Goal Setting Part 1 of 6

Goal Setting

This is the first post on a six-part series on Goal Setting. We've heard about it all our lives, and there are literally thousands of quotes, books, and articles about setting goals; how the process contributes to your success. But so few people actually set goals.

But it's a fact: Serious Goal Setting will greatly contribute to your success; goal setters are huge winners. There is an often-quoted study done at Yale University that placed goal setters firmly in the successful category when compared to non-goal-setters. The 3% of the participants who had actually written down their goals with a plan, followed that plan and took consistent action were happier, more confident and better adjusted. They also earned more money over that 20-year period than the 97% of the other participants.

So why not be among the 3% who will set goals and live by them? You have everything to gain; and nothing to lose.

I will create a new page on this blog devoted to goal setting for a full list of 70+ tips on goal setting soon. In the meantime here is a few points to help you get started on your goal setting:

Goal Setting Tips

These basic Goal Setting Tips are organized in a sequence that will support you from thinking about your goals to actually achieving them. And remember; only about 3% of us will actually follow through with setting our goals for 2010 and beyond, so make a decision to be numbered among the few; it works!

1. Use a journal to keep track of your goals journey where you may keep daily or weekly records of your progress including affirmations, successes, appreciations for your hard work, rewards, resistances, obstacles, etc. Use your goals journal to write goals initially and to rewrite them over time. Use it to break your goals into steps. Review your progress regularly and jot a few notes.

2. Get yourself into a positive state before writing your goals: It's really important to get yourself into an inspired, positive and relaxed state before writing goals.

3. Start brainstorming: After getting into a good mental and emotional state, start your brainstorming. Write all possible goals quickly without any editing or criticism. You can review and prioritize later; right now you want to be as creative and grand in your vision as you can be.

Tomorrow: Part TWO of a series on Goal Setting. In the meantime check out these books on goal setting: