Goal Setting 101

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Did you make a New Year’s Resolution? 

New Year’s Resolutions are made every year, and they’re usually big over-reaching ideas that don’t often come to fruition.

Why not?

Because they’re usually all-or-nothing.

If a resolution is not achieved, many people feel let down and discouraged with themselves. The firm decision to do something, without a plan and goals, is almost impossible to achieve.

The big question: How do you go about setting goals and achieving them?

First, what is your goal? It can be big or small. It can take a few days to a lifetime to achieve.

And, it should be they – have more than one goal.

The most important thing to keep in mind, your goals are yours and yours alone. They’re something you want to accomplish, not something someone else wants you to do.

“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.” – Albert Einstein

According to Develop Good Habits, there are seven types of goals:

  1. Career
  2. Financial
  3. Personal Development
  4. Spiritual
  5. Educational
  6. Relationship
  7. Physical and Health

No matter what category your goal falls into, the path to successfully achieving it is the same.

  • What’s your goal?
  • Write it down
  • Break it into the necessary steps needed to reach it
    • Create mini-goals within your overarching goal
  • Make a plan
  • Measure your progress
  • Keep going  

All successful people have a goal. No one can get anywhere unless he knows where he wants to go and what he wants to be or do.” – Norman Vincent Peale

Where DO you want to go or be or do?

  • What’s your dream?
    • “A goal is a dream with a deadline.” – Napoleon Hill
  • Why do you want it?
  • What’s your motivation?

“By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands—your own.” – Mark Victor Hansen (Founder and co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series)

Put it in writing – There’s something powerful about writing down your goals. It makes them real.

  • Use positive terminology – “I will…”
  • Be specific
  • Use a dream board or vision board for motivation

“A goal properly set is halfway reached.” – Zig Ziglar

Break it down – Especially bigger goals

  • Using smaller steps (goals) makes achieving the final goal less daunting
  • Think of it as an organized step-by-step to-do list

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin

It’s time for the plan

  • What is the first step?
    • For example, if you’d like to run a 5K but have no idea how to train, your first step might be to do some research on the internet or download an app
  • What are all the following steps?
  • Make a timeline for each step
    • “A goal without a timeline is just a dream.” – Robert Herjavec

Are you on track?

  • Measure your progress
  • If you find you’re not where you would like to be, don’t throw in the towel, just amend the plan

“You have to set goals that are almost out of reach. If you set a goal that is attainable without much work or thought, you are stuck with something below your true talent and potential.” – Steve Garvey

Hang in there

  • Making a change isn’t easy. If you need advice, ask for it. Just because it’s your goal doesn’t mean you can’t get help along the way.

“Without dreams and goals, there is no living, only merely existing, and that is not why we are here.” – Mark Twain 

So, set some goals and work to make them happen! Use these steps to bring them to fruition! 

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