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