"5 Steps to Create Powerful Goals"
"Always do what you are afraid to do." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
A lot of great people started out small too. There was a time
when they were just like everyone else, with dreams yet to be
realized. What essentially made the difference is that they
somehow fulfilled theirs. Fulfillment though is still at the end
of the line. First off, you must know what you want to have when
you get to the finish. We are here now to give you a few tips
upon send-off, for as Lao- Tzu said, "A journey of a thousand
miles begins with one step."
Know what you want.
For Mary Lou Retton, an Olympic gymnast, it is a goal in itself
to find what sets our heart on fire and "to keep it lit" because
dreams are foremost for the self, and not for anybody else. It
is therefore of utmost importance to find out what you are
passionate about. Do you see yourself investing time in
something even if all you get out of it is having fun? The
question to ask would be, "What do I enjoy doing?" Because at
the very heart of it, nothing can keep you away from what it is
you really love.
Know what can be done.
Once you have your dream figured out, it is time to translate
those dreams into realistic targets. We all have different
comfort zones with regard to setting aspirations,
double-checking whether we are setting them too high or too low.
The way to find a compromise between the two levels is to set a
really large goal - such as the position you want to get
promoted to, the amount of money you want to raise, the type of
business you want to start - then set the smaller goals that
will eventually lead to the ultimate dream. To quote two other
greats, Thoreau said, "In the long run, men hit only what they
aim at. Therefore, they had better aim at something high." and
Henry Ford believes that "Nothing is particularly hard if you
divide it into small jobs."
Know the goal.
One of the most famous lines in Sun Tzu's The Art of War is
"Know your enemy and know yourself." Knowing what you want takes
care of the second part. Just as important is the first part
which requires you to be aware of what you are up against. After
setting your passion to a real target, it is essential to know
what it would take to get there. How much time would it take
both on a long-term and a short-term basis? What kinds of
resources do you need? What will this kind of achievement do for
you? Are you prepared for all its ramifications? Once you're
there, what's next? Remember that it's important to have
alternatives and fall- back plans just in case something
unwelcome happens.
Let other people know.
As much as getting what you want is a solitary activity, it is
important to have a solid support group around you. This group
has to be composed of people who can play the roles of critics,
consultants and morale boosters. Just like a second opinion from
another doctor helps whenever you ask for the status of your
health, it is best to have people who can keep you in check,
provide you with necessary information, or just plain encourage
you to keep you going. This support group will help you keep
your eye on the goal, assist you through challenges, and also
let you know if there is something you could improve on. Aside
from all that, having a lot of people know what you're setting
out to achieve can give you enough reason to keep on pushing
with the objective of proving what your abilities are.
Make a commitment.
After all that, it is time to make a promise to yourself that
you're going to do your best to realize this goal. Most people
find it easier to stick to a plan when they write it down. It
will be some kind of a contract with yourself. It will also be
better if the commitment can translate into a timeline. Give
yourself a schedule, set deadlines as to when the series of
activities are to be finished. Challenge yourself, and own that
challenge.
"Always do what you are afraid to do."
It is perfectly understandable for us to be fearful of knowing
what we want for the possibility of not being able to get it.
However, the only failure one can experience is not giving it a
shot. David Viscott, a motivational speaker, sums it up for us:
""The worst thing one can do is not to try, to be aware of what
one wants and not give in to it, to spend years in silent hurt
wondering if something could have materialized-and never
knowing."