We all know how important it is to set specific, realistic goals. Most of us have watched videos and read books on the topic. Yet we still have trouble with that very basic task.
Here is a simple, user-friendly strategy put together by my friend and fellow mentor, Henrietta Hakes.
Many folks struggle with putting together their goals. I’ve put together some goal setting basics for you to work through. If you follow through you will start to see a drastic change in your results.
1. Keep Track of Your Goals and Journey
Keep a Goal journal. Write down your goals and then journal how it’s going for you. Write down what you did each day that is taking you towards achievement. Be consistent about it.
2. Brainstorm: Get yourself into a good mood. Then grab a pen and paper and just write. Write down all the things that you don’t want in life. Then turn around and write the opposite things. Don’t worry if you write down something similar or the same. You can sort it out later.
3. Use Categories : I like to use a pie chart that holds a slice for each important category of my life. Here are several possible areas of your life to think about when you develop your goals list: Career, financial, relationship, family, home, friends, personal development, health, appearance, possessions, fun and recreation, travel, spiritual, self esteem and service/community.
Or perhaps you would prefer types of goals: personal development such as emotional, mental, physical and spiritual.
4. Time frames: Give each goal you set a time frame. When you give each one a time frame it won’t feel so overwhelming looking at this huge list of things that you want to accomplish. Use a weekly, monthly and yearly time frame on your goals. Or perhaps you will finding setting a deadline easier for you to manage your goals.
5. Tips on How to Word Your Goals: Use statements that are present tense. For instance, write “I am now earning $1000 a week”. “I am now exercising and eating right everyday and enjoying it.”
Use statements that get your juices flowing with passion and excitement! When you put feelings to your visions they manifest much sooner for you. Try saying something like; “I am grateful and excited that I am now earning $1000 a week.”
I would also recommend to you that you go over Chapter 2 in Napoleon Hill’s book titled “Think and Grow Rich”. Although the book was written several decades ago, its still very powerful and helpful.
Have a good time setting goals. Don’t stress over it, just have fun with it. It is after all… You Life You are Creating.
Henrietta Hakes
It’s your life you’re creating. YOUR life. Not someone else’s idea of who you should be. Relax, and spend some time finding out who that person is, and paint a clear, detailed picture. I like Henrietta’s reference to Chapter 2 of Think and Grow Rich, because that chapter emphasizes two things…
1. BURNING DESIRE… the turning point of ALL achievement
2. SIX DEFINITE STEPS… the method by which your desire will be transmuted into its physical, material equivalent.
Willena Flewelling
Success in 10 Steps
Phone 780-349-7163
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Hi there Willena
I love the 10 simple steps you describe to set your goals…. my main goals become my brilliant obsession…. just like a child at Christmas… if we focus on them as a child focusses on their idea christmas present, just like them we will achieve our goal.
Love Think and Grow Rich…. it is a great tool for anyone to succeed in life
Best wishes
Pete
pete chapman recently posted..Chiropractics Recommend Kangen Water For Wellness
Hi Willena,
This is powerful! And something I need to be more intentional in doing. I started out setting goals in different areas, but it’s become buried under my “to-to” list. This fall has been so chaotic that I’ve been working from “Have-to-get-done” project to “Have-to-get-done” project. Not a good idea.
The only thing with setting time frames is that I honestly can’t judge how long it will take me to write something, so I consistently “blow” my time frame to bits. So I’ve been trying recently to work with the question, “What do I most need to accomplish today?” and keep it to 3-4 things. Then if I finish them sooner, I can do other things that aren’t so high priority.
Until my daily plan get totally messed up with the unexpected, this seems to be working. But I do need to get back to looking at my goals and being intentional in knowing I’m working toward them.
(I think I’m rambling, here
Pastor Sherry recently posted..Countering Destructive Thoughts
I totally identify with what you’re saying, Pastor Sherry. That’s where I’m at right now. It’s the story of my life, really! But I am getting better at it…..
Great goal setting tips Willena. As important as it is to set solid, realistic goals – they’re only as good as the effort put into achieving them. How many people create elaborate lists of goals each New Year only to forget about them by mid-February? According to Psycholody Today, more than 70%. Yikes!
marquita herald recently posted..Do You Dare to be Different?
Thanks Marty. I plan to be in the 30% in mid-February 2012!
Creating you own goal setting in your life, will bring you closer in achieving your goals in life. I am thinking that once you plan in making your goal setting, there should be two categories, short term goals and long term goals.
Kate Brown Wilson recently posted..אילוף גורים
Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment, Kate! I appreciate it. And I agree with you about short term and long term goals. We need both.
Basic steps are really important especially on beginners. However, Prioritizing goals is a good start because as all undergo on the basics, it really helped them on an easy ways of discussion or doing.
Mika Castro recently posted..Importance of Inventory Management
I agree, Mika. Thank you for commenting.
Great tips, Willena! For a lot of people (including myself too) setting the goals is something we just forget about. Once the goal setting is done, we should start visualizing them too in order to make them more achievable. I so know all these in principal, my problem is that I can not get them work.
Anna@Cosmetic Dentistry recently posted..Who thought that lumineers cost almost the same as ordinary veneers?
I know what you mean, Anna. It’s a big challenge for me too!
I love the short message that you have added at the end of your article. It really speaks to me on a different level. I truly believe that we are only as powerful as we let ourselves be, and there is nothing too big or too small that can stop on us on our way to achieving our goals. That is if we really have the desire to do it.
Tim Ryan@naples homes recently posted..Title Insurance
You got it, Tim! It all starts with the desire… and belief is what will allow us to be as powerful as we are capable of being.
Tracking the goals is really the key. If you don’t keep up with your progress, it is easy to get discouraged.
Larry@Goal Setting recently posted..Which Kind Of Goal Setter Are You?
I agree, Larry. Writing goals down in specifics is the first step. But even that isn’t going to help if we don’t keep track of our progress.
Thanks for stopping by, and taking the time to leave a comment.
Hi Willena, great post! I’ve read a lot about goal-setting but I’ve never heard of the importance of wording. It makes sense to put it in the present tense because it makes you think that you are already doing it therefore there is less pressure and more motivation. Thanks for sharing.
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