There’s a nice exchange from NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” a reality show about obese people trying to lose weight — and succeeding. Contestant Ryan, who has lost 80 pounds, was thanking his team’s trainer, Jillian, for helping him discover the kind of person he could be.

She gently corrected him. The type of person you already are, she said.

A lot of her comment was certainly in recognition for what Ryan had accomplished, but it’s also the mentality people need if they want to achieve their goals — whether they are New Year’s resolutions or long-term desires.

One of the most crucial aspects is to write the goal as if you have already accomplished it. If you weigh 300 pounds and you want to weigh 200, for example, you would write, “I weigh 200 pounds.”

As long as you make sure the goal is realistic, writing it down gives you the mind-set you need to accomplish it. Keep writing it down each day so it stays in the foreground of your thoughts. If it’s a long-term goal, break it into smaller goals that you can gradually accomplish, so you don’t feel as if you’re failing.

The 300-pounder might list goals such as “I don’t eat desserts” and “I walk 3 miles a day.” Those can be accomplished quickly and begin a pattern of success.

Say you’re a salesperson who dreams of being a chief executive officer. Look at how people become CEOs and start setting goals in that direction. Maybe “I am the top salesperson in our region” or “I have an MBA from Wharton.”

Focus on what you can control. You can’t force someone to make you a CEO, but you can make sure you have the credentials and network to become one.