Setting unrealistic goals, or goals you never intend to meet, wastes everyone’s time. If you’re so out of touch with your inner self that you spend time daydreaming about wealth and riches with no plan for achieving then, it’s time for an attitude overhaul.

Ron Willingham is best known for helping organizations succeed with ethical, value-driven strategies. He teaches that the right mental attitude can make the difference in what you are realistically going to achieve. Knowing who you are and where you are going helps you set positive goals. Sure, it’s fine to fantasize about buying a Mercedes Benz (and even to purchase one if your budget allows for it), but do not allow yourself to to be motivated or driven by status. Status is really nothing more than buying things to impress people, that you really don’t like, with money you don’t have! Keeping up with the Joneses is a dangerous game to play. If you find yourself more concerned with status than personal values take stock of your life. Change your mindset: read or listen to some good books, listen to personal development CDs, and go to lectures. Redirect your thinking to focus on practical goals based on the reality of what is feasible in your life.

You may be young in the business and in need of a positive support system to plan exactly how you are going to reach your goals. Seek out a mentor and discover some new standards and practices. Experience in the field and right mental attitude is an excellent combination to enable you to achieve. Let’s face it, to succeed in business, you need to stay motivated and focused, right? But of course that is easier said than done. During a lecture by Stephen Covey, who preaches self-reflection as a way to discover the unlimited power of your own potential, knows that at some point, everyone is going to hit a wall. That is where a mentor can step in and help out. But, according to Covey, finding a mentor takes more thought and effort that most people realize.

A good place to start is to find someone whom you admire who shows an avid interest in you. Don’t prematurely choose your mentor. Get to know a variety of people who can potentially mentor you, which will minimize the chance in choosing someone for the wrong reasons. A magnetic personality is captivating, but too often, you can end up becoming a groupie, basking in the glow of your mentor’s superstar stature. It’s better to pick someone whose thought process and personality mesh with yours.

A mentor want you to learn and adapt his or her philosophies to become your own. A mentor should be available for advice and feedback, but not babysitting your insecurities. If you pick the right mentor, and you may have more than one, it’s usually the foundation for a life long friendship.