Goal Setting For Those Who Don’t Set Goals

Is there something you would like to accomplish?  Perhaps, you would like to be more efficient as well as more effective.  One way, actually the best way is to write out some goals.  Before you do this, you need to do some praying, dreaming, planning, and really deciding what you want to accomplish.  One important thing to remember about goal-setting is that it is not the goal that matters it is the subject matter of the goal.  How should a person who is not into setting goals go about goal-setting?  Remember as you start working on goals “you cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight.” (Jim Rohn)  

One popular way is to make sure you set SMART goals:

• Specific.  Your goals cannot be generalized, as I want to lose weight, you must be specific. Zig Ziglar said “a goal properly set is halfway reached.”
• Measurable.  You have to be able to measure your goals.  I want to become debt-free is a good start.  To be a goal, you need benchmarks that can be actionable.
• Attainable.  Attainable does not mean easy. Our goals should stretch us, but they must be somewhere in the realm of achievable.  Losing fifty pounds in two weeks is not attainable.
• Relevant.  Do your goals matter? Only you can answer this question.  One way of looking at this is to think through the process, and ask yourself: “If this is accomplished will it move me toward my goal?
• Time-Bound.  A goal will not be completed if you do not set deadlines.  Deadlines give you a sense of urgency and an ability to measure your progress.  A goal is a dream with a deadline.

There are several areas in which you should consider goal-setting:

• Spiritual   A deepening spiritual life is a goal worth pursuing.
• Career – What level do you want to reach in your career, or what do you want to achieve?
• Financial – Do you have a budget?  Do you need to get out of debt?  How are you doing saving for retirement? 
• Education – Is there any knowledge you want to acquire in particular? What information and skills will you need to have in order to achieve other goals?
• Family –  Relational goals with your spouse and children.  What would be the goals for your family?
• Artistic – Do you want to achieve any artistic goals?
• Attitude – Is any part of your mindset holding you back? Is there any part of the way that you behave that upsets you? If so, set a goal to improve your behavior or find a solution to the problem.
• Physical –  Do you want good health into old age? What steps are you going to take to achieve this?  Do you need to get in better health?

There are a few other items you should consider in regard to goal-setting:

• Write it down    State the goal in the positive.  It is not motivating to say “I will not do this or that.”  It is better to state your goals in the affirmative.
• Determine the next steps       If you do not determine what you need to do or what the next step you need to take, you will give up and you will not see the goal through to accomplishment. 
• Build a system to help you.  A system is tools, resources as well as optimizing your calendar and schedule.  Your system will be the intentional habits and patterns you develop to accomplish your goals.
• Build in a reward.  I am a believer that rewards should follow action and activity.  Throughout the day I do build in small rewards.  When I set a timer for twenty to thirty minutes of concentrated work, I then build in five to fifteen minutes between blocks of time for a break and then go back to working on the next item on my list.  It is not just the goal that matters “virtue lies in the struggle, not the prize.” (Richard Milnes).  Not only will goals challenge and change you, but all of the prayer, thought, action, and time will also greatly benefit you.

Why not give goal-setting a try?  You may be astounded at the results.