Goal Setting
Mid-year Goal Setting for Special Success
Posted on April 7, 2012 |
Setting goals has its own special magic. When we transform desires and fantasies into tangible ideas and goals and commit them to paper we are taking a powerful step toward attaining what we want in our life.
New Year is the traditional time for setting goals. As we anticipate a new year anything can seem possible. As the year rolls on and reality sets in, these goals so often disappear into oblivion. By the time mid-year arrives, our goals are often long forgotten.
Yet mid-year is a great time for planning and reflecting. Setting mid-year goals can be a powerful way to take stock, refocus and renew our commitment to the goals we have.
Here are 8 tips for a powerful mid-year goal setting session:
1. Get yourself a goal book
If you don’t already have one, go out and buy the best, brightest and most appealing writing book you can find. This goal book can become your planning place, your anchor, a reference point, your doubt processer, an evaluation place, your bright ideas holder, your dream catcher, your inspirer and your celebration place. Revisit it often.
2.Revise your goals
If you have written goals earlier in the year take them out and work though them one by one. If not, think back to the mental goals, hopes and dreams you had at the beginning of the year.
Ask yourself:
* What have I achieved so far this year?
* What has changed in my life since the beginning of the year?
* Are the goals I had then still relevant for me now?
* How far have I come with each of my goals?
* Where do I need to go from here?
* Am I prepared to put in the effort to achieve my goals?
* What might stop me?
* How will I overcome this?
3. Rewrite your goals
Write or rewrite your revised goals for the rest of the year into your goal book.
Make sure you keep your goal-setting SMART.
SMART stands for:
SPECIFIC
Vague, unclear goals, without focused energy are likely to go no where.
MEASURABLE:
We need to know where we are with our goal setting process. By breaking our goals into small, measurable tasks we can congratulate ourselves each time we take a small step. This is uplifting!
APPEALING:
Boring goals tend to fizzle out long before they come to fruition. Our goals need to hold special energy and excitement for us. That way our passion will keep us going when we feel like giving up.
REALISTIC:
It’s pointless setting goals that are so far out of reach that they seem unattainable. This is setting ourselves up for failure. To achieve our goals we need to be able to believe in the possibilities we aspire to.
TIME LIMITED:
Open-ended goals can lack power. By setting goals with time limits we are committing our energy to working toward making active steps.
4. Set up mini goals
Take your main goal and ask yourself:
* Realistically, is it possible to achieve this goal by the end of the year?
* If not, how far can I get towards achieving this goal by the end of the year?
* What are all the steps I need to take from here to achieve this?
* What are my next 3 steps?
* What are the next 3 after that?
5. Work out a time line for the rest of the year
Ask yourself:
* What do I need to achieve 1 month from now in order to be on track to achieve my goal by the end of the year?
* How about 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months and 6 months from now?
Take out a large sheet of paper and divide it into 6 parts for the 6 remaining months of this year. Write the tasks that need to be done in each segment.
Transfer these into your goal book as a month-by-month action plan.
6. Write a positive statement
Write down a positive statement that reflects where you hope to be with this goal at the end of the year. Write this in the present tense as if it is already achieved.
For example:
“It’s 31st December and I’ve successfully saved $5,000 and I’m off to Hawaii for a glorious holiday for 1 week.”
7. Visualize your achievement
Spend some time creating a rich fantasy about how it will be when this goal is achieved. Use your imagination.
* What it will feel like, look like and be like.
* What will you say about this achievement?
* What will others say to you?
* How will you feel about yourself?
* How will you celebrate?
Bring your emotion into this fantasy. The more real and compelling it seems the more
energized you will become as you move towards this outcome.
Our imagination sets the blueprint for our future successes. All successes happen in the mind first. We ‘grow’ into our successes through using the power of our imagination. The clearer the blueprint the more natural it will be when we achieve our goals.
