Goal Setting that Works - Part 1

Have you ever set goals you haven't achieved? Would you like to learn goal setting that works?

Setting and achieving goals can be one of the most rewarding things in life. As a proverb states:

"A goal accomplished is sweet to the soul."

So, why does setting goals work for one person, and not another?

How can you consistently achieve your goals?

How do you stay motivated to achieve your goals?

Below discover the answers to these questions. In addition, uncover a simple goal setting workshop.

Goal Setting - Principles for Your Success

Why does goal setting work for some people, and not others?

In most cases, people overlooked one of these key principles:

Principle 1 - Set Achievable Goals

What are achievable goals? Goals that challenge you, but do not overwhelm you.

Let's use getting in shape as an example.

If a person wants to get in shape. an achievable goal would be to exercise 3 times a week for 30 minutes.

In contrast, an unrealistic goal would be to exercise 6 days a week for an hour plus [thinking that exercising more would give them faster results].

By setting goals that you can achieve, you will gain confidence and self-esteem through your successes.

Principle 2 - Creating a Realistic Plan

A realistic plan will consist of daily and weekly actions that comfortably fit into your life. These daily and weekly actions serve as benchmarks that enable you to make progress towards achieving your goal.

How do you know if daily and weekly actions will comfortably fit into your life?

Let's use losing 25Ibs. as an example.

A person can comfortably lose 4-5 pounds a month by exercising consistently and eating sensibly - "moderation in all things."

A realistic plan would be to do cardio (exercise bike, elliptical, treadmill, etc.) for 30 minutes, 3 times a week.

In 5 months they could be 25Ibs. lighter, but more importantly, have a healthier lifestyle and a higher quality of life.

An example of an unrealistic plan, would be to do cardio for an hour, 6 days a week. Plus, be chained to a restrictive diet.

Principle 3 - Staying Motivated

How can you stay motivated to achieve your goals?

Step 1 - Put your goal(s) in writing. Just the act of writing your goals makes them seem more "real" and attainable.

Step 2 - Look at your goal(s) daily. Reading your goal each day gives your mind direction and empowers your subconscious to move you towards your objective.

Step 3 - Confess each day "I can ___(lose weight, get in shape, etc.). Just the simple exercise of saying "I can" puts your mind in motion - thinking of how you can do it.

Step 4 - Benchmark Achievement Rewards

Why wait until you achieve your goal before you reward yourself? Would you rather reward yourself on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis?

Setting up Benchmark Achievement Rewards can energize your plan and keep you motivated to realize your goal.

Let's use the "getting in shape" example from above.

Goal - Lose 25Ibs. and be healthier

Plan - Workout 3 times a week (30 minutes each session) for 5 months.

Benchmarks -

1. Getting all 3 workouts done each week

2. Doing all 3 workouts, all 4 weeks each month

Now select a reward that you will give yourself for achieving each benchmark.

For your smaller (weekly) benchmarks, select a smaller reward - like going to a movie, buying a CD, etc.

For your larger (monthly and yearly) benchmarks, select something more significant - like a nice dinner, etc.