| To establish a clear, central purpose or goal in life | | | | Once you have defined your SMART Goals you |
| is the starting point of all success. | | | | will need to define an action plan. |
| Goals, I know that word can be very scary, but it | | | | An Action Plan is an essential element of setting |
| doesn't have to be, especially if you know what | | | | goals. The details that you specify in your Action |
| to do. What is a goal? A goal is something | | | | Plan enable you to see what you need to do and |
| specific, something you want or need to | | | | avoid, in achieving your goals. As you develop |
| accomplish in a specific period of time. To | | | | your Action Plan, be sure to keep the following in |
| establish a clear, central purpose or goal in life is | | | | mind: |
| the starting point of all success. | | | | - Write SMART Goals |
| There was a study several years ago at a | | | | - Develop your goals with a positive attitude |
| business school and the results of the graduates | | | | - Expand your knowledge |
| who had been out of school for at least ten | | | | - Shape your Action Plan and commit to it |
| years illustrates the power of goals. Upon | | | | - Invest in developing effective skills and habits |
| graduation the graduates were surveyed and the | | | | - Gain results by building relationships |
| following was found: | | | | Here is a great way to write your goals. Be sure |
| - did not have goals | | | | to use an outline for each goal you want to set. |
| - 4% had vague goals | | | | These steps will help you to define your wants. |
| - 3% had clearly articulated written goals | | | | Step 1. List one of the goals you would like to |
| When their levels of accomplishments were | | | | achieve be specific. |
| compared ten years later, those with some sense | | | | Step 2. List 3 to 5 reasons to achieve this goal. In |
| of their goal earned three times more than those | | | | other words, why is it important that YOU |
| with no goals. The 3% with clearly articulated | | | | achieve this goal. |
| written goals earned ten times more than those | | | | Step 3. List the steps you need to take to |
| without goals. | | | | achieve this goal. Break the process down into |
| You have goals; you may just not realize it now. I | | | | reasonable steps toward achieving your goal. |
| want to help you realize, develop and achieve | | | | Let me show you a sample goal so you can see |
| your goals. Your goals are your promises to YOU! | | | | what is involved in each of the above steps. |
| Goal setting is just like creating a blueprint. Lets | | | | Step 1. The Goal: You want a new red convertible |
| get started creating your blueprint! | | | | 2005 Corvette with black leather seats, |
| Everyone needs to learn how to set effective, | | | | automatic, with a 5 disc CD player. |
| realistic and SMART goals. Start the process by | | | | - You would like to have this new car by |
| first creating a list of dreams. Make sure you list | | | | December 31, 2005. |
| places you would like to visit, things you would like | | | | - The cost will be approximately $55,000. |
| to experiences, items you would like to have, skills | | | | (You can go into more or less detail about the car |
| you would like to acquire and the amount of | | | | and all the extras you would like to have, it's up |
| money you would like to make. Maybe you want | | | | to you.) |
| to travel to Hawaii or Europe or you want a new | | | | Step 2. What's in it for me (YOU) |
| house or car. You decide what you want and | | | | |
| write it down on paper. You will need this list to | | | | 1. I will get the satisfactions of driving the car of |
| develop SMART Goals. | | | | my dreams. |
| There is no limit to the number of goals that you | | | | 2. I will feel important. |
| set. You need to make sure your list includes | | | | 3. I will be the first in my family to ever own such |
| goals that you are committed to attaining. There | | | | a car. |
| are a few steps to take to set effective goals | | | | 4. I will have achieved one of my goals. |
| and we will cover those here: | | | | Step 3. Steps to achieve your goal. You will need |
| S=Specific | | | | to increase yearly sales by $55,000 and introduce |
| Your goals must be clearly defined and written. | | | | 204 people to the business opportunity. |
| M=Measurable | | | | |
| The goal must be able to be measured over time. | | | | 1. I need to increase monthly sales approximately |
| You must be able to clearly define what success | | | | $4,500 and increase my new business partners |
| on a goal will look like. | | | | by 17. |
| A=Actionable | | | | 2. I need to increase weekly sales approximately |
| There must be specific action steps you can take | | | | $1,125 and bring in 4/5 new business partners. |
| toward realization of the goal. | | | | 3. I need to increase daily sales approximately |
| R=Realistic | | | | $150 and bring in no less than 1 new business |
| Your goal must be one that is realistically based | | | | partner per day. |
| on your current level of skills, environment, and | | | | You may want to go into greater detail than I did |
| the time allotted. | | | | with this example. I just wanted to share with |
| T=Time Based | | | | you how this works. Your goals may not include a |
| Your goal needs to have a deadline that you are | | | | car, it could be going back to school to get a |
| committed to. | | | | degree, buying a new home or re-decorating your |
| Look over each goal you have on your list and | | | | current home. Whatever your goals, these steps |
| ask yourself, "is this a SMART goal? Why or why | | | | will help you to define them. |
| not? Here are a couple of questions to ask | | | | It is also important to share your newly defined |
| yourself about each goal you want to set:o Do I | | | | goals with your family, friends and business |
| need help with my goal?o What may hinder the | | | | associates. |
| process of my goals?o Do I need more education | | | | A few reasons why people fail at achieving their |
| to achieve more? | | | | goals are: |
| This is another major step in goal setting because | | | | |
| you may see and feel necessary changes in your | | | | 1. People take action without any real plan. |
| plan. | | | | 2. People give themselves an unrealistic time |
| After you have written your "SMART Goals" you | | | | frame for achieving a goal |
| need to prioritize your long-term and short-term | | | | 3. Their reason for the goal is unclear, they have |
| goals. This is a very important step in the | | | | not properly defined the goal |
| goal-setting process because it enables you to | | | | 4. Lack of focus. Success demands focus. |
| step back and examine which goals are most | | | | 5. Trying to do it alone, nobody goes through life |
| important to you. This does not mean that you | | | | alone and you should not try to achieve your |
| should ignore the goals farther down on your list, | | | | goals alone. Ask for help. |
| but it does help you to identify where and how to | | | | 6. FEAR OF FAILURE!!!! This is the biggie out of all |
| focus your efforts now. | | | | the above. Fear resides where knowledge does |
| Your goals will change over time, you will achieve | | | | not exist; the more knowledge you have about |
| some goals, and others may lose their importance | | | | anything the less intimidated you will feel. Replace |
| as circumstances in your life change. As this | | | | your fear with knowledge. |
| happens you need to re-examine and re-prioritize | | | | You now have some of the tools to achieve your |
| your goals. | | | | goals. MAKE THIS YOUR BEST YEAR EVER! |