Five Steps to Goal-Setting

What would you like to achieve in your lifetime?

Author Basil S. Walth once said, "If you don't know where you are going, how can you expect to get there?" These are words well spoken, because whether you're working toward freelancing full-time or selling your novels, you need a roadmap.

Goals are indispensable. They provide direction, long-term vision and short-term motivation. They separate the important from the irrelevant. Goals also build self-confidence by helping you grow as an individual.

Olympic athletes, successful business people, and (hint?) bestselling writers are goal setters. You aspire to greatness too, don't you? If you do, and you're not already setting goals, now is the perfect time to start.

Five Things to Remember When Setting Goals:

1. Write Goals Down

Always jot down your goals-this is powerful. The process of physically seeing your goals helps crystallize them in your mind. This process also better enables you to commit to them.

Interesting Fact: A popular Harvard Business School study once found that only 3% of the population records their goals in writing. Another 14% have goals but don't write them down, whereas 83% do not even have clearly defined goals. More interesting is that this 3% earned an astounding ten times that of the 83% group!

2. Make Goals Short, Attainable, & Measurable

Set attainable short-term goals that can be measured. This means setting quantifiable goals.

Here are some examples:

• Commit to writing a certain number of words each week

• Submit at least two articles a week

• Find two new markets each week

• Take at least one writing course a year

• Attend at least one writer's conference a year

Make your goals attainable so you won't get discouraged. The short-term goals above are attainable for me, but they may not be for you. Or maybe for you, my short-term goals aren't challenging enough.

Goals are very individual. You have to set your own goals?remember, you're charting your own course to success!

On the other hand, don't set wimpy goals simply because you're afraid to fail. Talane Miedaner, author of Coach Yourself to Success (McGraw-Hill/Contemporary Books, 2002) notes: "People sometimes give themselves 'weeny' goals-they play it safe so they don't fail?But the bigger the goal, the more likely you are to achieve it."

3. Create Deadlines

Without deadlines, your goals are merely dreams. Set deadlines for both short- and long-term goals, and I promise, you'll get there sooner!

Remember that deadlines can be flexible. Life changes and so do goals. Never be afraid to adjust the timeframe for a goal. What's important is to keep moving forward.

4. Look at your goals everyday!

Visual aids are an effective way to program your brain.

Reading and re-writing goals are two very effective visual aids. By physically rewriting your goals and pasting them in places you regularly frequent, you make them more real in your mind.

I read an article in this month's Shape magazine that inspired me. The author mentioned that before Sarah Ban Breathnach, author of the bestselling book & Oprah Pick Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy (Warner Books, 1995) became a bestselling author, she pasted her name on the #1 spot of the New York Times bestseller list and posted it on her computer. Visual Aids like these give you that extra ammunition that will make a difference.

5. Make Goal Setting a Routine

Begin every morning with a "To Do" list. This will help you organize and better manage your time. Plus, your goals will be right smack under your nose every day. Do not get discouraged over any unfinished items. Simply transfer them to the next morning's list.

The above said, keep your goals front and forward in your mind. Remember...you only get one chance to live your dreams!

In the words of Cecil B. De Mille: "The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication."

About The Author

Jennifer Minar is a freelance writer in the health & fitness and writing markets. She is also the founder & managing editor of Writer's Break (http://www.writersbreak.com), a web site and ezine for fiction and creative non-fiction writers.

jminar@writersbreak.com

---

What Words Will They Chisel Into Your Tombstone?

One day you will inevitably die. A morbid statement, I... Read More

Make Your Goals Stick

The amazing thing about the future is that if you... Read More

Mountain Climbing Over Molehills

Someone has said that the greatest cause of ulcers is... Read More

If I Won the Lottery, I Wouldnt Have to Job Search!

IF I WON THE LOTTERY, IWOULDN'T NEED TO JOB SEARCH!Let's... Read More

Achieving Elusive Goals

Everyone has something in their life that they would like... Read More

Make This Your Most Productive Year Ever - 26 Tips

Each year we start the year thinking about our goals,... Read More

Your Goals Are Unique

We have just begun another new year in our lives.... Read More

Priorities

Last month's edition of Footprints and Monuments was about living... Read More

Magic of Goal Manifestation

What goals do you have for your life? If you... Read More

Stop Setting Goals; Make Decisions Instead

Every private client I work with begins at the same... Read More

Reasons That Move You Bring Clarity, Focus, Determination, and Momentum

Are your goals SMART? ? Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Rewarding, Time-DeadlinedJust... Read More

Achieve Your Goals: Embodying Your Intentions to Inspire Manifestation

Bringing life to your ideas is what helps them to... Read More

Achieving Success Through Effective Goal Setting

It is important to have goals because they are good... Read More

How To Become A Polished Public Speaker In Just One (1) Day

The fear of speaking in public ranks right up there... Read More

The Most Powerful Knowledge Available To Man

In this article you will learn the most powerful knowledge... Read More

Halftime: Re-evaluating Yearly Goals

Note: This article was originally written at mid year so... Read More

The Twin Actions of Accomplishment

When it comes to achieving accomplishments there are two foundational... Read More

4 Steps to Inspired Goal Setting

At the beginning of the year, there's often an orgy... Read More

Achieve Anything, One Step At A Time

No matter how ambitious your goal, you CAN achieve it.... Read More

The Importance of Aligning Your Personal Goals With Your Business Goals: Part 3 of a Series

Would you like to be sure that your personal goals... Read More

Goal Objectives: Looking Ahead To Get Ahead With Planning

With goal objectives in mind, consider the organizers of a... Read More

Goal Setting - The Facts Behind The Fiction

To have hopes and dreams for the future is a... Read More

Re-invent Yourself : 7 Steps to Becoming a New You!

Do you like your life the way it is? Would... Read More

Keep That Focus!

One of the things most critical to home business success... Read More

Turn The Escape Key Now

"I think I know how bank robbers feel as they... Read More

Six Keys To Build Vision - Point Two

2. Recognize the source and purpose of vision· It's purpose... Read More

Living The Real Life Beyond Goal Setting

In many of his wonderful talks the motivational speaker Zig... Read More

Challenge the Universe: Demand Your Desires!

There have been so many times in my life where... Read More

How To Achieve Any Goal, NOW!

1. Write down one goal that you want to achieve.... Read More

Giving Up Too Soon

So you feel beaten up and bruised and you're ready... Read More

Top Ten Ways to Achieve Your Goals

1) Write them down! Statistics show people who write down... Read More

Does Your Goal Enhance Your Overall Quality of Life?

So many people struggle with the issue of time management."There's... Read More

Pigs Dont Sing

Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes... Read More