5 Steps to Successful Goal Setting by Kim McMonagle
How many times do you catch yourself saying, I wish could advance my career, I wish I could lose weight, I wish I had more money? Would you like these to be more than wishes? Do you know why successful people have got to where they are today?
It isn't a big secret. The answer is setting realistic and achievable goals...and sticking to them. However, there is a little bit more to it that just saying I'm going 10kgs by summer. If summer is only 2 months away and you're currently not eating healthy foods and not exercising, then this is unrealistic.
Goals should be S.M.A.R.T. That is, they should be: Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic and have a Time Frame
You can set a goal for any area of your life like your career, family, financial, health and lifestyle, artistic just to name a few. The basic principles for setting goals will work for each of these areas and anything else you want to achieve.
I'd love to share with you 5 simple steps that you can implement TODAY that will start you on your way to achieving all you've ever dreamed of.
Let's use planning a vacation as an example
1. Be specific. When you first set your weight loss goal you must be specific. If you just say 'I want to go on vacation next May', you are not being specific and giving yourself a deadline. To be specific you would say 'I want to go on vacation to Alaska for 6 weeks leaving on 1 May 2009'.
2. It must be measureable. You must be able to measure the success of your goal. For this example of going on vacation, write down what you must to do to achieve this goal. How much will it cost, do you need to set a saving plan for this? Do you need to obtain visas or passports? Do you need to book flights, accommodation, tours etc? Write a to do list of all the things that you must do to make this goal a reality and cross them off as you complete each one. Give each thing a date that it must be achieved by as well. As you start crossing more and more things off your list, this will be a great motivator to keep you on track to your goal.
3. Achievable. Your goal must be achievable. There is no point in setting your goal too high or low, as you won't achieve it...and there's no fun in that. In the matter of going on vacation, after working out everything that you need to do to achieve this goal e.g. time off from work, savings to pay for it, obtaining visa's etc, and you are happy that it will work then it is achievable.
4. Realistic. You must take into account any obstacles that may pop up, special skills you require to achieve your goal etc. If you know that you will only have 3 weeks annual leave by May 2009, and your employer won't let you take 3 weeks unpaid leave, then this goal may not be achievable. If you know can have a 3 week vacation, then that is achievable. By being realistic you are increasing your chances of success.
5. Time Frame. Your goal must have a time frame. If you say you want to go on vacation next May, you are leaving this open to interpretation. Which May are you referring to? 2008, 2009 or beyond? So to have a specific date like 1 May 2009 is perfect. Remember, this date must be achievable and realistic.
There are other things you can do to achieve your goals as well. Most importantly is to write them down. This crystallizes your goals and gives them more force. If you just say your goal to yourself in your head, it's just a fleeting thought, a wish, a maybe.
Read your goals as often as possible to keep focused. Read them first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Your mind will stay focused on your goals while you're asleep as that's the last thing that you told it. Have your goals pinned up where you can see them all day. Have a list in bedroom, bathroom, on your fridge, in your car, on your desk at work. The more you read your goals, the more you will believe them and your mind will work on them all day.
Write a daily to do list. What must you do every day to achieve your goal? Write down your list and cross each thing off as it's completed. At the end of the day, you will have great satisfaction that you have completed everything on your list to get yourself 1 day closer to achieving your goal.
One of the most important things to do when you achieve your goal is to celebrate! You have achieved something that you've always dreamed of, so you owe it to yourself to celebrate your success. Athletes and actors celebrate their achievements...so why shouldn't you? Go on, you know you deserve it!
But, don't stop there. There is much more to learn and to implement into your daily life. You can learn many more principles, strategies and skills and get some tools to support you to becoming a better goal setter and achieve all you've ever desired in your life.
Learn Strategies and Tips for Setting Goals Successfully
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