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Setting Your Goals – A Basic Introduction

Written by: Janet Houghton

Article Overview: If you've been hearing and reading lots about setting your goals, but not known how to go about it, this article is a good introduction to smart goal setting. As the author states, "When you travel somewhere into the unknown by car, you follow a road map to make sure you get to your destination; the same principle applies to life – you may have an idea of the things you would like to achieve, but without a map it will make it difficult to get there. The goals you make are your ‘map’."

Setting Your Goals – A Basic Introduction



When you travel somewhere into the unknown by car, you follow a road map to make sure you get to your destination; the same principle applies to life – you may have an idea of the things you would like to achieve, but without a map it will make it difficult to get there. The goals you make are your ‘map’.

This doesn’t need to be a complicated and mind numbing process, in fact the simpler you keep it, the better. We can break it down into five steps:

1. Write down your goals, preferably in a notebook. (I’ll tell you why in Step 4!) Firstly the short term goals, ie things you would like to achieve in 3-6 months, eg. finding a new job, saving enough to buy that new lounge suite or losing 10 kilos in weight.

Then your medium term goals, for achievement within 1-2 years. This could include saving up enough deposit to buy a home, starting a business, retiring etc.

Lastly your long term goals, which could include things like having your home paid off by a certain year or retiring at a certain age.

2. Make a time structure for each of the goals. By this I mean you should break down each goal and set an actual month by which you aim to achieve it.

3. Make your goals achievable. By all means dream, every big success story starts this way. But break them down into small bites that you can accomplish as short or medium term goals.

4. Jot down in your notebook ways you think you may be able to reach these goals. Just looking around you as you go about your daily business can give you lots of ideas, and if you carry your notebook with you, you can write them down so you don’t forget them.

5. Last but not least, keep focused. You can do this by revisiting your list regularly (another good reason for the notebook!).

This, in a nutshell, is the best and simplest way to make and achieve your life goals.

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Article Tags: goals achievable, life goals, long term goals, setting your goals, short term goals, smart goal setting
Referred by: http://jaykubassek.com



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