Names have not been changed.

True story. Camille set a goal and wrote it down. (You’ve heard the saying, “A goal not written down is just a wish,” right?) Well, her goal was simple: to have ten thousand dollars in her hands by March 31st, 2000.

Time passed. Life got busy. She got caught up in the day-to-day and pretty much forgot all about it.

Then March 31st, 2000 arrived. Camille found herself standing in line at the bank, preparing to make a deposit. Something about the date tugged at her awareness. Curious, she glanced down, flipped the check over, and stared at the amount.

Ten thousand dollars.

Right there, in her hands—just like she’d written down. The catch? The check was made out to her father. She was simply depositing it on his behalf.

Still, it was uncanny. On the exact day she had set in her goal, she held the exact amount in her hands. Coincidence? Maybe. Strange? Absolutely.

Here’s another true story. John and Barbara had their hearts set on owning a Prevost Motorcoach—an ultra-luxurious RV, the kind rock stars often tour in. They were serious about this dream. They did their research, found the exact model they wanted in a magazine, cut out the photo, and pinned it to their fridge.

Years later, they finally had the means to purchase their dream motorcoach. After sealing the deal, they decided to take down that old magazine clipping. But something made them pause. On a whim, they looked closer—really looked.

It wasn’t just a similar model.

Through a few subtle details in the article, they realized: it was the exact same motorcoach. The one in the magazine photo. The very one they had looked at every day on their fridge.

So what is this strange magic behind goal setting? Why is writing a goal down so powerful? And why do some goals seem to slip through our fingers even when we do everything “right”?

Here’s the truth: writing down a goal is crucial. In some cases, whether you thrive or flounder can come down to this one simple step. But even more important is what goal you choose—and how you word it. Clarity matters. So does alignment with your real priorities.

Because here’s the thing: setting goals without reflecting on your values can backfire. You might chase the wrong dream, and reach it—only to realize it came at the cost of something far more meaningful. That’s how you end up learning the hard way about the old saying, “Be careful what you pray for—you just might get it.”

A properly set goal is one of the most powerful forces in the world. The most effective, history-making, truly prosperous people know how to use goal setting the right way. And here’s the kicker—whether you realize it or not, everyone is using these principles all the time. Where you end up in life is often the result of Universal Law—whether you're intentionally applying it or unconsciously reacting to it.

The problem is, our minds naturally follow the path of least resistance. Without effort, our thoughts drift downward, just like rainwater flowing toward the lowest point.

So ask yourself: If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would your goals be?

That question is where it all begins. But there’s something else to understand: the part of your mind that sets the goal isn’t the same part that carries it out. That’s where most people struggle. They keep the goal in the same space where it was born—in the dreaming, planning, “idea” part of the mind—and never activate the part that gets it done.

Want to go deeper on that? Watch the Stickman Video. It breaks down exactly how your mind works in goal setting—and how to bridge the gap between dreaming and doing.