4 Steps in Goal Setting
It’s a fact – People love to make New Year’s resolutions. I guess it is the concept of a brand new shiny new year that has no baggage attached to it. I think it is the potential a new year offers, it is fresh – like a new piece of paper that hasn’t been written on yet – we can do anything that we can imagine with it.
But what happens to most people? They set incredible goals …and after putting a lot of effort into them …things start to unravel….and then they let go of their goals and dreams… and another year of resolutions are left in tatters.
Don’t let this year be the same as the other years. Set your goals, follow-up on your goals, achieve them and make your dreams come true. Take your New Year’s resolutions and make them go the distance.
1. Write your goals down – Ideally the old fashion way with ink or pencil on paper. This helps solidify them in your head and helps you commit to them.
2. Make your goals clear – Make your goal detailed enough so you know exactly what you are trying to achieve. Using enough detail helps you when you achieved the goal or how far you need to go to make it a reality. Think in terms of a measurement and a deadline.
For example you want to lose weight this year (and don’t we all). Well this goal needs to have an amount, and deadline. I want to lose 20 pounds and 18 inches by June 1st.
Or I want to start doing public speaking – so my goal might be – Deliver six-hour long presentations to groups of a minimum of 50 people each by July 1st.
3. Keep that goal in front of you every day. Place that big goal front and centre on a daily basis by putting it on your mirror, on your computer screen, on your wallet or on your fridge. Why is this important? Many distractions and obstacles are put in your path. But you have already decided what is important to you when you wrote that resolution down. By keeping that goal clearly in front of you, it gives you strength to say No to these other distractions as they come at you. Every time you say No to that opportunity you are saying yes to this goal.
4. Imagine yourself achieving your goal. Professional athletes use this technique all the time. They visualize themselves crossing the finish line. But to do this correctly they use all their senses to see and feel the result. They see themselves throwing the ball and scoring the winning goal, hear the crowds cheering, feel the wind in their hair and taste the sweat on their lips.
An elite athlete will go through the entire process of what they need to do in order master their game and win. To help achieve your goal, take time everyday to visualize yourself achieving it. Believing will take you far in being successful.
Imagine if we took the time to do that with each of our goals? How successful could we be? Read my next blog post to get more great ideas on making your resolutions a reality.
I would love to hear what your techniques are to reach your goals and make your resolutions a reality!
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