Setting goals is a difficult procedure for most people. Developing a plan to accomplish these goals is even more mystifying. Vague and general statements are the typical responses given by most students when asked, "What are your goals?"

"I want to be a great player" is a typical response. "I want to be playing my own music in front of thousands of people" is another common answer.

The problem of course is that they have no idea how to accomplish these things. Learning how to set goals and develop a realistic plan of attack is vital to any endeavor. Success is not an accident. It is the result of planned activity. Start the goal setting process by writing, on paper, a list of dreams: Your dream gig. Your dream studio. Your dream recording session. Your dream bass magazine review of your own CD. Your dream instrument. etc. etc. etc.

WRITE EM DOWN!!!! It is a proven fact that people with written dreams and goals are much more apt to attain success. Then from your list of dreams begin a sub-list of "what is it going to take to get these dreams?"

Then create a plan with SPECIFIC ACTIONS to get you on the track toward your goals. "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail."