in hand.

Jungle Scout crops up from time to time as a recommendation on the forum, but few seem to appreciate that using their research is not only expensive, it also leads to users entering areas of high competition selling "Hot Sellers" that almost invariably results in a race to the bottom because you have joined hundreds or even thousands selling the same product.

The "Free" training referred to is only available if you have already signed up as a subscriber, paying between $39 and $99 per month.

For less than one month's payment at the higher subscription rate, you can buy a book by someone who has had over 30 years experience in importing, and teaches how to safely source and import, including avoiding the pitfalls that never get a mention on guru sites like Jungle Scout. I have reviewed their teaching on locating manufacturers and it contains quite a bit of obsolete information, and some that is downright wrong.

Most sourcing or importing gurus don't bother to update their information.

Search the Gold threads.

Walter

 

[lavix]

I already am using Jungle Scout. I find it to be great tool to discover problems that are opportunities.

Jungle Scout crops up from time to time as a recommendation on the forum, but few seem to appreciate that using their research is not only expensive, it also leads to users entering areas of high competition selling "Hot Sellers" that almost invariably results in a race to the bottom because you have joined hundreds or even thousands selling the same product.

For less than one month's payment at the higher subscription rate, you can buy a book by someone who has had over 30 years experience in importing, and teaches how to safely source and import, including avoiding the pitfalls that never get a mention on guru sites like Jungle Scout. I have reviewed their teaching on locating manufacturers and it contains quite a bit of obsolete information, and some that is downright wrong.

Valid point o.o I will look for some books on the matter.

In my opinion whether it is a race to the bottom depends on the value added. Just undercutting the price is a dangerous game.

@Real Deal Denver
I agree, I have my short term planned out that way (week). I will work on extending that a bit.

My objective for this week is to work on the design, I have created some concepts and now I want to see how they would look in implemented form. Yesterday I got materials and today I will put them together - assembly is quite simple, finding existing materials is quite difficult.
I have estimated that I need to work on the design for two more weeks ( I am not very accurate ) before I can move on to validation / sourcing.