Everything you want to know about goal setting

What is goal setting
Goal setting is just a process [there's a diagram of this process here].

And it is a very important and personal process that helps you get what you really want out of life.

Throughout ancient and modern history, there is a clear link between people that set goals and people that succeed, because people who set goals have a clear direction towards their chosen destination - people who succeed have goals, and people who have goals.

So, goal setting helps you:

• Work out what you really want - this is personal. You're the only one who knows what you really want, and it's often not what you think.


• Work out a plan of attack to help you achieve what you really want - there is no point having a great goal if you don't know how to get there.


• Give you the motivation to put your plan into action - since your goals will be personal and meaningful to you and based on what you really want, you will be motivated to achieve it. But you also need the right 'can-do' attitude!


• Keep track of where you are going by helping you focus on the 'big picture', to ensure you don't lose your direction - it's easy to get distracted by life's little obstacles, so goal setting will help you focus your time and energy in the right direction.

Goals are well-defined targets that give you direction and motivation - they are your road map to success (that is, what YOU consider to be success), your life's plan, your personal guide to the future. Goals can be focused on:

• Developing a new skill - perhaps you've always wanted to learn a new language, how to dance or play a musical instrument.


• Improving your current skills, whether they be focused on career tasks or life skills such as budgeting.


• Beating old habits like smoking, or developing better ones like exercise and healthy eating habits.


• Producing an outcome, achieving your dream - it could be achieving more harmonious relationships with your family, wealth creation or achieving a career goal.

The key to goal setting success is to keep your goals 'personal' - they are yours and yours alone, although they may include aspects involving family and friends. The most common mistake people make when setting goals is using someone else's goals as your own - don't fall into this trap and become someone you're not!

Why goal setting works
It's like a map - people who know where they are going and how to get there are more likely to get there than people who don't. Goals are like your target destination, and the Action Plans developed as part of the goal setting process are your map.

More specifically, goal setting works because:

• It gives you something to aim for - not only that, it gives you something MEANINGFUL and personal to aim for.


• It helps you focus your time and energy on achieving your goals - instead of your efforts being spent on meaningless activities and tasks, your action plan will give you a clear plan of attack by setting your priorities.


• It gives you motivation - because the goals are MEANINGFUL and personal to you, you'll want to achieve them. You'll look forward to achieving them. This gives you the motivation and energy to keep going towards your end goal.

Of course it will only work for you if you stick to the process and follow it properly.

Some final comments...
Here's a FREE resource that will help you set goals - some of the Tools and techniques in this workbook you'll think are pretty good, and others may not help you so much. The important thing is to pick out the tools and techniques that work for you, including ones you find from other websites, and add these to your goal-setting arsenal.

Some final tips before you go:

• Practice makes perfect - goal setting is a skill, so don't worry if it takes a couple of goals to get the hang of it.


• If at first you don't succeed, try again! (but learn from your mistakes)


• Know yourself. Keep goal setting personal and meaningful to you - the 'Why' is more important than the 'What'


• Put it in writing and don't forget the action plans.


• Don't lose sight of the 'Big-Picture', but don't be afraid to shift the goal posts if you have to.


• Enjoy the journey too!

So, be prepared to reap the benefits of your efforts as you take control of your life and achieve goal setting success!

Someone once told me that you need to ACT to succeed and achieve life satisfaction. And to be motivated to act, you must have goals - as well as the right attitude of course. Remember that YOU are the only person who can take control over your life, so do it NOW!

For more information, check out www.achieve-goal-setting-success.com - this site gives you all the FREE tools and advice you need for achieving your own personal success through goal setting.