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The
goal setting process has been discussed,
diagrammed, and presented thousands of times
in hundreds of different formats. The
main focus of the single-step website is how
goal setting affects you, your mind, and
your subconscious. The single-step
software
takes this one step further, to help you
organize your goals and your life.
But, if you haven't
really thought about setting life goals
according to a process or worksheet, all the information can be a bit
overwhelming...
To make things simple, we've included a
one-page goal setting introduction.
This should help you to get a quick overview
and make it easier to remember the process.
To help
you remember the process, we're adopting the acronym
SMART, from the popular "SMART
Goals" format of Paul J. Meyer. Keeping this
word in mind as you define and work towards
your goals will help you to structure your
thoughts. As you
read through this section, it may help if
you consider a single goal of your own.
Take a few seconds to pick a goal you would
like to achieve. Do it now.
Then, keep this goal in mind as you read the
following section. A
goal should fit into the format described
below:
Specific - Your goal must be
specific.
Measurable -
You must be able to measure progress towards
your goal.
Attainable -
Your goal must be something that you can
actually attain.
Realistic -
Your goal must be realistic, given who you
are.
Tangible -
Your goal must be something you can
experience yourself.
Let's work with an example.
Let's take the goal of exotic travel.
Follow the descriptions below, then think
about how your own goal would fit the
requirements.
Specific:
You'd like to see the world.
Well, the world is a pretty big place, how
about we narrow it down to Europe?
That's still pretty broad. Let's pick
Greece as a specific country, and the Greek
islands as a more specific location.
Now you have something you can actually
picture in your mind! Furthermore,
think about who you'd like to travel there
with. How long will you stay? Will you
stay in hotels or in hostels? See, as
you work through it, the picture you have in
your mind gets more detailed.
Is your own goal specific?
Measurable:
There are two things to track
for the trip. The first is the money
required, assuming you need to save to pay
for it. The second is the planning.
It's easier to track the money if you pick
an amount you think it will cost. You
can get some estimates from a travel guide
or a travel agent, depending on how much
time and effort you want to invest.
Tracking your savings towards a desired
amount is a good way to measure your
progress.
The second aspect, planning,
is a bit trickier. You might estimate
how far you are based on the total planning
effort, then set milestones to help you get
to the end. For example, getting your
vacation time approved at work, purchasing
the flight tickets, booking a hotel, and
packing your bags are all milestones on the
way to preparing for the journey.
Is your own goal measurable?
Attainable:
This is the tough one for
many people. It requires that you take
an honest look at yourself and your
abilities. By determining what it is
that you actually want, you start telling
your mind to find ways to get you there.
Things that seemed impossible suddenly don't
seem so far away! But you need to be
careful, as you don't want to set a goal
that's too tough, as you might get
discouraged before you get there. Goal
setting is a skill that you can learn and
improve at. Start by setting smaller
goals and pay attention to your own
behaviors. As you build your skills
and experience, set larger goals for
yourself. An
adventure trip to Greece is something many
people dream about, but few believe it can
actually come true in the near future.
Yet for many people, such a trip is within
reach if they just set their minds to
achieving it. Is
your own goal something you are capable of
attaining? Realistic:
Are you willing to work
towards your goal? Are you able to put
the time and commitment into the pursuit of
the goal? This is important.
Every goal represents a decision you take
towards the direction of your life.
With every decision there are advantages and
disadvantages. You must be willing to
accept the costs of your decisions and
recognize that it will impact other areas of
your life. A trip to
Greece might mean putting off that flashy
new car you want, and driving the old heap
another year. If you are willing to
trade driving an older car (and maybe making
repairs yourself) in exchange for that
overseas adventure, you've dealt with some
of the aspects of the decision and its
impact on your life.
What are the costs of working
towards your goal? Tangible:
Think about how it will feel
when you achieve your goal. Lying on
the beach in Greece. Drinking a Greek
beer at an outdoor cafe, eating Feta cheese
and olives picked locally. Sitting on
a white veranda, looking out over crystal
blue waters towards the horizon. These
are the things that excite you, that
stimulate you to reach the goals.
These are things that bring your mind and
your motivation to bear on the goal.
Involve your senses!
Can you visualize how it will
be when you reach your goal?
So, as you set goals, define
them, and work towards them, keep the word
SMART in mind. Take one step at a
time, and keep track of your progress.
You'll be amazed at what you can achieve!
Plan your goals with
single-step motivational software...
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