Attended a great seminar last night, led by my friend in Toastmasters, CP. He gave us a talk on six steps we can take to better achieve our goals. His work is based on the ideas of Napoleon Hill's seminary book - Think & Grow Rich.
So the steps, in brief, are:

1. Set a Goal. First, we need goals, goals for the short, mid and long-term timelines. Long term is the most difficult to think about, but probably the most necessary. Also, the goals we set must be BIG! Big enough so that they scare and excite you. Why? So that we are motivated. Any less, and we won't be excited enough to set them.
2. Determine what you must give up. After setting a goal, we have to acknowledge the things we may need to give up to achieve them. For example, giving up television watching, in order that we may study something, or giving up certain foods, so that we can achieve fitness goals.
3. Establish a Date/Timeline. Establish the date when you will achieve that goal. Once a date is firmly set, then we can start working our way backward (to today) the steps necessary to achieve the goal. My favorite example of this is JFK's declaration for America's space program in the 60's: "to put a man on the moon, before the decade is out."
4. Create a Definite Plan. This follows from 3. Just the rough steps you need to achieve your goal.
5. Write the Concise Plan. This involves writing out the dates and plan details down somewhere where it will be visible and possible to hold in your hands.
6. Use Visualization to your Advantage. Now here's where you use positive reinforcement to help accomplish to steps necessary. You should hold your plan in your hands and read it out to yourself twice daily: once when you get up in the morning, and once before you go to bed each evening.