7, Revisit your goals often
Your goals need to be kept warm and alive. Read through your goals regularly – at least once a week. Try to do something towards your goals every day. Spend some time every week writing in your goals book.
Lists are a powerful means of reflection.
Try listing:
* What I’ve accomplished so far is…
* New possibilities are…
* Things that are blocking me from moving forward are…
* My advice to myself is…
* The positive outcomes I see for the future are…
8. Reward yourself
Keep track of your progress month-by-month and take pride in each and every step you take. As you achieve your mini goals, reward yourself well. Each acknowledged, successful step creates the impetus for the next successful step.
Happy midyear goal setting. And don’t forget to enjoy the journey!
The Number One Secret in Goal Setting
Posted on March 28, 2012 |
If you are going to ask me what is the thing that you need to do in order to achieve what you want in your life, I will definitely tell you that it is goal setting. For over the years, from the traits of every successful person, they have shown us that in order to be successful, you need to have goals, objectives, or visions.Therefore, you must follow the footstep of the successful people, set your goals. The problem with most people is that they do not know how to set their goals. And today, you are going to discover the top secret in goal setting…The goals you set must be empowering goals. What I mean here is that many people set incremental goals. For example, if you are currently earning $1,000 per month, and you set your goals to earn $1,100 a month, this is not an empowering goal, this is an incremental goal. It is easy to achieve an incremental goal. You know it very well that if you work harder and put more effort into it, earning an additional $100 is not a problem at all.If you aim for the star, you will at least hit the moon if you fail. This is why people often set high and empowering goals. By setting empowering goals, it will force you to take more action and think out of the box. Just like if you are earning $1,000 a month, what you can do to earn $3,000 a month? It forces you to stretch your mind and think out of the box.Not only that, if you are setting empowering goals, they will drive and motivate you at the same time. Think about it, do you think that earning $1,100 a month is more excited or earning $3,000 a month is more excited? I bet that you know the answer. Many people fail to achieve their goals because of the lack of action. And the reason for the lack of action is because they are not motivated to take action.If you are motivated, you will take the necessary action to make your goals come true. This is why setting empowering goals are so important. However, most people set only incremental goals. You must dare to dream and dream it big. And remember this; success is about getting things done. So take the first step to make your goals come true now.
Goal Setting Tips For Beginners
Posted on March 21, 2012 |
Are you new to goal setting? Are you in need of some tips, so you can get started with the exciting process of setting and achieving goals? In this article, you are about to discover some goal setting tips that can help you take your goal setting to the next level.
Goal setting is a great subject to get into. The person who sets goals and works to achieve them lives a long, happy, and prosperous life. Life takes on a new meaning, because you have taken your life into your own hands. Now you can weave your life how you choose, and write and set your own destiny.
Here are some goal setting tips that will help you when looking at how to goal set:
* Specific
* Time Based
* Decisiveness
* Persistence
* Focus
* Specific
Goals need to be specific. Without a specific goal, a goal can’t be achieved. Imagine the pilot who doesn’t quite know if he wants to go to London or New York! Goals need to be specific like a pilot has, a captain on a ship has, or even a business man or woman has.
* Time Based
Goals need to have a time limit. Without being conscious of the time, we can easily become lazy. The cure is to set a realistic time limit for achievement. This way, you know what you have to do, when you need to do it, to get the results you seek.
* Decisiveness
Like the pilot with the London or New York issue, without a decision to stick to something, we can’t achieve it. Goal setting needs a goal setter who can set a goal, and say ‘this I will do’. This way, you have done what many don’t do, and that is to make a decision, and keep by that decision, until completion.
* Persistence
As Dennis Waitley says ‘there was never a winner, where there was never a beginner’. I love that quote, and it contains so much truth. If you are setting a goal, it likely is a goal you have never achieved in your life.
You may imagine the millions, you may imagine the dream home or whatever it is you desire. But, persistence is the key to go from beginner to professional, from ignorance to mastership.
