Write your goals down. You can write them in your journal, in your Palm Pilot, or on a cocktail napkin. The physical act of writing anything down commands that “Google search engine” that is your subconscious mind to attract resources, information, anything you need to attain that goal. Further, as soon as you attain one goal, create another. Keep a constant “Things to Do List” for your life.
When writing your goals down, make them SMART:
Specific and Simple. The subconscious, which is where all behavior comes from, needs clarity and precision. Broad goals such as “I will be happier in 2006” are too vague. As yourself what specifically would make you happier? A new career? Make that your goal. The subconscious is a doer, not a thinker, and it must receive the bottom line, crystal clear bulleted targets: “I'm enrolling in law school.” Or I'm being promoted to vice president.” Or “I'm becoming a non-smoker.” Don't flood the engine of the subconscious with TMI (too much information) such as complex business plans and financial projections from the data processing department.
Measurable and Meaningful. How will you know when you've gotten your goal? Make it easy for your subconscious to help you attain your goal. “I'm making $250,000 this year.” “I'm doubling my sales quotas.” These are “idiot proof” measures that anyone (including your subconscious) can recognize and applaud.
Your goals should be meaningful to you. I can't tell you how many people think they have no willpower or that they constantly self-sabotage. Actually, at the root of it all, they simply don't want that goal. Perhaps they keep failing the Bar Exam because they really don't want to be an attorney…they've been trying to please their parents, or someone else. Make sure your goals are in line with YOUR dreams, because it will show up in your work, in your health, in your heart, in your face, and in your life.
Achievable. All Areas of your Life. Act as if you have it now.
There is no point in chasing after a goal that is unachievable (although with quantum physics, the unachievable is beginning to be a thing of the past). It's an unachievable goal for President George w. Bush to hold a third term. There are certain professional standards and limitations that we must honor, and allow them to guide us setting our goals.
Act as if you have it now, and it is simply a matter of time before it becomes reality. This is not delusion …unless of course you are constantly affirming that you are the Queen of England. You begin calling yourself to a higher level, clearing fears and obstacles out of your way, and summoning all the forces of the environment to fall in line with the new you. It is rehearsal. It's training your subconscious to draw its attention to your goal to manifest it. You will be shocked and amazed at how many “coincidences” begin occurring when you stand in your commitment.
Realistic and Responsible. Our goals must be realistic. I can hardly expect to become an attorney if I have not completed law school and passed the Bar Exam. Our goals must be in line with our training, experience, as well as our desires.
Set responsible, ecological goals. It may not be responsible to open a liquor store if your spouse is an alcoholic. Rethink any goals that may damage the environment or cause others to suffer.
Timed and Toward. Give your goal a deadline (first quarter of the next year by March, in 5 years, etc). If you miss the deadline, no need to beat yourself up. Simply reset it and re-commit. Quantifying and qualifying goals keep us in action and fosters a fun, sportsmanlike spirit about it. When we simply say: “I'm becoming a better golfer,” then losing just one stroke has technically made you a better golfer. Setting a specific goal (“I'm consistently scoring within 3 points of par by the end of this year” gives you a healthy sense of urgency in attaining your goal.
You might consider designing a goal that moves toward something positive or pleasurable as opposed to moving from something negative or painful. When we want a new job just because we hate our current one, we will probably recreate the same misery, if not worse. This is because we get what we focus on. For example, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream was not based on moving people away from racial injustice, oppression and discrimination, but rather it was toward brotherhood, equality, and freedom for everyone. Use this as a map for a world of difference and power in your goal attainment.
So rather than focusing on losing 20 lbs. because you are a fat pig who can't get your clothes, focus on overall health and fitness and fitting in that ideal suit size again. The first mindset has a limited, negative charge (down) and the latter is positive (up) and limitless. Where are there more possibilities: in outer space or in the ground?
Now go out and get your goals!
Specific Setting specific goals is the key to all sorts of success. Most folks know the story about the 1954 Harvard class where they measured those who made goals and those who did not. Each time they grouped the goal-oriented graduates into smaller and smaller groups: those who made goals every now and then, on a yearly basis, and on a monthly, weekly or daily basis, each subset of individuals ended up making more money, having free time and far more happiness than the others.
And guess what? The no-goal folks were left out in the cold and achieved almost nothing in comparison to those who set goals.
Measurable The more measurable something is, the easier it is to see if we've achieved, or not achieved, the desired outcome. If you're vague in your goals, and don't have a way to measure it, how will you know you've achieved it? You won't, it's that simple. So make sure your goal can be measured, and you're done with step 2.
Attainable When you set goals that are the most important to you, you will find a way to make them happen. That's a fact! You begin to find things that fit in with your goals, you develop a positive attitude, you work to develop new skills and abilities, and you somehow find the financial capacity to achieve them. You think of all the opportunities that you've left unanswered and you uncover new opportunities to help you achieve your goal.
You can do almost anything when you plan out the steps necessary to reach the goal, and set the time frame that holds you accountable to that goal. Things that never before were possible now are not only possible but are in fact probably, because you've learned and grown to match these tough goals. Listing your goals helps you feel better about yourself, as you learn to see yourself worthy enough to achieve these goals, that you deserve these goals, and you reach these goals!
Realistic Do you want to aim for something you'll never reach, or for something that is within your power? Remember, you have to be willing and able to do something, so make sure you're realistic in your goal setting. You definitely want to stretch and not set something you could do without effort, but if you know that there is absolutely no way you can physically run a 4 minute mile because you have arthritis, then don't make that your goal. Now keep in mind that with the Internet, e-mail, and the globalization of the marketplace that you can achieve more than you ever thought possible, there still may be things that just aren't possible. Don't set these as goals, set these as dreams, and point towards those. But set the attainable goals so you can get satisfaction from achieving more and more of your goals.
Tangible A goal is tangible when you can experience it with one of your five senses. That means if you can can taste it, touch it, smell it, see it or hear it. When your goal is tangible, or when you tie an tangible goal to a intangible goal, you have a better chance of making it specific and measurable and thus see it as more attainable to you.
So be SMART about your goal setting, read a book or 2 about goal settings, have others help you be more accountable to yourself for achieving these goals, and you will do more and be more than you ever dreamed possible!
Both Nancy Irwin & Leedavidhcz are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Nancy Irwin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Feng Shui, Interview Questions and self improvement and motivation. Dr. Irwin is a psychotherapist/therapeutic hypnotist in private practice in Los Angeles. She is also an author, public speaker, and avid goal setter.