Over the years, I’ve come across so many people that set the wrong goals.  Either the goals aren’t motivating, they don’t fit with the person’s priorities, or the person is unfulfilled once the goals are achieved because his or her life is out of balance.  The process of goal setting is incredibly powerful.  Without goals, it’s nearly impossible to create the life you want…that is unless you have extremely good luck.  So, it’s super important that you understand how to set goals that will enable you to create the life you want.

 

But how many of us are actually formally taught a system of goal setting and mastery?  This certainly isn’t a subject covered in most schools.  I’ve spent many years reading about goal setting, attending seminars on this subject, studying people that achieve their goals, and setting and achieving many goals myself.  I want to share with you some guidelines for goal setting that will help you stay motivated, create balance in your life, and leave you feeling fulfilled once you reach them.

 

8 Goal Setting Guidelines

1. Your goals should mesh with your priorities.  Take some time to decide on your priorities in life.  What’s most important to you?  What do you refuse to compromise?  Now, ask yourself if your goals align with your priorities…ALL of them.  Each and every goal you set should align with your top priority.  If for some reason one of your goals compromises your priorities, think outside the box and find a creative way to achieve your goal while honoring what’s important to you.

 

2. Your goals should be personal and professional.  What do you want to achieve in any area of your life?  The sky’s the limit! Consider the following areas: relationships, finances, health, faith, hobbies, habits, leisure pursuits, and anything else that comes to mind.

 

3.  Your goals should take you out of your comfort zone.  Why put goals on your list that you already know are likely to happen?  Where’s the excitement in that?  Challenge yourself!  While your goals should be within the realm of possibilities, it should be an uncomfortable stretch to get there.

 

4. If you get stuck, complete this sentence… “Wouldn’t it be crazy cool if…?”  While making your list of 10 goals for the year, if you run out of ideas and need some inspiration, resort to this question.  Again, the sky’s the limit!

 

5. Write your goals in the present tense.  Write your goals in present tense as if they’ve already happened.  For example, one of mine last year was “I am a New York Times Best Selling Author.”

 

6. Include goals that push you to make a personal change.  Address personal improvement and include goals that will help you become a better you.

 

7. Include at least one financial goal.  Money gets a bad rap. But the truth of the matter is, money enables us to do the things we want to do in life and allows us to help other people.  Most everything you want in life, from having more time off to helping other people, all require money.  On top of this, financial issues are one of the top causes of personal stress.  Including at least one financial goal on your list of 10 will most likely help you accomplish most of your other goals.

 

8. List one health goal with a very specific measure.  This goal should be something that any outside person can look at and determine whether or not you succeeded.  So for example, instead of “Feel better,” a goal with measure would be “I have lost over 40 pounds and have cut my body fat in half.”