Setting Goals That Sizzle
Do you start the year off with phenomenal intentions and
suddenly find yourself facing December 31st with little to show
for it? Do you have a mental wish list of things to do, places
to visit, or home improvements to make that's a mile long and
getting longer? Are you feeling kind of ho hum about your career?
Your problem may not be a lack of self-discipline or an
over-booked day planner, but simply an inability to set the
right targets...goals that sizzle. Walk through the following
eight steps and say good-bye to chaos, overwhelm, and
unfulfilled wishes.
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worksheet filled with examples and a step-by-step game plan on
how to set goals using the SMART method by sending an email to
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* STEP 1: Connect to Your Desire This is the first and most
critical step in creating successful goals. If you can't answer
the question, "Why is this goal important?" get ready for an
uphill battle. If you are setting work-related goals that are
not your choosing, ask, "How does this goal impact me? Does
planning the company picnic for my boss earn me a fantastic
performance review, the recognition of my peers, or the
satisfaction of creating a memorable event?" Dig around and find
a nugget of passion that you can relate to the goal at hand. *
STEP 2: Plan Ahead "Vision without action is a daydream. Action
without a plan is a nightmare." -Japanese proverb. Once you've
pin-pointed an undeniable desire for this goal, develop a
written plan of action. One of the most widely used methods of
goal planning is the SMART method: Specific, Measurable,
Action-oriented, Realistic, Time-framed. Take the time to
satisfy in detail each of the criteria in writing. * STEP 3:
Become Either a Visionary or a Task Master Are you are fantastic
list maker who gets easily overwhelmed by a towering to do list?
Take a step back from the nitty gritty and look farther ahead.
Write a vision statement by looking at the big picture. Or are
you a dreamer who has trouble getting focused? Break the big
goal into the tiniest possible tasks. By listing the
easy-to-manage smaller steps, you will see that even baby steps
help you reach your goal. * STEP 4: Make Two Promises Make
yourself accountable for both the tasks and the ultimate goal.
First, make a promise to others: your family, customer, or
business associates. A study showed that salesmen hit their
targets consistently if their projections were made public. So
promise others you will deliver. Secondly, make a promise to
yourself based on the desire you identified in step #1. Write
your goal with a specific deadline and post it where you are
bound to see it several times a day. * STEP 5: Make It Active
vs. Passive Don't fall prey to the "if/then" mentality: "If I
win the lottery, then I'll get in shape. If I get a new job,
then I'll be happy." You will only succeed if you make your
participation mandatory. Don't rely on fate to save the day. *
STEP 6: Cultivate Flexibility Even though you have an
outstanding goal with a task list carefully crafted down to the
tiniest detail, remain open to change. Those who hold fast to a
prescribed outcome are less likely to roll with the punches and
often quit whenever things don't go as planned. Remain open to a
myriad of possibilities. * STEP 7: Engineer a Supportive
Environment Don't believe that reaching any goal is necessarily
born out of massive self-discipline and painful sacrifices.
Consider creating the right environment to support you in your
efforts. If you struggle with exercise, you might draw up a
workout task calendar. However, a more supportive environment
can include hiring a personal trainer or, better yet,
volunteering to coach the local youth soccer team on a weekly
basis. * STEP 8: Have Faith Believe in your success. If you
believe that you will fail, you will prove yourself right
without even trying. Banish doubt and embrace every failure as a
clue leading you one step closer to success.