The Path to Success for The Goal Setting Teen

At the beginning of the New Year most people come up with their New Year’s Resolutions. Unfortunately, by the beginning of February most people would already have broken their resolutions. Wouldn’t you like your teen to learn the skill of goal setting, that will persist year after year, and that will help him become successful in whatever he undertakes, throughout his life? Adopt these tips, to help your teen develop the skill of setting goals that prepares him for lifelong success.

1. Sit with your teens, and help them determine their goals and purpose in life. Discuss their strengths and skill sets, and passions and hobbies. Write it all down. It may take more than one session to complete this list.

2. Teach them to write short term goals, and long term goals. They can use index cards, posters etc. Help them create vision boards. This makes their goals more realistic to them and gets them excited about achieving those goals.

3. Determine if there is a need in the community, school, online or a particular industry etc. that they can fill with their particular skill sets.

4. Write down the steps necessary to meet that need and how they will achieve those steps. Their plans should be as specific and detailed as possible, and with proposed timelines where appropriate. Even if things look unattainable at this time, write it all down in faith. You will be amazed at how doors will miraculously open and reveal the next steps, when you are ready, for the next level.

5. Envision with your teen, what you think the finished product or achievement will be like, who will it benefit, and how will he feel when he has accomplished his goal. Encourage your teen to write this down as well.

6. Have your teen review his goals every day, if possible, twice a day. Encourage him to find mentors and role models who will give him valuable advice. Let him feel free to modify his ideas, as new ideas become apparent to him.

7. Celebrate his accomplishments, as these goals are met, and encourage him to develop new goals and aspirations, that may stretch him a little more.

8. When your teen faces difficulties on the journey to achieving his dreams, which he will undoubtedly face, then have him review his written dreams and goals. This is a great motivator, and will help your teen stay on task when the hard times roll around.

9. Help your teen see that no goal worth achieving will be accomplished without hard work and dedication, with a good measure of persistence. Though one may stumble several times, the goal setting teen rises from the fall re-evaluates the situation and determines a better way of attaining those goals.
Goal setting for teens is extremely important, because teens are more likely to succeed if they have a vision of what they want to accomplish in life.

Any man without a goal or aim in life is indeed like a wave tossed around by the sea, and never really achieves his life’s purpose. Empower your teens on the path to success, in whatever field they choose, by teaching them goal setting that endures through the different seasons of life and affirming and congratulating them, when those goals are met.