Turning Goal Setting Into Results

By Janet Christensen

A new year rings in the promise of a fresh start, a clean slate, and the urge to make the coming year different, better and more personally meaningful and satisfactory. This prompts many people to make New Year’s resolutions and set goals for themselves in some or all areas of their lives – personal, career, business, family. There is great satisfaction and a wonderful feeling of accomplishment when we reach our goals. Following these 7 key points when setting and pursuing your goals will improve your odds of achieving what you set out to accomplish.

1. A goal has to be personally meaningful and significant for you to be motivated to work to achieve it. It needs to be in alignment with your values, your priorities, and what is important to you. When a goal is set for us or imposed upon us, we do not feel a sense of ownership for it, and we are less likely to be willing to work toward it. If you are given goals to achieve, for example in the workplace, work with the goal so that you make it meaningful to you and can claim it as your own. Define success on your terms.
   
   
2. When you are setting your goals look at what you don’t want in your life, as well as what you do want. Sometimes things that we don’t want are important clues to what we want to create and have in our lives. For example, if your life is overloaded, hectic, and disorganized you may have goals relating to streamlining your workload, reducing activities and obligations that are not a priority, and taking a time management course. Or you may know someone who has health problems due to poor lifestyle, diet and other choices, and be inspired to set goals aimed at promoting a healthy you.
   
   
3. Set a reasonable number of goals. It is better to achieve a few key goals than to set yourself up for disappointment and failure by having a large number of goals that will overwhelm you and be impossible to achieve. The 4 main areas to look at when choosing your goals are: Physical (e.g. health and fitness) Emotional (e.g. relationships) Mental (e.g. career, education, business, personal development) Spiritual (e.g. volunteer work, charitable focus, making a contribution)
   
   
4. Set SMART goals. Make them:
   

Specific – Be clear about the goal, state it in positive terms and write it down. Measurable – Have a defined end point so you know when you get there. Achievable – It must be achievable and you need to relate to it/”own” it. Realistic – Choose realistic goals.
Time targeted – Establish a time frame in which to achieve your goal.

A common new year’s resolution is to lose weight. Here’s how to make this a SMART goal.

I will weigh (goal weight) pounds by May 31, 2003.

This goal is specific. It is stated in positive terms – I will weigh a set amount. (Avoid saying you will “lose” a set number of pounds, because your mind tends to want to hang onto things that we perceive with a sense of loss.)

This goal is measurable. When I weigh my goal weight I will have achieved it. What is an achievable weight for me? If I am 5’7” and a large frame, a goal weight of 105 pounds is not achievable (or healthy) for me. I need to be able to visualize myself at the goal weight. May 31 is a realistic time frame in which to reach my goal and my goal weight will be realistic.

For example, if I plan to drop 25 pounds in 2 weeks that is not going to happen. Planning to be 25 pounds lighter in 5 months is more realistic and sets me up to achieve my goal. May 31st is the time target that I have set.

5. When you have big goals and/or long term goals, break them down into smaller steps, as increments, to the overall goal. In this way you will have a sense of achievement along the way and build on your successes. How do you eat an elephant?…. one bite at a time.

For example, you have a goal to run a marathon in 2004 and you are not yet a runner. Your incremental goals may be:

• Join a learn to run class by Jan. 15/03
• Buy running gear by Jan. 20/03
• Run for 30 consecutive minutes by Feb. 28/03
• Get a running buddy by Mar. 25/03
• Run 5 km by May 1/03Etc. etc. until you achieve your long term, big goal of running a marathon in 2004.

6. Connect with your goals. Write them down. Get pictures or photos that relate to your achieved goal and put them where you will see them. For example, I have a goal to visit Costa Rica at Christmas 2003. I have a photo of Costa Rica in my office. It keeps me motivated and excited to work toward being there next year.

Visualize your goal being achieved. Create a mental image of already having the goal and connect with how you will feel at that time. This is a crucial step to achieving your goal – when you can see, feel, hear, taste, and smell it you are connected to your goal and you “own” it. Revisit this connection to already having your goal on a regular basis and your intention will be focused on achieving the goal. This will also help you to overcome any negative thoughts and self-doubt that may creep in and divert you from your goal. Attitude is all-important. Focus on achieving your goals, on how great you will feel, and be excited about creating the life you want.

7. Celebrate when you achieve your goals. Decide ahead how you will reward yourself and make it congruent to the goal. For example, if your goal is to achieve a specific weight, make your reward a flattering new outfit or a day to relax rather than a calorie-laden meal. For big and long term goals, build in rewards along the way and connect them to your incremental goals to keep you motivated. Goals are a cause for focus and achievement, not excuses for beating up on yourself. Most of all have fun!

Make 2003 a year of personal fulfillment, achievement, excitement, and fun by putting the pieces in place to create the life you want to live. Remember to celebrate your success along the way!

"Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence -- that will enable you to attain the success you seek." Mario Andretti (1940-)US auto racer

Also Read: Making "It" Happen

Janet Christensen’s passion is to empower people to live their full potential. Through her company, Unlimiting Potential, she provides personal coaching, experiential workshops, inspirational speaking, and is a Reiki practitioner. To contact Janet, phone: (519) 434-5397 fax: (519) 434-8344 or email info@janetchristensen.com www.janetchristensen.com

Published in Networking Today, January 2003.