Tips on Setting Goals

First of all let's understand what a goal is because some people confuse goals with dreams. A dream is a wishful thinking. But it is necessary because it is the foundation in which goals are built. When you can dream it, you can have it only if you do something about your dream. Otherwise a dream remains a dream.

A goal is a specific thing that you want to achieve based on your dream and you have a deadline fixed to achieve it. Unlike a dream, a goal involves efforts. You have to plan the strategies to achieve it and take consistent action to accomplish it.

Setting life goals is important because your goals act as your guide or road map to wherever you are heading or whatever you are aiming for. Without goals you will drift along in life, only sometimes getting the things you wish for or dream of.

When you do a goal setting exercise, think SMART. It is the acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time.

1. Specific means your goal must be clearly defined and not vague. I want to lose 10 pounds is a vague goal. I want to lose 10 pounds by 30 June and I will start to run 1 mile a day every Monday through Friday starting today, is a very specific goal.
   
   
   
2. Measurable goals are goals that you can quantify or measure and know when you have achieved it. You must be able to count how much, how long or how high you have achieved. An example of a goal that you cannot measure is something like "I want to be a better person" or "I want to make more money."
   
   
   
3. Any goal no matter how big is attainable if you put in the time and energy. But how much are you willing to do within a specific time frame to reach it? So before you set your goal, think through of the probability of achievement.
   
   
   
4. To increase your income from $30,000 a year to $40,000 per year within 12 months is a realistic goal. To increase it from $30,000 to $100,000 within the next 12 months is unrealistic if you don't change your strategy, gather more knowledge, learn new skills and take massive consistent action.
   
   
   
5. When you set your goal, you must also set a time frame. When do you want to complete it? Is it by the end of the month, a year or 3 years?

Tips on Setting Goals - Goal Setting Exercise

Tips on Setting Goals No. 1 - Define Your Goals

The first step is to decide what you want to have, achieve, experience, give or become. Your goals must be personal and specific. It's something that you want and not what other people want you to have.

To get started with setting goals, write everything that you would like to have, do and become. Think of everything and anything. Don't bother or worry whether it's possible for you to achieve them. Make it a very long list. You don't have to write them in detail for now.

You can categorize and set your personal goals any way you wish. You don't have to sort them if you don't want to. But breaking them down in each area of your life will allow you to work on each one and create a balance. This way, you will not neglect or abandon the other important things and people in your life.

Tips on Setting Goals - Here is an example on how to categorize your goals and objectives.

1. Family goals
   
   
2. Health goals
   
   
3. Career goals
   
   
4. Economic development goals and objectives
   
   
5. Personal development goals

Tips on Setting Goals No. 2 - Assign a Deadline

Now that you have written your goals in your setting goals process, write down the deadline beside each goal. When do you want to achieve them? Is it within this year, 3 years, 5 years or 10 years from now?

Putting a time limit for each goal shows that you are serious about achieving it. It creates a sense of urgency and helps you overcome procrastination.

Once you have done that, take a look at the deadlines that you have written for each goal. Are they only short term goals? If it is, think of your medium and long term goals. What do you want to experience 3 years, 5 years and 10 years from now?

It is important to have mid-term and long term goals because they help you move on after you have achieved your short term goals. Short term goals are daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly goals that you can accomplish within 12 months or less. Mid-term goals are those that will take you between 3 to 5 years to reach them. Long term goals are goals that will take you 10 years or more to accomplish them.

Go back and revise the time frames. If you have only short term and mid-term goals, take more time to reflect and think of your long term objective or purpose.

Tips on Setting Goals No. 3 - Break Down Your Goals

One of the reasons people procrastinate, don't take action and don't achieve their goals after writing them down is because they feel overwhelmed. They don't know how or where to start.

Now pick the 4 most important goals that you want to achieve within the next 12 months. If you have categorized them, pick 4 from each group. If not, just pick your 4 important ones. Once you've identified them, write it on a piece of paper or card and place it where you can see it every day to remind you of your goals.

Tips on Setting Goals No. 4 - State Your Purpose

Knowing your reasons or why you want to accomplish your goals is very important. Go to each of your 4 goals and state the reasons why you want to achieve them. Come up with as many reasons as you can and write them down.

To find your reasons, think of how bad you want it and the benefits that you will gain. Ask "Why is this goal important to me?" and "What's in it for me?" Use your creative imagination to visualize the end result and recognize what it feels like if you have achieved your goal.

Tips on Setting Goals No. 5 - Write Your Plans and Strategies

Now that you have your reasons, write down a long list of things that you can do. At this point of time, you may not know the actual "how" of things. It's alright. Your plan should include gathering the information you need and where to get them.

There is a saying, "the harder you prepare, the luckier you get". So plan your action steps and plan your activities ahead so that you know what your priorities are. Write down what you can do immediately and do it. An example is, if you plan to lose 10kg of fat from your body by the end of this year, you can start by taking the 1 mile walk starting today.

Tips on Setting Goals No. 6 - Take Action

Dedicate yourself and set the disciplines to take action each day to reach your goals. With self discipline, you will do what you must or should do whether you like it or not. Be willing to pay the price. Take the risk and act boldly although it can feel uncomfortable for a while.

Take action every day even if it's only a small one. Make it a point that at the end of the day when you look at your activity list, you have done the things that you should. If not, do it. All the daily actions will accumulate and bring you the success that you desire. And at the end of the time frame that you have set, you can measure how much, how far and how high you have done and accomplished.

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