July 1 was halfway through the year. How are you doing with your 2008 goals? I hope you're still on track, but even if you're not, this is a great time to pick things back up again.

Good luck!

People in the business world have now caught on to what special educators have been doing for years: setting goals with manageable objectives. That's the difference between 'resolutions' that we make year after year and achieving real life change. Here's how:

STEP 1: Pick the three most important changes that you want to make in your life. The small number is important for success, so keep your list small.

STEP 2: Phrase your goal with an action verb, one that you can easily measure. "Get more exercise" won't cut it-you can't tell how much 'more' is. Instead, try "Exercise for 30 minutes, four times each week." Instead of "Be more considerate," try "Send one letter each month to a friend" or "Say only kind things about others who are not present."

STEP 3: Put the goals on paper. Now, break each one into a daily or weekly plan. If it's a goal requiring big changes, set yourself up for a daily evaluation. If it's a small switch, try a weekly or monthly plan. If your goal involves accomplishing a multi-step project, such as writing a novel, make a step-by-step guide that includes exactly what you want to do.

STEP 4: Make a record sheet. You'll want to keep track of your success each day or week. That's the nice part about goals-unlike resolutions, they can handle the occasional set-back. Too many people feel that once the resolution is 'broken,' they have failed and are off the hook until next year. Not so with goals. You can mess up and try again tomorrow or next week. The record sheets will help you measure your progress.

STEP 5: Keep going! At the beginning of each week, set up a record sheet. Celebrate your successes daily. At the end of the week, take stock. How'd you do? What do you want to improve on for next week?

Set your goals and keep on plugging. YOU CAN DO THIS!

1. Spend 60 minutes each week cleaning my office. The chaos is out of hand, and a bit of regular attention will go a long way.

2. Exercise 30 minutes, 4 days per week. Starting small here LOL, but I want to keep it real.

3. Write 500 words per day, 5 days per week. I'm a freelance writer, among other things, and writing is part of my bread and butter.

Of course, there are a few more on the list, but these are the three most important, and I'm working on them as top priority.

Share yours and I'll post them if you wish.

Watch for a progress report at the end of the week.

August 18, 2008 update:

Doing better this summer! I'm writing, exercising, and cleaning with regularity, and I'm seeing success on all fronts. It's a good feeling and very encouraging.

How are you doing?