* Focus
A fun fare has many rides, and when we enter, it can be hard to choose. Life is like this, and when you decide on a goal, and work towards it, you will no doubt have a lot of new opportunities, that want to take your focus away from your goals.
Focus is essential for achievement of a goal. To do this requires a lot of discipline. Over time you will find it easier, but always keep your goal in front of you.
The Importance of Goal Setting For Kids
Posted on March 15, 2012 |
As parents, we want our children to get the best out of life and be ready to face any challenge that life throws at them. Nobody wants their child to be a weak and indecisive individual who is incapable of performing the various tasks that are integral for success. So, is there a way in which parents can prepare their children for the tough road ahead and ensure that they emerge as winners? After all, it is not enough that you wish for something, you also have to work towards it.
An extremely effective way of enhancing your child’s personality and achieving the above mentioned aims is to dabble with goal setting for kids. Generally, goal setting deals with two main facets-namely the controlling of emotions and enhancement of problem solving skills. If your kids are armed with these abilities, they can overcome practically any difficulty that hampers their progress.
There are certain things you need to take into account when goal setting for kids. Do not be carried away by your own idea and set impossible goals that are not suitable for the age group that your child belongs to. Many parents are perfectionists who want to transform their child into a genius and they look upon goal setting as a tool to do so. Such distorted motives may backfire in a big way and your child will end up withdrawing into his or her own shell as they are overwhelmed by parental expectations.
It is important that parents understand the true significance of goal setting for kids before starting with the entire exercise. You need to be a guide for your child and prompt him in the right direction rather than manipulate him into the person you think he should become with goal setting. So, start will small goals for younger children and as they grow into adolescents you can increase the difficulty and complexity of the goals.
Just as setting extremely difficult goals is not recommended, you should also not set very simple goals for your child. This may lead the child to assume that he will get everything he desires from life with minimal effort. Simplistic goals also lower the excitement levels associated with normal goal setting for kids. Ideally, you should set goals that challenge your child without robbing him of his confidence.
Analyzing the emotional state of your child is crucial before you set goals for him. If your child is feeling low and tired, you should set relatively easy goals whereas if he is in a pepped up and energetic mood, setting difficult goals will also not be too much of a problem. In other words, goal setting for kids is directly proportional to the child’s readiness for it.
When goal setting for kids, a lot of emphasis should be laid on the right way of solving problems. You need to tell your child that life may surprise him with unexpected obstacles but he should always be ready for it. Knowing the correct ways to combat the problem is not necessary. What he needs is a positive attitude and willingness to tackle the problem in a competent and smart manner. The motto is to keep looking for solutions until he finds the right answer.
In the course of our everyday lives, we find a lot of people who are defeated even before they begin grappling with the problems they encounter. Most of these people believe that prior to dealing with the problem or obstacle; they need to be aware of the different steps that will help in solving it. These people are paranoid about failure or making mistakes and so would rather not attempt the task. Goal setting for kids teaches them the valuable lesson that there is no need to obsess over mistakes and failure to the point that it leads to inaction. Ignorance on how to tackle a challenge does not imply that you do not make a decent attempt. When working on a problem, inspiration and solutions will come naturally during the working process. All you need to do is to alert your mind to the various possibilities of the situation.
The second integral aspect of goal setting for kids is teaching them the proper control of their emotions. Impulsive actions and lack of self-control can be a huge factor in limiting an individual’s potential for growth. Self-control cannot be learned easily as an adult but if the seeds are sowed in the initial stages of childhood, it requires very little effort to implement this on a daily basis. This is the reason that controlling emotions occupies such a central place in goal setting.
