RMN'S Blog

Setting Goals

In an attempt to follow up after my last post about New Years Resolutions, I wanted to give you some more concrete ways to stick  to your goals and measure your levels of success along the way.

The beginning of a new year is a good time to set goals.  However, one issue with setting goals may be that they are not relevant or realistic to where you are in life. Setting goals is beneficial when they are achievable and personally rewarding. Here are tips to help you come up with goals for the upcoming year.

• Write your goals down. Studies have shown when people write down their goals, they are more likely to achieve them. Written words give your ideas “life” in a sense, and seem more real than keeping a thought in your head. Use a calendar to check your progress and help you stay on track.
• Set SMART goals. Significant. Meaningful. Attainable. Rewarding. Trackable.
• Make short-term goals. Setting goals with long-term deadlines makes it easier to procrastinate and maybe even discard them altogether.
• Be specific. Broad goals can be harder to reach if they lack adequate structure. This can be overwhelming and make you more likely to give up. For example, instead of saying, “I am going to save $30,000,” say “I am going to save 20% of each paycheck.”
• Use questions to define your goal. Who is involved? What do I want to accomplish? When do I want to accomplish this? Do I need this?
• Start with one task. If you feel as if you are going to have a hard time achieving the many goals you set, start with one. When it is accomplished, move on to the next.
•  Make a commitment. Commitment is the key to achieving many things in life. If you feel as if you are not going to fully commit to a goal, choose a different one, break it into smaller steps, or move on to another.

Getting feedback is also a great way to track your progress. Keep a journal or a memo pad.  Also, ask family members, friends and peers for advice and comments because it could be a good way to come up with new ideas on how to achieve your goal. Setting a goal requires time and commitment if you want to lose weight or if you want to become a CEO. Set manageable goals, focus on each step of the process, and you will soon enjoy the benefits of your accomplishments.