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