Goal setting can be a powerful tool for planning the future and sticking with your plans, consultants at Mind Tools report. Goals can motivate you while helping you to focus in order to realize your potential. Additionally, once you reach certain goals, you build confidence in your abilities. There are a number of steps to goal setting that you can use to build and maintain a plan.
Step 1
Visualize what you would like your life to be like in 10 or 20 years, and write it down. Paint a picture with descriptions of every aspect of your life, including your health, career, creative achievements and social life.
Step 2
Break down the big picture into smaller pieces. Set each aspect apart. For example, if you picture yourself as a healthy runner with a husband, children and a full medical practice within the next 10 years, make separate columns for each area so you can build individual goals.
Step 3
Consider all the possibilities and honestly assess which goals you have the most control over and which are more wishes than true desires. You want to finish this process with a working plan that is concrete and doable.
Step 4
Develop a smaller goal that you want to achieve in, say, five years for each area. Break that down even further to one-year goals for each individual goal. Continue along the same track to build six-month and one-month goals. For example, if you are in school and want to have your own medical practice, a five-year goal might be to have your degree and be working in a hospital. The one-year goal may be to graduate with honors. The six-month goal could be to pass your exams. In a month, you may want to have a specialty chosen.
Step 5
Write a to-do list for daily goals that are derived from the big picture. This way, each day is used to move you closer to achieving your goals. Your daily actions must coincide with your ultimate goals to attain success.
Tips and Warnings
- Putting your thoughts on paper clarifies your intentions and gives you something to look at when you are floundering. Motivational coach Dr. Philip Humbert recommends reviewing your goals daily so you stay on track.
- Don't set yourself up for failure with unrealistic goals. If you can't carry a tune, for example, don't set a goal to be an opera singer. Don't let other people influence your goal setting process either. You won't reach your goals, or be very happy, if you include only those things you think you "should" do.
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