Setting GoalsWhen setting goals, make them challenging, yet realistic and attainable. And be sure they are your goals--not your parents' or some other person's goals for you. Write down your goals and post them where you can see them on a daily basis. List your goals in order of importance to you. Write your goals as positive statements that focus on success. Also, write out an action plan for achieving your goals.
Not everyone believes in goal-setting. In The DNA of Success, Jack Zufelt explains that goal setting not only does NOT work but it's negative and self-destructive for you. More Tips for Setting Goals To set goals start by asking yourself: "What is it that I want?" To become clear on what you want for your life, ask yourself three questions:
Nothing is too silly. Nothing is too ridiculous. Just write it down. Save your criticism and evaluation for later. Write whatever comes to your mind. Make sure to write it all down and try to be as specific as possible. The next step is to review all of your goals and prioritize them. Decide what is really important to you and what you really want to achieve. Then use the SMART strategy for setting goals: S = specific. When setting goals, you must know exactly what it is that you want. Get a clear picture of it in your mind. If it's a new job, picture yourself in that job. If it's more money, visualize that monthly bank statement. M = measurable. You must have a measure so that you will know when you have achieved your goal. A = Action. Ask directions. Get in touch with others who already have what you want. Read books, listen to tapes, attend seminars. Get as much information as possible that will assist you in reaching your goal. Then take the steps you need to take to achieve your goal. R = Realistic. Make your goals challenging, yet realistic. T = Time based. Always set a deadline for achieving your goal. Five Steps to Goal Settingby Jennifer MinarAuthor Basil S. Walth once said, "If you don't know where you are going, how can you expect to get there?" Setting goals is indispensable. Goals provide direction, long-term vision and short-term motivation. They separate the important from the irrelevant. Goal setting also builds self-confidence by helping you grow as an individual. Olympic athletes, successful business people, and bestselling writers set goals. You aspire to greatness too, don't you? If you do, and you're not already setting goals, now is the perfect time to start. Five Things to Remember When Setting Goals: 1. Write Goals Down Always jot down your goals-this is powerful. The process of physically seeing your goals helps crystallize them in your mind. This process also better enables you to commit to them. Interesting Fact: A popular Harvard Business School study once found that only 3% of the population records their goals in writing. Another 14% have goals but don't write them down, whereas 83% do not even have clearly defined goals. More interesting is that this 3% earned an astounding ten times that of the 83% group! 2. Make Goals Short, Attainable, & Measurable Set attainable short-term goals that can be measured. This means setting goals that are quantifiable. Here are some examples:
Make your goals attainable so you won't get discouraged. The short-term goals above are attainable for me, but they may not be for you. Or maybe for you, my short-term goals aren't challenging enough. Goals are very individual. You have to set your own goals...remember, you're charting your own course to success! On the other hand, don't set wimpy goals simply because you're afraid to fail. Talane Miedaner, author of Coach Yourself to Success 3. Create Deadlines Without deadlines, your goals are merely dreams. Set deadlines for both short- and long-term goals, and I promise, you'll get there sooner! Remember that deadlines can be flexible. Life changes and so do goals. Never be afraid to adjust the timeframe for a goal. What's important is to keep moving forward. 4. Look at your goals everyday! Reading and re-writing goals are two very effective visual aids. By physically rewriting your goals and pasting them in places you regularly frequent, you make them more real in your mind. I read an article in Shape magazine that inspired me. The author mentioned that before Sarah Ban Breathnach, author of the bestselling book Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy 5. Make Setting Goals a Routine Begin every morning with a "To Do" list. This will help you organize and better manage your time. Plus, your goals will be right smack under your nose every day. Do not get discouraged over any unfinished items. Simply transfer them to the next morning's list. The above said, keep your goals front and forward in your mind. Remember...you only get one chance to live your dreams! In the words of Cecil B. De Mille: "The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication." About The Author Jennifer Minar is a freelance writer in the health & fitness and writing markets. She is also the founder & managing editor of Writer's Break, a Web site and ezine for fiction and creative non-fiction writers. Learn more about setting goals
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, became a bestselling author, she pasted her name on the #1 spot of the New York Times bestseller list and posted it on her computer. Visual aids like these give you that extra ammunition that will make a difference. 
