I imagine all people, at some time in their lives, have hoped for or dreamed of a thing or some situation they truly wanted - some object or state of being that doesn’t currently exist in their lives.  They might desire an object or circumstance enjoyed by others or they have creatively imagined something special or uniquely tailored just for them.  The human experience affords all people opportunities, but not necessarily fairly or equal.  We have all asked ourselves the two most unanswerable questions in the world, “Why me, and why not me?”  Ultimately we are left to deal with our own circumstances and if we don’t like what we have, we have the ability to alter those conditions or create the ones we want.

The secret to creating your ideal future is found in identifying what you really want (the dream) and then setting goals that will progressively move you to the attainment of your dreams.  Success is really nothing more than the day-by-day realization of your goals.  Goals are like a vehicle moving you from where you are, to where you want to be.  Without a vehicle, you will just stay where you are and that is the way most people spend their lives, right where they are.  The act of establishing a goal can dramatically increase your success and happiness as a result of the positive energy created by merely focusing on the achievement of the goal and knowing that you have set a course to move you closer to your dream.

The most successful salespeople in the world have developed a positive attitude about themselves and their circumstances then set goals to achieve their dreams.  These salespeople also understand the need to write their goals to ratify their commitment and fuel desire when their motivation is low and the challenge is arduous.  They have also learned the absolute necessity of making their goals time specific.  Using terms such as “someday”, or “as soon as possible” are vague and will promote failure.  These successful salespeople have learned effective goals are ones to which they can make a strong commitment.  No goals will be achieved unless they have personal value to you.  Another person’s desire will very seldom produce the attitude, motivation and commitment to achieve goals not in harmony with your own dreams.

In Napoleon Hill’s book, The Law of Success, he describes the insight he gained from his research into the power of goal setting.  He said the following:

“Any definite chief aim that is deliberately fixed in the mind and held there with the determination to realize it finally saturates the entire subconscious mind until it automatically influences the physical action of the body toward the attainment of the purpose.”

Plain and simple, the way to make your dreams become a reality is by setting goals.  As you write out your goals and monitor your progress, you have a measurement tool that will allow you to monitor your progress.  Monitoring your progress is essential if you are to reach your goal within the time frame you have established.  Goal setting is the vehicle that will transport you to your dreams.  If you want to achieve your true potential in sales and in life, create a consistent pattern of goal setting.  Monitor your performance, track your progress and enjoy the sweet taste of success.  J. C. Penney once said, “Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I’ll give you a man who will make history.  But give me a man without a goal and I’ll give you a stock clerk.”  The only way you can grow, progress and excel in sales is by establishing goals that will lead you to your dreams.  Commit yourself today, to live a goal focused and dream centered life.  There is no other way to achieve your full potential.

Power Pot aims to light up electronics on a dark night (Daily Herald)

Salt Lake-Utah county line a wellspring of economic vitality (Salt Lake Tribune)

Salt Lake equities analyst bought first house at age 10 (Salt Lake Tribune)

Housing confidence up among builders, but is it a fluke? (Deseret News)

Utah Technology Council touts STEM education for Utah’s economic future (Deseret News)

As sales slow, Utah’s Skullcandy retrenches (Salt Lake Tribune)

Simmons to lead Utah Sports Commission board (Salt Lake Tribune)

As life along the Wasatch Front changes, public transportation needs change as well.  Communities that could be served by bus alone a few years ago have grown and are now better accessed by higher speed trains with greater capacity and more frequency.  Desire for cleaner air and less crowded roads has led to the current expansion of four new TRAX lines and the FrontRunner extension to Provo.

Ridership on UTA is the highest it’s ever been, increasing 3 percent in 2012 and reaching an all-time high of almost 43 million boardings.  TRAX ridership alone increased by 14 percent last year.  UTA’s ridership is making an impact on Utah’s two largest traffic generators, carrying more than 25 percent of all worker trips into downtown Salt Lake City and 35 percent of trips to the University of Utah.  In total, more than 250 million passenger miles were reduced on Utah’s roads last year by people who chose to ride UTA.

So far in 2013 ridership has remained steady, as major system changes have taken place the past several months.  The FrontRunner extension to Provo opened last December, and has carried as many as 16,000 weekday boardings.  In February, UTA increased FrontRunner service and adjusted the schedule to improve reliability and connections to TRAX and bus.  The Airport TRAX line opened in April, giving Wasatch Front residents convenient rail access to Salt Lake International Airport.  The new TRAX and FrontRunner lines have opened more than two years ahead of schedule, changing original ridership projections.  While these changes are positive, it takes time for riders to adjust to a new bus and rail network.

As the rail projects in the FrontLines 2015 program have been completed, our public transportation system has been experiencing a period of unprecedented growth and change.  Bus ridership has been affected as routes and schedules have been adjusted and many riders make the switch from bus to train.  Other changes to bus and rail service have been made in recent years due to the recession.  UTA discontinued peak-hour only express bus routes, replacing them with all-day FrontRunner service that spans 90 miles of the Wasatch Front and will provide greater access and capacity for decades to come.

The data show that public transit trips along the Wasatch Front are increasing while vehicle miles per capita have been declining over the past decade.  In addition, UTA’s ridership held steady in the first quarter of 2013 while the American Public Transportation Association reports that transit ridership across the nation fell by approximately 2 percent.

UTA is poised for future growth as the rail expansion wraps up this year with the opening of the Draper TRAX line in August.  In December, service will begin on the Sugar House streetcar line, the first project of its kind in Utah.  As the FrontLines 2015 program concludes and the economy improves, UTA is focused on improving connections and increasing service.  FrontRunner service was increased in February, and an increase to hourly service on Saturday will begin in August.  In response to improved sales tax revenues, which funds almost 70 percent of UTA’s operating budget, the agency has also preserved more than $1.5 million in bus service so far this year.

UTA appreciates our riders’ support throughout this exciting and dynamic time.  Ridership is strong, and our new, expanded public transportation system will help make the Wasatch Front one of the most progressive and economically vibrant communities in the Intermountain West.  We look forward to continuing to serve the residents of the Wasatch Front by providing them with an integrated system of innovative, accessible and efficient public transportation.