When the topic of ‘goals,’ arises, many people think of two words: Success or failure. Just the thought of establishing the proper mindset needed to begin to achieve your goals puts many people into a panic mode of despair and defeat. But setting and achieving goals can be just like any other venture you undertake, such as planning a vacation—and it can prove to be just as much fun!
Ultimately, there are four easy rules to setting your goals — and we’ll explore each one here:
RULE #1: DETERMINE YOUR GOAL: Begin with the end in mind. What is it you’d like to achieve in your life? What type of legacy would you like to leave behind? Remember, whatever brings you the most joy is where your passion lies. Review goals for all areas of your life, both personally and professionally.
RULE #2: KNOW THE ‘WHY’ OF IT: Ensure that your ‘why’ – your desire, your reason – is strong enough to see you through to the completion of your goal. Determine your level of commitment and build in practices that will help you to keep your eyes on the coveted prize! Be aware of the challenges that may lie on the road ahead of you and prepare a positive plan to address those issues in positive ways that won’t derail you.
RULE #3. ESTABLISH A TIME FRAME: A goal without a time-frame is merely a ‘wish.’ Goals don’t just happen when you least expect them. It’s important to establish an Estimated Time of Completion (ETC) for them. Most people have a natural tendency to underestimate the time it takes to complete specific tasks. This can prove to be the element that keeps you from your success. Establishing realistic time-frames is the most important step when setting goals—do not skip this part of goal setting.
RULE #4: DIVIDE YOUR GOALS INTO ‘BITE-SIZED’ CHEWS: It’s important not to bite off more than you can chew when it comes to your goals. It’s easy to get excited about achieving them and this makes some of us excited about tackling them all at once. However, dividing your goals into ‘bite-sized chews’ keeps them from being too overwhelming to complete, and allows you immediate success on your journey. Focusing on what to do now, today, is a lot simpler and less stressful than wondering how the entire mechanism will come together.
These ‘Four Easy Rules to Setting Your Goals’ can make moving through the ranks in your career a breeze. Professionally speaking, most organizations come with a mission statement which defines a clear set of rules and expectations to meet the company’s overall vision. In conjunction with that, there are parameters and guidelines established that will assist you to determine your professional goals and desires within your organization. Get excited about using the tools and resources that are currently available to you as you map out your goals.
Now is a great time to put these ‘Four Easy Rules to Setting Your Goals,’ into action. Start to implement them today to springboard yourself into your next promotion, your next position and your next goal!
Keeping abreast of these four easy rules will keep you aligned with your goals and allow you to see and adjust areas that may need tweaking, while keeping you on a much simpler, healthier path to achieving your goals—professionally and personally!
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