Goal setting is a powerful tool which forces you to think of the future, and more importantly, take positive action. By knowing precisely what you want to achieve, you are more focused on the areas in your life where you need to make adjustments. By consistently setting goals and making plans to achieve them, you will also be able to spot distractions which might set you off course. Over time, it's easy to identify and rectify these. Goal setting is also a means by which to build confidence, get motivated and achieve your final aim. Top achievers in their field are all known to be strong goal setters. Yet, according to leading motivational speaker and goal setting guru Zig Ziglar, it's only 3 percent of Americans who set goals, and they are the wealthiest in the nation.
Function of Goals
Leading motivational speaker and best-selling author of goals-setting books, Brian Tracy says that the ability to set goals and make plans is a master skill of success. Goal setting helps people achieve more in life than any other plan, and there is no limit you can set to what you want to achieve. By developing this habit, you can make it a lifelong skill that nearly guarantees you high success and achievement in any area of your life you wish to improve.
Setting And Identifying Goals
Goals should be set at different levels. You begin by creating a big picture of what you want your life to look like--it can be anything; a better career, a wealthier lifestyle, a more relaxed style of living, a well rounded education. The next step is to break this down into smaller achievable goals. These goals too should have different levels of achievement. According to MindTools.com, it's better to start out with a plan for say five years and then break it down into smaller plans of three years, two years, one year, six months, three months and one month. Weekly tasks can also be added if need be.
When creating goals, use the SMART method of doing so, wherein SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound.
Write down each goal as visual imagery is stronger than mental thoughts. Brian Tracy concurs with this. According to him, all successful people think on paper. If you cannot see it, you cannot visualize it.
Be precise when you write down your goals, so they have specifics attached to them, and are not general or vague.
Create your plan of action. This is a written document which encourages you to get your action steps on paper. If you are working on more than one goal, prioritize them so you target the most important one first. Set a deadline that you can work toward, and for larger goals, set smaller sub-deadlines.
Set performance goals which allow you to assert control over the actions you take to achieve them.
Set realistic goals which you can achieve in your lifetime. Realistic does not necessarily mean easy, but it does mean achievable.
Tracking and Monitoring Goals
Once you've set goals, it's time to take action. Procrastination comes naturally to most of us, but we cannot move forward without taking that first step. Noted author and motivational speaker Jim Rohn says that usually the basis of procrastination is fear of failure. However, by breaking down what you fear into smaller achievable goals, it's easy to overcome procrastination and get ahead with taking action.
Once you begin, tracking your goals should be easy if they are well defined and set into manageable tasks. You can track them through a variety of means; one of the most effective being habit charts. An action if performed for 21 days is said to become a habit. Your chart will be designed in the form of a calendar to help you set your action into habits. Another popular way to track goals in via goal calendars. These are easily created on your computer or can be store bought. Your goals are written down in the calendar and progress is tracked on it. There are also various online tracking tools which can be used to help you define your goals and track them. Some tools like Goals On Track allow you get supporters onboard to motivate you.
Completing Goals
Celebrated author Jack Canfield says that to realize all your goals, you need to celebrate your successes and express gratitude to those who've helped you along the way. He adds that a big part of replicating success is to reward yourself when you achieve your goal. Your rewards could be small and related to the task at hand, or large and catering to your mental or physical pleasure such as a vacation or a massage. But a combination of gratitude and reward will motivate you into setting and reaching further goals.
Getting and Staying Motivated
It's easier to set goals than to complete them, and a major deterrent is finding the motivation to do the same task over and over again until it becomes a goal achieving habit. Positive goals are those goals geared toward achieving pleasure, be it in the form of financial success or personal happiness. Goals that are written to please someone else are usually abandoned due to fear of failure. According to the website SolveYourProblem.com to stay motivated, set small, achievable tasks that you know you can handle on a regular basis and according to your goal plan. Use visualization techniques, books and positive music and movies to imagine the desired outcome. Gather support from friends and family members who can guide you toward the final steps. Acknowledge your might fail and that it's OK to have to begin again. Finally, don't be afraid to make mistakes, but instead strive to learn from them.
Member Comments