How Good Are You At Setting and Attaining Goals?

What have you done this week that got you closer to a goal, big or small?

We all have goals that we set on a number of different levels. Some are simple, but persistent thoughts, others may be mapped out on a vision board or written down on a clearly defined list. I have learned during my time on this earth that by setting sharp, clearly defined, and WRITTEN goals, that I can measure and take pride in attaining my goals. In fact, one of my favorite personally made up quotes (My husband terms them Denise'isms) is that "You can't hit a target you can't see".

Achieve more with focus.

By setting, attaining and measuring your goals, you can see forward progress as you recognize your ability and competence in achieving the goals that you have set yourself. Goals are set on a number of different levels, and depending on how you process information you can breakdown your goals by creating the big picture goals, meaning you will decide what large-scale goals you want to achieve. Then you can break them down into smaller and more easily achieved targets that you must hit in order to reach your big picture or lifetime goals. Once you have set your lifetime goals, set a 25 year plan of smaller goals that you should complete if you are to reach your lifetime plan. Then set a 5 year plan, 1 year plan, 6 month plan, and 1 month plan of progressively smaller goals that you should reach to achieve your lifetime goals.

A useful way of making goals more sticky is to use the SMART mnemonic. There are several variations but the one that I use is:

• S Specific
• M Measurable
• A Attainable
• R Relevant
• T Time-bound

Staying on course.

Once you have your plans in place, be sure to review and update your "to-do" list daily. You will find that some of your previously considered "written in stone" goals may require modifying to reflect your changing priorities and interests.

Another very valuable tool in staying the course is jou aling. Do you have this regularly happen to you? When you go to bed at night and are reviewing your day, do you wonder just what in the heck you actually got done and did better than you did the day before? Jou aling before going to sleep is a powerful way to keep track of what you did, or didn't do, and how you felt about it. Emotions are what drive us and if you can keep track of how you are feeling while you are attaining your goals, it will keep you moving forward. Alte atively, if while reviewing your journal you see a definite pattern of deal-breaking you will begin to understand that by breaking your word to yourself that you are not only letting yourself down emotionally, but you are not attaining your goals.

Denise Griffitts, Virtual Assistance Industry Expert, Web Developer and Serial Online Entrepreneur!