Let us be honest for a few minutes. The world we live in today is fast-paced one where one can quickly lose focus of where one is going in life. The stresses of the workplace, family and the world around you can sometimes lead you to wander through life like a proverbial blind man through the desert. If you do not take the time to focus on what it is you want out of life then it will be over all too soon and you might be left with nothing but regrets. Your goals and goal setting skills need to be realistic and attainable, but you also need to work towards them the whole time.

Just a few hundred years ago in the 18th century the world was a very different place. Goals and goal setting was not even on the mind of 18th century people no matter where they lived. The world was a much simpler place and the desires of the people living in it were just as simple. While the Industrial Revolution may have changed the way that the things are manufactured it did not really change the way many people lived. In fact it worsened the way that some people lived. Even the rich and powerful did not have much to stress about and went about their lives at a very sedate pace with the knowledge that they will have money and everything else they need out of life.

That was 200 hundred years ago and a lot has changed. The 20th century brought with it great economic and social changes. The two World Wars changed the face of countries and their ability to function. Suddenly the gentry were no longer the richest people in the city and the working class was starting to raise itself out of the gutter and into the light. As people became aware of the rights of other people and the old systems of governance and mercantilism changed the importance of goals and goal setting became more important to the average person in the street.

Goals and goal setting skills have become a very important aspect of people's lives. We are no longer beholden to the position that we start out in and with the correct motivation, goals, and effort any person can reach nearly any position they desire. While some people may scoff at the idea it has been proven countless times and many motivational speakers will be able to show you any number of success stories to prove that they are not just making all this up. Success in the 21st century does not lie with your birth as it did in the 17th century or the trust funds of the early 20th century, but rather with you. Clear and attainable goals that you can work towards are the key to success in the fast and cut-throat world we live in today.