Idiots Guide to Goal Setting: 5 Steps to Success

Weve all read about personal goal setting. Weve all tried it. According to the stats, most of the time we all fail.

I often used to slap hand to forehead and mutter through clinched teeth, Idiot! after realizing that I have, yet again failed to accomplish even the simplest of personal goals (much less the grand New Years goal). Over the years, though, I have managed to develop a cohesive method for curing this ailment (as well as curing the ever-present handprint on my forehead).

Making a positive use of the once negative pet name that I had for myself, I developed Idiots Guide to Goal Setting. Ready to cure the ever-present handprint on your forehead?

First, there is one pre-requisite before launching forth.

Before we even get out of the gate, we must first get beyond the list of things that should be our goals and first commit to making ourselves priority and believing that what WE want IS important! Too often we are convinced that what we should do for ourselves is what we want to do for ourselves. This is not the case.

Push aside the should thoughts and focus on what you passionately want for yourself. What are you willing to commit to and see through to the end?

In order for this commitment to be different from all of the others you must have a support system that will uphold you when the tide of daily life rigors begins to arrive once again.

This is the essential ingredient that most people dont include when they make a commitment to change. The following 5 steps are designed to help you create a resolution that is clear, specific, and planned out with the necessary support and accountability to make this swing at goal setting one for the records!

5 steps to success with goal setting

1. Keep It Simple!

There's a temptation, to generate a list of everything youve ever wanted to change. Don't fall for it! You'll have better luck fulfilling one or two goals than you will with a list of fifty.

2. Be Specific

Let's say your goal is to create a better balanced life between health, relationships, and work. Word this carefully. Try not to think of it as "I am going to balance my life." That's a tall glass of stress ready to be gulped! It forces you into thinking of the resolution as something you must do, not something you want to do.

Make it sound a little gentler: "I'm now going to explore different ways of balancing my life." This also suggests more of a plan. You will fulfill the goal by experimenting with strategies for life balance.

The first phrasing sounds as if you're going to force yourself to have a balanced life by sheer willpower.

3. Make the Plan

Once you know what your goal is, plan it out in clear steps. Your plan doesn't have to be a complicated one. Start by answering the question, What is the first step I need to take toward accomplishing my goal?

For life balance, it might look like this:

  • Work no more than 40 hours a week

  • Walk 3 times a week

  • Create a date night for significant relationships

    4. Write it Down

    Write down your goal and your plan of action. Stick it up on the fridge or in your office. Write in the activities in your day timer or wherever you know you'll see it. That way you'll have a constant reminder of the resolution.

    5. Get Support! In order for this goal to be different from all of the others you have set, you must first have a support system that will uphold you when the tide of daily life rigors begins to rise. This is the essential ingredient that most people dont include when they make a commitment to change. All of the previous steps hinge on this one!

    Personal (or Life) Coaching is a perfect example of such support. Accountability, guidance and clarity are the prime focuses of these practitioners. Coaching sessions are devoted completely to setting and accomplishing your goals. Unlike family and friends, a coach is objective, well trained and committed to seeing your goals come to fruition.

    Regardless of the goals you set for yourself, what is most important is making yourself priority and committing to living the best life possible with the minimal amount of handprints on your forehead!

    © 2004 by Dr. Robert A. Eubanks

    Article URL: http://www.bridgetosolutions.com/pages/9/index.htm

    Terms of use: This article may be published electronically or in print, as long as the byline at the end of the article is included without alteration.

    About The Author

    Dr. Robert A. Eubanks is the founder of Bridge to Solutions Coaching. He coaches people around the country via telephone to improve organization, time management, goal setting and to create the best darn life possible!

    For a free 30 minute coaching session, e-mail bridgetosolutions@yahoo.com or visit www.bridgetosolutions.com.

    In The News:

    • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Competition, Jealousy And Goals

    Naturally some of us are more competitive than others, but... Read More

    Getting To Good: Your Spontaneous Woo Quotient

    As I was driving to a friend's house, I passed... Read More

    The Promise: The Key to the Successful Achievement of Your Goals

    Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to... Read More

    Got Goals? Did You Reach Them?

    Most of us have goals.Big ones, small ones. But not... Read More

    Achieve Your Goals By Eating The Frog And The Elephant

    Brian Tracy, the great motivational guru, often suggests that people... Read More

    Idiots Guide to Goal Setting: 5 Steps to Success

    Weve all read about personal goal setting. Weve all tried... Read More

    On Achievement

    If a comatose person were to earn an interest of... Read More

    Is There An Anxiety Solution For Those Who Fail To Keep Their Resolutions?

    In a nutshell... YES!I've given a lot of thought recently... Read More

    Creating Your Vision for Your Business, Career, and Life

    Many people go through their daily lives feeling overwhelmed. There... Read More

    7 Ways To Ignite Your Vision

    Probably the hardest skill to teach, and the one of... Read More

    Fear Factor

    Is it possible for an individual to pass a course... Read More

    Achieving Impossible Goals By Ignoring The Experts

    "If the world were to blow itself up the last... Read More

    S.M.A.R.T. Goals

    (excerpted from the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan)Jim Rohn's Second... Read More

    A Simple Solution For Accomplishing Any Goal

    Have you ever had someone ask you to do some... Read More

    Resolution: Stop Dieting for the Health of it!

    "Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual... Read More

    Keep a Dream Journal: Why Bother?

    Want a key to unlock your inner wisdom? Try keeping... Read More

    Goal Setting and Goal Getting: Here Are Some Quotes that Can Change Your Life

    Here are several quotes about setting and achieving goals. My... Read More

    Rebuilding Oneself: The Universes Basic Training

    I remember Air Force Basic Training. My Training Instructor not... Read More

    Excellence is Never an Accident

    "Excellence is never an accident; it is always the result... Read More

    Thank You

    I wonder if anyone really reads long stuff from Ezines... Read More

    Why Success With Goal Setting Is A Myth! Heres What You Really Need...

    Every person who succeeded at a high level, in any... Read More

    Struggling to Make a Decision?

    Every great success story begins when a person makes a... Read More

    Action Achieves Goals - Talk Is Cheap

    It is very easy and a lot of fun to... Read More

    Setting Goals ? Things to Think About

    We hear a lot about the steps we should take... Read More

    The Secret of Overcoming Procrastination in 4 Simple Steps

    Let's face it. Overcoming procrastination can be a challenge if... Read More

    Goal Setting

    The goal-setting process enables an organization to check on the... Read More

    Goal-Mapping

    Goal-mapping is like a treasure hunt, you must first start... Read More

    What Do You WANT? What Do You DESERVE?

    INTRODUCTIONThis article is used for discovering our needs from life,... Read More

    Lessons From the Creek

    Everything is in flow here in Northern Michigan. Buckets of... Read More

    A Proper Mission Statement Can Drive Your Life Forward

    Most people measure us by our accomplishments -- what we've... Read More

    Achieving Your Goals

    -- The One Pager Shortcut Series --Much has been written... Read More

    Achieve Your Goal

    Have you seen those ads that promise to make thousands... Read More

    It Takes A Lot Of A Little To See The Good Times Roll

    Have you ever wondered why some people are just naturally... Read More