Goal Setting: A Plan to Avoid Failure….

Goal Setting: A Plan to Avoid Failure….

Somebody has rightly said that, “Failing to Plan is the same as Planning to Fail”. The sole reason for life is to achieve a goal, be it financial, career, family or social

What is a Goal?

The end toward which effort is directed. Goals are dreams and wants except a goal is more specific.

The Purpose of Goals

The purpose of goals is to give you something that you want to enhance your life in some way, so the most important thing you need to know about goals is that you ought to have some.

Types of Goals

Long Term Goals:
10-year, 5-year and 1-year goals

Short Term Goals:
goals for the next 9 months, 6 months and 3 months

Immediate Goals:
1-30 days from now

"TIME IS LIFE. TO WASTE YOUR TIME IS TO WASTE YOUR LIFE; TO MANAGE YOUR TIME IS TO MANAGE YOUR LIFE." -- ALAN LAKEIN

How to Set Goals

Learning how to set goals is as important as knowing what the goal should contain.  What’s important to remember about setting goals is the correct F.R.A.M.E. of mind.  What is meant by “frame of mind?”  Each letter in the word “frame” illustrates the following:

F.R.A.M.E

Fantasize - Dream your wildest dreams and make sure that your goals match your values. Ask yourself: what do you want to be doing in 1 year? 5 years? What kind of person do I want to be?

Reality - Fantasies can become reality, depending on how hard you are willing to work for them.

Aim - Define your goal(s) by striking a balance between Fantasy and Reality; set a high but realistic goal.

Method – Be truthful to yourself by narrowing your choices or goals to the ones you really intend to accomplish.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Evaluation - Process the results, but don’t make it the last step; evaluation should be on going.

Goal setting works!!!!!!

Goal setting helps you to identify what you want to accomplish and find a way to do it.

5 Qualities of Effective Goals

S.M.A.R.T.

Before you begin your goal setting process it is important to know what qualities your goals should embody. Effective goals have three important qualities. They are realistic, measurable, and reviewed.

SPECIFIC

The Goal should be SPECIFIC enough so that we know exactly for what we are striving.

MEASURABLE

A goal must be MEASURABLE. It should have concrete facts. You should be able to answer very specifically, when and how you will know you attained your goal.

ACTION ORIENTED

ACTION-ORIENTED,  declaring positive activity that will produce results.

REALISTIC

A goal must be REALISTIC. Challenging yourself is an important part of goal setting. You want to aim high; however, you also need to be realistic.

TANGIBLE

TANGIBLE meaning concrete and not vague.

Goals must also be…

REVIEWED

Finally, a goal must be REVIEWED.

Share your goals with friends and family members who care about your success. Pick one of these persons who will hold you accountable in addition to yourself. In the meantime, remind yourself regularly of the goals you have set for yourself.

Steps Toward Setting Effective Goals

" THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CLEAR AND CENTRAL PURPOSE OR GOAL IN LIFE IS THE STARTING POINT OF ALL SUCCESS." -- BRIAN TRACY

1. Set Goals

Identify what is important to you. What do you want to accomplish?

2. Identify possible strategies or objectives to reach each goal.

Make a list of what you feel are the best and most effective ways of reaching the goals you have already identified.

3. Select the best strategies

Now that you have made a list of several ways to achieve your goal, recognize which of these strategies will work best for you.

4. Outline specific plans to accomplish each strategy.

Once you have narrowed down your strategy list, you can begin to make very detailed and specific plans to accomplish each strategy and ultimately reach your goal.

Once we have a well-formed Goal Statement we need some direction to follow to achieve this Goal.

"AN UNWRITTEN WANT IS A WISH, A DREAM, A NEVER HAPPEN. THE DAY YOU PUT YOUR GOAL IN WRITING IS THE DAY IT BECOMES A COMMITMENT THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. ARE YOU READY?" - TOM HOPKINS

Setting goals is a means of identifying and plotting how you are going to achieve your aims in life. By writing down your goals you are committing yourself to accomplishing them; therefore, make sure that your goals are important to YOU!!!!!

Motivation

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.

Motivation Story

Once Jamsetji Tata was not allowed in a Five Star Hotel in Mumbai, in future he went on to Build Hotel Taj, a monumental building.  The motivation of being asked to leave the hotel provided the necessary fuel for him to achieve this goal.

Commitment

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.

BE FLEXIBLE

Be ready to re-adjust your goals and not give up on them. If they are too easy, they won't be worthwhile, and if they are too tough, and you will start thinking that the idea of goal setting is worthless. Remember, small victories lead to big successes.

Why Goals Fail

Ø  The goal was not written down.

Ø  Rewards for achieving the goals were not given.

Ø  The goal was unrealistic or not specific enough.

Ø  The goal is not really believable or little commitment exists.

Ø  Keep changing or switching goals with the weather

Ø  The person who set the goal has not told anyone else for added accountability, help and support.

Ø  The goal was not incorporated into a realistic plan that includes measurements, timelines and resources.

The Benefits of Setting Goals

Ø  Suffer less from stress and anxiety

Ø  Concentrate better

Ø  Show more self-confidence

Ø  Perform better

Ø  Are happier