Do you set goals? Of course you probably do, BUT do you do it correctly? For some, goals are these shadowy ideas or thoughts of where we would like to be or things we want to have, but there is proper way to set goals and if you are not reaching your goals, it may be because you’re not quite sure of the correct process…
So what is the purpose of setting a goal? A goal is knowing what you end as the end result of a desired course of action you are taking. When you set a clear, definable goal(s), you can start to clearly see what the distractions are that are getting in the way of you accomplishing the goal. Here is the truly great thing about setting goals: when you start to experience success in your goals, your confidence and self-esteem soar…(you’re saying “hey I CAN do this”). It becomes a positive action that you want to continue over and over.
S.M.A.R.T.
Of course you are a smart, thoughtful person, but S.M.A.R.T. is also an acronym that will help you when you sit down and start developing your goals. The most success comes from consistency and from duplicating what works: one of the most popular ones for goal-setting is this:
* S-Specific: Look at the language you are using; discard vague words.
* M-Measurable: How will you know when the goal has been achieved?
* A-Attainable: Is this a goal that you can achieve in the time frame you’ve allowed?
* R-Realistic: Is this a goal that is a realistic one or a “pie in the sky?” goal
* T-Time: Do you have a time frame in order to measure the progress of the goal?
So let’s look at an example of a goal and how we can improve it using the formula above; let’s use: “I want to be rich”-fantastic! But is that a dream or a goal??? A S.M.A.R.T.er goal might be: I will create an online business that will generate a 6 figure income by January, 2009. Does it meet the criteria of smart: yes, it is specific (you can make it more specific by naming what your business is); it’s measurable (6 figure income); it’s attainable, realistic and you have a time frame so that you can reevaluate the goal at the end of January 2009.
As you work toward and achieve goals, it’s important to reassess your goal and evaluate your progress so you can set the next goal? Was the goal too easy or too hard? What did you learn in order to prepare for the next goal? Remember that goal setting is a learning process; never feel that becase you didn’t reach a goal the way that you intended that it was a failure; see it as a learning experience and move on. The most successful people never see a failure as a “failure”, it’s a chance to learn about yourself and grow!
All the best…
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