Sunday, October 15, 2006

Goalsetting for beginners

 What are goals and why define them?

We all know what goals are, but why are they of such importance?
When you make a shopping list, you do that, because you want to make sure, that you return from the supermarket with the right groceries.

See this as making a shopping list, you want to make sure that you get what you want.
Life is like a big supermarket, and this is your shopping list…


And that’s why it’s so very important to write them down on a sheet of paper.
The answer my friends, is blowing in the wind. No seriously, the answer is commitment to your goals and to get you to keep moving towards achieving them…

Preparation.
What you need for this first step, is some sheets of paper, 5 pieces should do.
And get a marker or pen of some kind.

How to define your goals:
I will post some examples while we go, so you have an idea of what to do.

I’ve decided to write this as a step-by-step guide; the idea is that you should write your goals down while reading this.
So go find some blank pieces of paper and a pen. NOW.

Personal Development:
First we are going to define your goals. So what I want you to do now, is to take a blank piece of paper. Write Personal Development as the title.
Next, use a couple of minutes to write down some things you would like to change in your life.
Write at least 9-12 things.
Note, that you should not write things concerning your financial situation, neither that you want a new car or similar.
Get going RIGHT NOW.





Finance and career:
Fantastic job. Now we are going to define what you really would like in terms of career and finance.
It’s the same process as before. Define 9-12 financial goals on a blank piece of paper. Title it financial goals
Get started now.



Material things:
Well, there is nothing wrong about being a bit materialistic some times.
And help yourself now, please.
Imagine you are an 8 year old kid, with 30 minutes in toysRus. Take everything you can.
Don’t be shy, whatever you would like. GO!


Fantastic. Now, let’s move on to step 3.
Right now you probably have a lot of goals on these three sheets of paper.
Let’s narrow it down a bit.
Take the first sheet, the one with Personal development in the top.

We are going to sort all of these goals.
Pick the three things there are most important for you, and put a circle around each one of them.

Do this with every one of the three papers.

Now. Take a new piece of paper, as a title you should write something like “My Goals” and this particular date next year.
Then start copying the three most important goals, from each piece of paper, to the new one.

Now you should have something like this in front of you: (The xx.xxx.xxxx is the date)



Almost done…

This is actually one of the most important steps.
You’ll need to associate some feelings to every goal.

Take a look at your list, take the first goal, in my case “Be better to speak in public”, you’ll need to put words on the feelings you’ll have, if you had already reached you goal, ex. “…if I had my new car today, I would feel free, because it could take me anywhere I would like to go, and I would fell happy and in control when I were driving in it.”

Do this with everyone of the nine goals on your list, there is no need for you to write this down. Just do it inside your head!

The next and final step is to hang it somewhere, choose a place, where you will see it every morning.
The refrigerator is a good place.

Now, every morning, before you go to work or what you do, take five minutes, look at the list, say out aloud, every goal, and how you would feel if you already had achieved it.
This is a very good way to start you day, and it will help you to keep on track.

If you feel like, do it once more in evening before going to sleep, or even a third time in the middle of the day.

Congratulations. You have a list of nine goals to achieve within a year.
If you follow the directions and keep on track nothing is impossible.
Remember it is not important how far you get everyday, the most important things is that you keep moving, constantly and in the right direction.

Enjoy life, and achieve your goals. Please.

Gategori: Personal Growth


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