On BBC1 on Thursday, 05 January 2006, a young couple were interviewed on how they had managed to pay off their mortgage in 2 years. There are lessons we can all learn from their efforts whether we have a mortgage or not.

They had set themselves the goal of paying off their mortgage early so that they would be free to give up their jobs and move to the continent of Europe. They achieved their goal by both saving and making money.

They had shown real discipline in making savings. The man had given up his season ticket to Coventry City Football Club. One could argue that this was no great sacrifice as Coventry are not doing especially well this season! However, a true soccer fan will want to support his team whatever the results.

The woman had given up her cigarettes. This saved about twenty pounds a week. They had also cut down on wine and takeaways and had endured some miserable nights as a result.

This would not have been enough to pay off their mortgage on its own. They also had to bring in extra money. They showed determination and enterprise in making this extra money.

The man, for example, taught NLP lessons for pay and they both used NLP visualisation techniques to help achieve their goal.

They concentrated on visualising their goal all day long by putting up pictures of their dream house and car on several visible areas like the fridge. They had even placed a picture of the house on their computer as a screensaver.

Their two year goal plan had thus been kept in the forefront of their minds.

They thought daily about freedom, a house and a car. Eventually they achieved the extraordinary goal of paying off their mortgage in 2 years. It took me about 20 years.

It is also worth keeping your DAILY goals in the front of your mind.

Alan Lakein, the well known time management expert, advises the following:

"One of the secrets of getting more done is to make a TO DO List every day, keep it visible, and use it as a guide to action as you go through the day."

Some experts suggest making your daily list the night before so that your subconscious mind can work on it during the night. Either way, the key thing is to actually make a list.

The number six has been suggested as a viable number of things to do. Some prefer a smaller number like three. Any number will do.

Start on the most important task and finish it. Then go on to the next job. If you don't finish your list, you will at least have achieved the most important tasks for the day. This is far more than most people manage.

My first most important job today is writing this article. I am focusing on it with determination in spite of several interruptions by Lizzie, the cat, who likes to wander round the house in a crazed manner at this time of the morning.

She also loves to meaow loudly for no apparent reason. I can hear her now in the distance. The vet is giving her monthly injections of steroids to keep her going as she is nearly 22 years old. The steroids are clearly working well!

There will always be obstacles to achieving any goal. I expect the couple above were told by their friends that there was no way they could pay off their mortgage in two years.

They obviously ignored advice and focused on their goal and their big reason for wanting to achieve their goal - freedom to leave their jobs and home and find their dream life abroad.

They showed huge belief in their ability to achieve this goal. Strong belief is usually a major cause of success.

There is no good reason why the rest of us should not achieve our dream goals. I, for one, have completed my first goal of the day by finishing this article in spite of the fact that the cat is now meaowing non stop as she sits on my bed.

To be fair to her, she is now quiet and dozing peacefully as I check and submit this article to the article directory!