Theodore Carl Soderberg, author of the novel "Uncharted Waters," offers six tips for a successful life.

•Identify what you want and when you want it. "Figuring out your dream can be the hardest part," said Soderberg. "So if you can't be specific, that's fine." Have a firm idea in your mind of what you want and when you want it by.

•Schedule 30 minutes for your goal every day. Set aside a half hour each day to do something to get closer to your dream. "You don't expect to do the whole thing in a day or a week, but a little bit every day . . . is the key to being successful."

•Make goal-setting a lifestyle. Make sure you work toward your goal at the same time every day. If "goal time" becomes part of your daily routine you'll be less likely to blow it off.

•Divide your goal into bite sized pieces. Accomplish the smaller steps that build up to success. "If you're working on a big dream, break it down into little bite sized dreams along the way."

•Congratulate yourself for each step you complete. Half of keeping motivated is remembering what you are working toward, and the other half is acknowledging yourself for the work you've already done.

•Finish up one goal and get ready to tackle a new one. At some point you'll accomplish whatever goal you've set out to achieve. Life will get boring without new goals. According to Soderberg, investing 30 minutes per day in your future can change your life.