Taylor Swift is featured in the new issue of Marie Claire, where she talks about her early success and how setting goals for herself was a helpful way of keeping her focused on the task at hand, as well as keeping her priorities straight.

The future country superstar shined in the spotlight even as a three-year-old little girl singing songs from Disney's animated feature, 'The Lion King,' on the beach to total strangers. And at a very early age, she knew what she wanted to do with her life. "I love having a goal, feeling like I'm on a mission," Taylor tellsMarie-Claire. "I love trying to beat what I've done so far. I knew that everything I wanted to happen could happen in Nashville. So, it became my number-one goal to get there somehow."

And get to Music City she definitely did. And she has accomplished so much more than she ever dreamed of, including Grammys, CMA's Entertainer of the Year, her own clothing line and a sold-out headlining tour. The 20-year-old also seems to play ahead of the curve, having become a leader in technological advancements for music and amping up her already world-famous career. She also has a work ethic unequaled by other people her age. "I think about my next move 10 steps ahead," explains Taylor. "I'm always planning three awards shows ahead. For me, planning is a productive way of stressing out about your life."

Taylor posed for the accompanying photo shoot, which shows her in a more serious light than previous magazine photos. The rest of the article, which seemingly showcases a day from her current Fearless tour, is in the July issue of Marie Claire, on newsstands now.

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