Setting Goals for Success
http://www.articleorange.com/articles/61/1/Setting-Goals-for-Success/Page1.html
Shannon Kietzman
I am a teacher and an author who has written hundreds of articles for the Internet, as well as ad copy, standardized test questions, ebooks, and "real" books. Learn more at http://www.shannonkietzman.com. By Shannon Kietzman
Published on 08/25/2006
Informtion about why and how to set goals and what to do when problems arise.
Setting Goals for Success
Do you find yourself floating through life with no real direction? If so, it might be time to sit down and seriously start doing a little goal setting.
Goal Setting: Why You Should Do It
Goal setting is more important than you might realize. Think about it, would you embark on a road trip without having some idea of where you are heading? Of course not! If you did that, you would ultimately find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere with no idea where you are and no gas left in your tank.
The same holds true with goal setting. If you do not establish a destination, you will wander about aimlessly through life. Before you know it, you will look at where you are and wonder where you are and where to go from here. Worse yet, you will have run out of gas and not have the energy or motivation needed to find a way out. By establishing a goal, you can create a plan for getting there.
Goal Setting: Creating a Plan
Now that you have set a goal, you need to create plan for getting there. This is just like mapping out the directions when going on a road trip. Decide what steps you need to take in order to reach your goal and create short-term goals along the way. Set a timeframe for each of these goals and stick with it as much as possible. Don’t be self-defeating and talk yourself out of working toward your goals because it will “take too long.” Think about it, five years from now you can finally be where you want to be in life because of the goals you set. Or, you can still be wandering aimlessly.
Goal Setting: Overcoming Roadblocks
Just as with a road trip, you might run into some roadblocks on the way to your destination. That’s ok! If you have created a plan already, you can find an alternate route to the next step of your plan – just like taking a detour on the highway. If you came across a detour while on the way to your vacation site, would you just give up, turn around, and go home? Of course not! The same is true when roadblocks stand in your way toward reaching your goals. Don’t give up now. Find an alternate route, then re-evaluate your plan and create a new strategy for achieving your goals.
Goal Setting: Changing Your Destination
Always remember that it is ok to change your mind and decide on a new goal. If the goal you originally set no longer seems satisfying, sit down and decide the new goal you would like to pursue. Just make sure you never give up on a goal out of fear or because you have talked yourself into believing the goal cannot be reached – every goal is attainable if you stick with it and try hard enough.
Goal Setting: Why You Should Do It
Goal setting is more important than you might realize. Think about it, would you embark on a road trip without having some idea of where you are heading? Of course not! If you did that, you would ultimately find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere with no idea where you are and no gas left in your tank.
The same holds true with goal setting. If you do not establish a destination, you will wander about aimlessly through life. Before you know it, you will look at where you are and wonder where you are and where to go from here. Worse yet, you will have run out of gas and not have the energy or motivation needed to find a way out. By establishing a goal, you can create a plan for getting there.
Goal Setting: Creating a Plan
Now that you have set a goal, you need to create plan for getting there. This is just like mapping out the directions when going on a road trip. Decide what steps you need to take in order to reach your goal and create short-term goals along the way. Set a timeframe for each of these goals and stick with it as much as possible. Don’t be self-defeating and talk yourself out of working toward your goals because it will “take too long.” Think about it, five years from now you can finally be where you want to be in life because of the goals you set. Or, you can still be wandering aimlessly.
Goal Setting: Overcoming Roadblocks
Just as with a road trip, you might run into some roadblocks on the way to your destination. That’s ok! If you have created a plan already, you can find an alternate route to the next step of your plan – just like taking a detour on the highway. If you came across a detour while on the way to your vacation site, would you just give up, turn around, and go home? Of course not! The same is true when roadblocks stand in your way toward reaching your goals. Don’t give up now. Find an alternate route, then re-evaluate your plan and create a new strategy for achieving your goals.
Goal Setting: Changing Your Destination
Always remember that it is ok to change your mind and decide on a new goal. If the goal you originally set no longer seems satisfying, sit down and decide the new goal you would like to pursue. Just make sure you never give up on a goal out of fear or because you have talked yourself into believing the goal cannot be reached – every goal is attainable if you stick with it and try hard enough.