Goal Setting and Getting Started

Setting Good Goals

I started a post back in November on setting goals and staying on top of  them.    I challenged everyone to set 1 attainable goal for the month of December..  Something you really wanted to accomplish or achieve but you needed to be sure it was reachable.

Then I explained the importance of setting goals and staying organized and how that will help you achieve more success online.

I am just as guilt as many..   I get stuck or caught up on something and before I realize it  hours have gone by instead of minutes.   Having a daily plan can really help with the little reminders on not getting carried away with one thing or another.    Time is such a precious commodity..   It’s something we all tend to take for granted and many realize far too late  how little time we have and how fast time flies..

Whether this is your first experience with setting goals or you’ve been setting them all of your life, here are some helpful suggestions and ideas.

What makes a good goal?

Traditional goal-setting wisdom has taught us that a good goal must be:

1. written
2. believable
3. challenging
4. specific
5. measurable
6. have a specific deadline.

All of the above criteria are still good components of most goals.    However, they are not necessarily all required.   A good goal is one that is worthy of each persons individual pursuit. And that is so highly subjective,  far be it from me to define what is your worthy pursuit.

The question could be worded differently,   “What makes a good Goal plan?”      On this, it is easier to be more precise:    A good Goal plan is one that when followed, offers a reasonably high probability of success, given a sufficient time frame.

• Must all goals be written?
  It’s important to record your goals, whether you physically write them down on paper or copy and paste into a notepad on your computer or use a conventional approach and use the Web to help you store it down.

• Must all goals be believable?
  You must believe that it is at least possible for you to achieve the goal you are setting or you will not be motivated to even try it let alone finish it. More importantly, it is You who must believe it, not others. But Note Also, it does not mean that you must expect it to be Easy or even probable. The goal you are setting should be something you can realistically achieve.

• Must all goals be challenging?
  No, not at all. I recommend setting at least one easy goal, where you know you can achieve it without a doubt and at least one challenging goal.    As you get better at achieving them, you can in fact have several of each.    Be sure to not overdue the amount of challenging goals or tasks you take on so as to avoid becoming overwhelmed or frustrated.
  Keep this in mind when you choose:
  ~ Easy goals help build good habits of follow-through and reward you with quick gratification.
  ~ Challenging goals help you to grow as a person.

• Must all goals be measurable and specific?
  Your goals should only be measurable and specific enough for you to know whether or not they have been completed properly.   If you need to keep extra “notes” to help you, then go ahead.

• Must all goals have deadlines?
  Actually No ! Some goals include a  direction or a commitment, or even a lifestyle enhancement as opposed to a mere end-point.   It is more of an “on-going” goal, that is sustained over time, managed, and tracked, but never-ending.
  I mean, if your goal was to lose 20 pounds, why would you want to end that goal and gain it all back.   Such goals should have no end-date, and know they do not have to.

Should my goals be short-term or long-term?

It is recommended that you have at least one short-term and one long-term goal at any given time.

Short-term goals are usually simpler and easier than long-term.
Setting short-term goals helps reassure you, because you’ll have victories more often. You will then build a stronger track record which will in turn help you to complete more goals.

Long-term goals (two years or longer) help to keep you heading in the right direction and can provide a sense of a much greater purpose, not to mention something exciting to work towards.

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