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According to most opinion polls, less than 3% of individuals surveyed set goals. Lloyd Conant, founder of Nightingale Conant Corp., the biggest producers of video programs on success and achievements is often quoted as saying, “Success is goals, all else is commentary.”
Goals are written statements which guide us in the process of pursuing what we want or what we want to achieve. Written goals are not just part of business plans or an adjunct to mission statements for small or large corporations. Often, we forget the lessons we’ve learned in the workplace and fail to carry them over into our personal lives. Goals should also be set for individual pursuits outside of career. Goals should also be part of planning a family’s future. Goal setting is one of the best ways to achieving success in any area of life, be it financial, business or career, health, relationships or leisure/fun time. By setting goals, a scattered, shapeless approach to any of the area mentioned above can be give shape and direction. No one would try to build a house without a plan, yet many of the same people try to build a life with no set plans or blueprints. Many of us dream about where we want to go, what we want to achieve, what we want to have and what our ultimate lifestyle would be like. The biggest difference between a dream and a goal is – a goal is written down. Dreams are fluff. We can drift in them aimlessly, perhaps remaining adrift for a lifetime.
Goals don’t have to be big. They can be small. But once you see the results of setting goals you will want to set goals for one to five year periods. Successful people have a clear sense of purpose and direction in every area of their lives. If you were to do an in-depth interview with them you’d uncover the fact that they have goals by which they direct their lives. Here are seven important steps in setting goals. If each one is put into action, a concrete road map emerges showing you exactly where you have to go to get to your destination to the place where you feel you have achieved success.
It’s Your Goal
Sounds simple, doesn’t it? However thousands of people allow their main goals to be set by others – by parents, by corporations, by spouses, by slick Madison Avenue advertising and even by neighbors. When other people determine the definition of success or the means by which success is achieved, then the goal is not yours. It’s theirs. We all know people in careers that ended up there because parents wanted them to be a doctor, a lawyer, a teacher, a concert caliber musician or an auto mechanic, farmer, fireman, policeman, pilot. The list is endless. If you don’t meet their definition of success you risk feeling like a failure. It is up to you to decide and define what success means to you. The way to do this is to set goals for what you want to achieve. This universal law drives home the point of a goal being yours – You are completely responsible for everything you are and for everything you become or achieve.
The Goal Has Meaning to You
Goals have emotional components to them. They reflect your values and force you to think about what’s important. By setting goals and determining your definition of success they become challenging and exciting. Goals give you an edge in life. They prevent you from settling into boredom and mediocrity. They also put a tight lid on the game of “What if…” With goals determined by you chances are you won’t be sitting back and wondering what if I’d done that or what if I’d tried that or any other statement you can attach to the phrase what if… Create a goal that makes you so excited you can hardly sleep. When a goal is in alignment with your core values synergy and flow come into play naturally. Harmony is set in motion and propels you towards attaining the goal.
The Goal Is Written Down
Writing down the goal reinforces its importance. Our subconscious minds recognize this immediately. Written goals set strong motivational direction. You get excited about accomplishing it because it is meaningful to you. It is your vision of what is unquestionably right for you. A written goal helps focus activities that need to be done to achieve the goal. If you are doing things to move you towards the attainment of your goal then you are “successful” even if you not quite there yet. A written goal, in addition to helping you choose what to do, also helps you choose what not to do. Remember if a goal is not in writing it’s a New Year’s Resolution. Start the goal statement with I and a verb. The “I” word is empowering.
The Goal Is Specific and Measurable
This is the point where most people become confused and often give up on setting goals. Vague generalizations or wishy-washy statements do not define a specific goal. For example – I will be financially independent. What does that really mean? An income of billions and billions? An income of $200,000 a year? A stock portfolio of $50 million invested? Does it mean you are debt free? The statement – want more time with my family – falls into the same wishy-washy category. Be specific. I will earn $100,000 in 2001. I will spend two hours each night being present and attentive to my family. Keep this catchy slogan in mind when thinking about goals – a goal without a number is just a slogan.
The Goal Is Flexible
All goals need to be adjustable to new information. Why is it important? A goal chiseled in concrete will make you feel trapped. A flexible goal gives you the opportunity to change your course of direction if an opportunity comes along that you’d be crazy not to pursue. Often the unexpected comes along and if it’s pursued it turned out to be a disguised stepping-stone to the original goal.
The Goal Is Attainable
A goal is attainable when you can see the whole process of what it takes to achieve it. Nothing is more frustrating than a goal which is so out there, you can’t see the end of the line. Chances are you’ll quit trying. You’ll give up hope. You’ll get depressed. You’ll feel like a failure. You’ll end up going back to a boring and mediocre life. If you can see all the steps it takes for you to reach the goal and the steps are realistic (no robbing banks, suddenly being discovered, rising to CEO from a low level management position in with 1 year or being rescued by dashing multi-millionaire or heiress to millions) then the goal is attainable.
The Goal Has a Time Frame
You can take forever to accomplish something. Not having a time frame falls into the fluffy dream and wishy-washy statements category. Put a time limit on when you will finish what you started. If the goal is flexible there is breathing room. Having temporary setbacks is not a crime. Also, recognize that life events – illness, death of a loved one, job loss -- can and do happen which can stall your momentum forward. These life events play havoc on the psyche. You will need time to recover. When you do recover, you goals, your plan of action will help you to reenter into life feeling positive and energetic.
Here’s a quick list of questions to ask yourself to help you in setting goals.
-What do I want to do?
-What do I want to have?
-What do I want to become?
-What do I want to learn?
-What do I want to spend my time on?
-How much money do I want to have?
-What is the purpose of me doing this?
-What are the rewards and benefits of doing this?
-What will I have to do to make this happen in 1-3-5 years?
-What am I prepared to give up to make it happen?
The act of writing out a description of what you want and what you intend to do to accomplish what you want in one year, two years or five years will change your life. This is the most important part of goal setting. Write it down. Display it in a visible place. I will do something today, no matter how small, that will move me towards my goal.
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