Self-control is a habit that can be inculcated into your child from an early stage. Most kids find it difficult to exert control over their selves as the natural impulse is the instant gratification of desires. However, if you regularly set small tasks for your child, this ability can be mastered by your child. For example, giving pocket money on a weekly basis and asking your child to save it for a couple of months so that he can buy something that he really wants rather than spending it immediately on some small item is a good way of teaching self-control. If your child is not interested in doing homework and wishes to go to the playground after school, you could tell him that by postponing playtime to finish homework first he will be getting an extra hour to play. These are small ways of goal setting for kids that will teach them to restrain their impulses and adopt a practical attitude towards life.
When engaging in goal setting for kids, it is vital that you provide feedback on a regular basis. This helps in raising the confidence levels of your child and he will have a realistic idea about himself. After each goal has been achieved, you can discuss the tactics employed and the things that you approve about the way your child set out to realize his goal. Always be honest with your feedback and never indulge in empty praises as a means of bolstering your child’s self-image. If you praise your child for something that he does not deserve, he will not be able to form a realistic impression about himself and this can lead to a lot of problems later.
The whole objective of goal setting for kids is the enhancement of their personality and mentally preparing them to face life in a positive spirit. This being the case, the focus should not be on winning or losing but learning from each experience. Ultimately, you as a parent should devise the goals in such a way that your child thoroughly enjoys himself and does not feel pressured at any stage of the activities. If you succeed in this, goal setting for kids can be a fantastic tool for learning.
How To Write Goals For A Successful Goal Setting Outcome
Posted on March 8, 2012 |
There are likely hundreds of different ways of goal setting. However, out of all the ways of goal setting there are some important steps when writing goals which are likely to make it possible for you to achieve the goal.
Looking at the stats, we know that only around 7% of people goal set. By this the 7% are people who consciously decide on an outcome they want to achieve. However, looking at another important stat with regard to finance, we find that only 1 out of 100 becomes rich or should we say that it is the level of above a million dollars in income, multi-millions in assets, etc. And only 4 others will be financially independent.
Though goal setting does not have to be about your financial sector, it still is a good measurement. After all for many who set and achieve those big goals it generally directly or indirectly made them rich. So, it is a good way to look at both.
There are ways to get to this successful group, and by doing goal setting, I have to congratulate you, as you are only one of few who goal set. However to get into that 5% of true achievers there is a few things more to do, and these steps are essential for success.
Your goals must be written down. After all, it must be an important goal. An important goal set is one which must be written down or it will fade. Remember your goal, and write it down, this is the first point of achievement.
However, simply writing a goal down does not do much difference to the achievement. There is more to do, if you truly want this goal manifest in your life. The most important way to go about writing your goal is to be clear. So many people will wish, so many people will say I want to be rich, I want to be healthy, I want a Yacht, but so few will do the most important step – formulate, clarify, and write it down.
Upon looking at your set goal, consider what it is you really want? Is it $1,000,000? Is it a certain weight, a certain holiday, a certain Yacht? People will say they want a Yacht, but never did anything about it, apart from something aired on the Discovery Channel!
Our minds are like a great ocean; however, we need to find ways to focus. Most people go through life without controlling the ship. You are like a ship, like an airplane, a missile, and a powerful one at that. To reach your goal, you have to know the destination, and approximately how long it will take for you to get there.
If you are one of those 5% who will one day realize the results of the 5%, then you are one who is taking action, now. Everyday you take action. For you, I want to leave you with one key overlooked, and that is time.
You have to know where you are, and where you are going, and how long it could take. Though most people like you, who take action will find that the goal is not achieved in the time set, and here is where catastrophes could happen.
Most people who reach this stage will give up, because they see the goal not achieved. However, remember this is a goal which you have set, and never achieved before. Though you maybe like an airplane, a goal striving being, you have to realize that the airplane has made the journey many countless times, years upon years, and they know almost with certainty the time it will take.
If you are on a journey to a new destination, one which you have not been to before, don’t question how to goal set, instead think of yourself like Columbus. You have your goal, and work to it, you don’t know how long it will take, but you can console that it can be achieved in a lifetime.