GOALS of Life
Let’s talk about goals! Better yet, let’s DO SOMETHING about your goals, because that is the single biggest difference between actually setting a goal and simply saying some words in hopes that someday you’ll have what you want.
In order for a goal to take hold and become real, you must commit to it somehow. Typically that is writing down your goal on a piece of paper. But since the age of the internet and websites which provide goal setting software,
the process has become even easier. No longer do you have to keep a piece of paper that you have to worry about losing or ruining to keep track of your goals. Regardless of whether you use a multifaceted website like LifeTrax or a scrap of
paper that you keep in your pocket, the process and theories are the same. Writing down your goal, taking action on it and reviewing the progress regularly is the key. Each time you see your written goal is like recommitting to that goal.
If you’ve never learned how to effectively set a goal, there is a simple method that will help you set, stay on track, and achieve your goals. Follow these steps when creating your goals from now on and you’ll be well on your way to
achieving more than you ever thought possible.
Remember the word S.M.A.R.T.
The word smart is an acronym for the following:
S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Achievable
R = Realistic
T = Timed
Let’s break down each of these components individually.
Specific Goal
A specific goal is something that is stated as a matter of fact. So for instance, a specific goal would be “I will lose twenty pounds.” It would not be “I want to lose weight.” It would be “I will finish a triathlon” it wouldn’t be “I want to get in
shape.” A specific goal would be “I will tell 5 people today about this E-book” it wouldn’t be “I want to inspire people.”
In order for your brain to begin calculating what it will take to accomplish a goal, it must have a specific end in mind. Your brain cannot effectively achieve the end result if it’s confused as to what the specific goal is. You need to be as specific as possible so give this some thought before writing it down. Your goal should be something that can be described clearly and accurately and would allow someone to know EXACTLY what you are setting
out to accomplish.
Measurable
After you set a specific goal, you must have a way to measure your progress. Another “M” in the goal setting process is “Motivating.” In order to stay motivated, you must measure your progress to show yourself that you’re moving
closer to your goal. So measurability is simply the act of breaking down your larger goal into smaller more progress oriented and measurable milestones. An example of measuring a goal would be (Specific) - “I will lose twenty pounds” (Measureable step) - “Lose One Pound” and simply repeat the act of losing one pound over and over again. If you’re writing down your goals, or using a goal setting website, then you will be able to visually see your progress each time you check off that you’ve lost another pound, and therefore you’re measuring your progress and motivating
yourself at the same time.
Achievable
There is something that should be mentioned here with this part of goal setting. The simple fact is that NOTHING is unachievable! However, achievability needs to be looked at very carefully when setting goals. Let’s review so you can see what I mean. Specific – “Lose twenty pounds” Measurable – “Lose one pound” next “Lose another pound” next “Lose another pound” Achievable – “In one week” …..Now, I’m not going to say losing 20 pounds in one week is not achievable, but please make sure that you are realistic. It’s our next word, but understand that “Achievable” should be something that stretches you beyond your comfort zone but can be achieved. Keep in mind that what seems unachievable to you right now, because you live outside that reality, will someday seem very simple. Your reality changes as you accomplish more of your goals. So set challenging goals that don’t overwhelm you and thrive on accomplishing these goals.
Realistic
What would be realistic to your situation? To provide you with an example we’ll say that if you wanted to take up hiking you would set a realistic goal to “Reach The Top Of Mount Localtoomee” as a realistic goal for starting out. You wouldn’t
set a goal (Short term anyway) to “Climb Mt. Everest And Reach The Top.” There is a difference between setting long term goals, and realistic short term goals. Be sure to set goals that are realistic to your personal experience and
ability. You can always set larger goals as your situation changes during the goal setting and achieving process.
Remember, your goals should motivate you
Timed
A timed deadline is simply setting a limit on yourself as to how long you will take to achieve the goal. It also gives your brain a way to measure the amount of effort it needs to put into accomplishing the goal. I’m sure you’ve noticed that
when you set a time limit on something that needs to be done, it typically takes up to that very moment to get it done. Yet, think for a second about things that you haven’t set a deadline for yet….Are they done? If you set a goal to inspire 50 people to take action on their goals, you let your brain know that it must work to achieve that deadline. If you simply say “I’m going to send 50 people the A, B, C’s of success E-book” but never say by when….you’ll be “trying” to inspire people forever. To put this into action you would set a goal of “I will inspire 50 people to take action on their goals”. You would then create measurable milestones like “I will call or email 5 people today and share this Ebook with them” Do this for 10 days and you will have inspired 50 people to improve their lives!
Happy Reading :)
So let’s practice setting an achievable goal with the SMART way that we have
just learned.