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Achieving goals
You may not be running for gold, but your goals are important
Earlier this month, I wrote about new years resolutions and SMARTY goals.
There are two more things that can really help you achieve your goals.
Wording goals
One is how you word your goals. It is important to focus on the end result and train your mind to see life as if you have already achieved the goal. So it is worth setting your goals in positive terms.
So instead of “I will lose weight” make it “I will weigh xkg”, or replace “I will get out of debt” with “I will have a positive bank balance”
You can take this even further by using the present tense in your goals – and this is particularly useful if you repeat your goal to yourself frequently as an affirmation. So our above two examples become “I weigh xkg” and “I have a positive bank balance”.
Adding a reason in the message can also be helpful – such as “I have lots of energy now I weigh xkg” and “My positive bank balance gives me security.”
Acknowledging efforts
The other way to increase your chances of achieving your goal is to acknowledge your efforts. Every so often, look back and acknowledge how far you have come even if it is not as far as you had hoped. It can just be a private “hey, I’ve done this much” or you could share with a trusted friend or give yourself a reward.
If the goal is going to be tough for you or is a long term goal, make sure you give yourself mile stone rewards, too. Maybe for every month you exercise you treat yourself to a massage or for every 25 cold calls you make you can watch your favourite DVD.
With a SMARTY goal written in positive terms and acknowledged and rewarded, I don’t need to wish you luck as your goals are practically achieved already!
Happy New Year
I wish you a successful and prosperous 2008, however you define successful.
A new year is the time many of us think about what we intend to do differently in the future and what we intend to strive for. And it is a good time to do this – not only does a new year open in front of us, but we are often refreshed and have more time than during the working year.
Many people disregard resolutions as a meaningless fad. While I don’t think it is the only time to make resolutions, and I agree many new years resolutions don’t survive beyond January, I don’t agree that they are meaningless.
Making a resolution just because it is 1 January and everyone is doing it – that perhaps is meaningless.
Making a resolution because you really want to make a change or improvement is a great thing.
My tips for making resolutions today (or at any time) that will last are:
- make them SMARTY goals (I’ll outline them in another post, but essentially they are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timed and WhY)
- don’t set too many – one or two major resolutions per area of your life is plenty
- write them down somewhere you can see them to be reminded frequently
- consider telling a trusted friend so they can help keep you on track
- set your own goals – don’t copy others or do what others think you should do
Other than resolutions, it is also a good time to clear out last year and start afresh. My New Year, New Business article has some tips on refreshing your business, so I won’t repeat myself!
Good luck with your resolutions and goals, and enjoy 2008.
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