Why Set Goals?
Goal setting is used by top-level athletes, successful business-people and achievers in all fields and it can also be used by you to achieve your goals and dreams this year. Setting goals gives you long-term vision and short-term motivation. It focuses you on a step by step plan with check points along the way so that you can gain the skills and knowledge that you need, organise your time and priorities and measure your progress so that you know you are on track to achieving your goal.
By setting clearly defined SMART goals, you can measure and take pride in the achievement of those goals, and you’ll see forward progress in what might previously have seemed a long pointless grind. You will also raise your self-confidence, as you recognize your own ability and competence in achieving the goals that you’ve set.
A useful way of making goals more powerful is to use the SMART mnemonic.
S – Specific (or Significant).
M – Measurable (or Meaningful).
A – Attainable (or Action-Oriented).
R – Relevant (or Rewarding).
T – Time-bound (or Trackable).
For example, instead of having “Lose weight this year” or “get fitter” as a goal, it’s more powerful to say “It is December 2011 and I am feeling fantastic as I have lost 20 kilograms this year and I can fit into my favourite jeans” or “It is June 2011 and I am feeling fantastic because I just ran 5km non stop”. Obviously these goals will only be attainable if a lot of preparation has been completed beforehand!
The problem lies in the fact that when you make one giant resolution (goal) in December for the year ahead, that goal is way too big and vague to actually materialize. When you decide that you want to lose weight and get in shape next year, that is a fantastic goal and resolution to set, because you and people close to you will benefit when you achieve that goal.
Now you have a goal which is very real and measurable you need to write it down and visualise it like it has already happened using lots of emotion to bring the feelings to life. Now you have to write your step by step plan on how you are going to make your goal a reality, you may have to break into smaller chunks or stepping stones so that you can measure and celebrate your successes along the way. Write down any new skills that you may need to learn, any resources or people who can help achieve your goals and any behaviours that your now doing that will have to change to make your goal a reality.
Motivational speaker Jim Rohn once said, “I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they plan their lives. Perhaps it’s because escape is easier than change.”