| I just Googled the phrase "goal setting", and found | | | | achievement, you must have another motivation |
| approximately 3,600,000 web pages that relate in | | | | as well. You must really want the benefits that will |
| some way to that phrase. This shouldn't surprise | | | | come to you when the new goal is achieved. Build |
| us, because conventional wisdom is that goal | | | | a clear and compelling picture in your mind of |
| setting is an important skill. | | | | what you will feel, sense, see, and believe once |
| It is easy to document both through anecdotal | | | | your goal has been achieved. Focus on the results |
| evidence as well as through research that setting | | | | you will gain from the goal, rather than just the |
| goals can help us achieve more. There are | | | | goal itself. This is important because in the end |
| hundreds of books, tapes, speeches, workshops, | | | | this is what you are after, not "just" the goal |
| and websites that will provide us with tools and | | | | itself. As you work towards your goal, the goal |
| processes to set goals. One would think for | | | | might shift, but as long as the desired results |
| something as important as goal setting, with as | | | | remain clear, you have improved the likelihood of |
| many tools as there are available, that everyone | | | | achieving the end result you desire. |
| would be a goal setter. | | | | 3. Start a plan and get started. Notice I didn't say |
| This however isn't the case. | | | | to lay out a complete plan of all the steps |
| While I could fill a book with the reasons why, | | | | between you and your goal. If your goal is of any |
| there is one that is very important. | | | | size and importance at all, it will require many |
| People don't set goals now because they didn't | | | | steps, and it will be very difficult/impossible to |
| achieve the ones they set in the past. | | | | identify them with any degree of certainty at the |
| They've followed the goal setting process they | | | | start. Too many people think they need the |
| learned or read about, but the seminar or book | | | | perfect plan. They delay starting so they can get |
| stopped at the wrong time. The seminar stopped | | | | the best information. They want to talk to one |
| with the setting of the goal. That is like ending the | | | | more expert, read one more book, examine two |
| game after the first play, then going to sit on the | | | | more options. Get started already! Give yourself a |
| sidelines, while the goal is out on the playing field. | | | | clear idea of a general approach, and some clear |
| My advice to you, if you can identify with what | | | | first steps. Allow yourself the luxury of knowing |
| you've just read is to stop worrying about goal | | | | that the next specific steps will become clear as |
| setting. And start focusing on goal achieving. | | | | you stay on the path. |
| In other words, stop worrying about which goal | | | | Doing these three things will drastically increase |
| setting model to use, or which software to track | | | | your success in achieving any goal you set. |
| your progress with. Stop making the goal setting | | | | Actually, let me say it more strongly. Until you |
| process the focus, and start putting the focus on | | | | have these three factors going for you in large |
| goal achievement. | | | | (although potentially varying) amounts, you won't |
| Here are three things you can do to put our | | | | achieve the goals you set. You will lose |
| focus on goal achievement and drastically increase | | | | momentum. You will lose focus. You will lose hope. |
| your success: | | | | You won't be able to overcome the first setback. |
| 1. Get sick and tired. It is often said that people | | | | And you will fall into the convenient and |
| really begin to reach new health goals when they | | | | comfortable thinking that goal setting "doesn't |
| become "sick and tired of being sick and tired." | | | | work" for you or that you need a new tool, a |
| Achieving a goal means that you want something | | | | new technique or a new guru to help you set |
| different than you have now. To build your | | | | "better" goals. |
| ongoing and sustaining drive to achieve the new | | | | Whether you are setting goals for yourself, the |
| item, knowledge or situation, you must become | | | | team you lead or for your organization at large, |
| disgusted and dissatisfied with the current | | | | take this advice to heart. |
| situation. This doesn't mean that you should | | | | Focus less energy on setting the perfect goal and |
| become bitter or grumpy, but rather it means to | | | | spend more time preparing yourself for ultimate |
| develop a healthy dissatisfaction with the way | | | | success. Stop worrying about the resolution, and |
| things are now (current profitability, the cycle time | | | | start focusing on the resolve that will be required |
| for new product development, or your inability to | | | | to succeed. |
| find a bathroom in Brazil). | | | | Doing this will bring you greater success, less |
| 2. Get (and stay) excited about the result. To | | | | frustration and will help you and your organization |
| sustain the challenges, setbacks and | | | | move closer and closer to your potential. |
| disappointments along your way to goal | | | | |