Requirements for Successful Goal Setting and Achievement
By Paul
Christenbury
Benefits of Goal Setting
Goal setting helps us determine our priorities, get organized, make big
decisions, and realize our dreams. The act of merely setting a goal brings
about positive change for many people. When you set a goal you are creating
an exciting challenge for yourself. Almost all motivational experts
incorporate goal setting as an important part of their programs. The
effectiveness of Goal Setting can be seen in the incredible accomplishments
of people such as: Henry Ford who wanted to make cars affordable for
everyone, Bill Gates whose goal was to have a computer in every household,
and John F. Kennedy who set out to put a man on the moon within a decade.
There is a famous story about Jim Carrey who, while struggling as an actor
in 1987, drove his car up on Mulholland Drive in the Hollywood hills to
think about the future. While sitting there overlooking the city of Los
Angeles he wrote a check made out to himself for "acting services rendered"
in the amount of $10 million. He dated the check for Thanksgiving of 1995.
Jim's Goal turned out to be conservative because by the time 1995 rolled
around he was making $20 million a movie.
The objective of MyGoalManager.com is to direct the user through the
entire Goal process from definition to achievement. This Goal Achievement
process entails the following requirements:
Well formed Goal Statements
Breaking goals down into manageable Steps
Motivation and Commitment
Reminders and Keeping on track
Frequent Review and Re-assessment
1. Well formed Goal Statements
The Goal Statement forms the basis for the entire process so careful
attention should be placed on formulating a clear and accurate goal
statement. A good way to remember how a goal statement should be defined is
the old S.M.A.R.T. acronym used by many experts in goal setting. SMART
stands for:
Specific
Measurable
Action-Oriented
Realistic
Tangible
The Goal should be specific enough so that we know exactly what we are
striving for, measurable so we know exactly what is to be accomplished and
when it has been reached, action-oriented declaring positive activity that
will produce results, realistic in that it is practical and can be achieved
given the limited availability of resources, and tangible meaning concrete
and not vague. The goal statement “Increase sales 25% by the end of the
fiscal year without increasing advertising spending” is an example that
follows these rules.
2. Breaking down Goals into manageable Steps
Once we have a well-formed Goal Statement we need some direction to
follow to achieve this Goal. While the goal “Increase sales 25% by the end
of the fiscal year without increasing advertising spending” is a great goal
statement, this is a monumental task without being broken down into smaller
detailed steps. The creation of Goal Steps gives us an "Action Plan" that
when completed will lead to Goal Achievement. Steps also allow for tracking
of progress towards the goal. Goal Steps should be positive and not used to
list obstacles that must be overcome which focuses on the negative.
Negativity can kill motivation but there is power in positive thinking.
3. Motivation and Commitment
Motivation and commitment are what make us strive to achievement. They
give us the push, desire, and resolve to complete all of the other steps in
the Goal process. This motivation can be obtained by developing a personal
statement that creates a high level of emotion and energy that guarantees
achievement. One self help expert said that as a child he was kicked out of
his local country club pool because he was not a member, in response he
later made a goal that he would one day have a pool that is one foot bigger
than that country club's pool. The motivation of being asked to leave the
pool provided the necessary fuel for him to achieve this goal. Commitment
creates more accountability and is what sets us on direct course to reach
our goals. It may create costly negative consequences upon failure to attain
a goal. Making a commitment might be something like having invested your
savings in your new business which you will lose if it fails. Motivation and
commitment are specific to your situation and life and only you can form
statements that will ensure you reach your goal the quickest. The more
personal you make your motivation and commitment statements for each goal,
the more motivated you will be to accomplish your goal.
4. Reminders and Keeping on Track
Reaching our goals requires persistence and regular attention. We need
some sort of system to keep us reminded and accountable. MyGoalManager.com
uses a combination reminder emails, calendars, and reports to keep users
organized and on track. Sharing goals with others who can give you help and
support is a highly effective way to increase your chances for success. If
some accountability system is not used then we are likely to lose sight and
fail.
5. Frequent Review and Re-assessment
When we first sit down and start to define goals it can seem like a
difficult and daunting task but over time it begins to get much easier.
Patience is required. Goal Setting is definitely an ongoing process that is
accomplished over time. Any goals program that defines goals and then
ignores them will fail. All goals due in the next year should be reviewed at
least once a week and daily if possible. The great thing about frequent
review is that this forces us to make big decisions and determine priorities
in our life. We should keep watch for goals that are not being achieved on
time or for goals on which we keep extending the deadline.
I hope this article will help you achieve your goals and give you more
focus and direction. Good luck as you realize all of your greatest dreams.
Go to
http://www.mygoalmanager.com to get started on your goals now!
MyGoalManager.com
is an easy to use Goal Setting and Achievement System that directs you
step-by-step through prioritized goal definition, plan of action
formulation, motivation, reminders, and guidance reviews. MyGoalManager.com
is owned and operated by Gruve International (http://www.gruveintl.com).
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