Setting Goals - How to Reach Your Dreams
"The shortest distance between two points is a straight line."
This statement perfectly explains the benefit of setting goals.
Establishing goals for yourself, professionally and personally,
can help you reach the objectives that are important to you.
How to do I set goals?
The first step you should take is to determine what is important
to you. It could be health, career, and family life - it can be
many things - but put these items in order of priority. This
step will prevent the possibility of being sidetracked by
distractions and give you something to focus on; otherwise, you
risk floating in a constant chaotic state without achieving
anything.
Next, phrase your goals in a positive manner and write them
down, i.e. try - "Learn to fluently speak and understand
Spanish;" versus - "Not sounding like a moron every time I
speak." Get the difference? The words you use to define your
goals also determine your feelings towards them. So use positive
words!
Define your goals in very specific terms. Be sure to identify
any milestone and final dates, as well as, how you will measure
success. This action is critical because it not only gives you a
timeline to follow, but also a marker of achievement.
Remain conscientious that the goals you set are realistic and
attainable. Nothing hurts worse than failing to reach a goal
that was too big in the first place. It's fair to say that
wanting to be the next Julia Roberts in three years is not a
very realistic goal, but perhaps, promising yourself to go on an
X-number of auditions is reasonable. Let your common sense be
your guide in keeping your goals within reach.
Conversely, don't establish goals that are too low. Many of us
fear disappointment and failure so we set goals that offer
little challenge or effort to achieve. Don't allow yourself to
fall victim to this common practice; identify objectives that
are slightly out of reach, but not impossible.
I've achieved my goal - now what?
Once you've achieved a goal, reward yourself for a job well
done! Then take time to reflect on how you reached this goal so
you can tap into that energy and knowledge for future
objectives.
If, however, you found that this goal was bit easy, be sure to
make your future goals a little more difficult. Or if you
discovered difficulty with a particular skill, consider
improving it as your next objective.
But I didn't reach my goal!
Don't allow yourself to despair if you did not achieve your
specific goal. Embrace your experience as a learning lesson and
develop ways to overcome obstacles for the next challenge.
Remember - "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!"
And the bottom line is...
Anything worth attaining is worth the effort.
"Changing Lives...One Career at a Time."
Contact Details: Warschaw Learning Institute 8424 Santa Monica
Blvd. #A-170 West Hollywood, CA. 90069, USA
http://www.warschawlearninginstitute.com
information@warschawlearninginstitute.com (323) 822-0917
Copyright 2005 by Warschaw Learning Institute You may copy and
use this article in your newsletter as long as you print the
complete article including the contact details. Thank you.