Mastering the Art of Goal Setting - Part 2

Identifying What Matters Most

What truly matters to you at this point in your life? What do you value the most? These could be people, things, or other aspects such as your career or finances.

Areas of Goals

Goals can be categorized into short-term (six months), medium-term (one to two years), and long-term (five years and beyond). They can also be divided into different components such as:

• Spiritual
• Mental
• Physical
• Financial
• Family
• Community/School

Remember, focusing too much on one goal won't guarantee success. Just like a car that runs smoothly when all tires are inflated correctly, your life should also be balanced in all areas. If one aspect is out of balance, it can affect everything else.

Tips on Achieving Goals

• Allow Yourself to Dream and Desire: Set aside logic and reason as much as you can. Without a goal, you have nothing to aim for and no plan of action. Use your imagination in setting targets.
• Create a Master Dream List: Write down everything you want and need. These don't have to be high ideals, but genuine wants.
• Aim High: Stretch yourself to your limit and you will achieve more than you believed possible. The higher the level of conscious goals, the greater their motivating power.
• Prioritize Your Goals: Start with easy goals to get into the habit of achieving. These goals must be compatible with your inner values, making them more likely to be achieved.
• Set a Time Limit for Achieving Them: Set a deadline, but it doesn't have to be rigid. Set short-term goals and also long-range goals which will require vision, courage, and foresight.
• Be Inspired: Regularly receive inspiration and enthusiasm through reading and other motivational material. Frequent contact with people who inspire and enthuse you is also helpful.
• Focus on Your Goal: Don't be discouraged if you take a step backward before leaping forward. Act on the future and see yourself as one having many choices to take any path you choose to move your life forward.

Remember, goals should be written down and regularly reviewed. This helps focus your thoughts and commitment in seeing them through.

The Secret to Visualizing Your Goals

Visualizing your goals as already being achieved is a powerful technique used by top performers to achieve results. Successful people make things happen and use the process of goal setting.

Goals - The Five Key Questions

• Which?: What do you really want? Break down into needs and wants. Set tangible and intangible goals.
• Why?: If it's not planned, it doesn't happen.
• When?: Goals must have a time frame. Long-range goals should have checkpoints and a completion date.
• Who?: Goals involve others, whether it's in business or personal life.
• How?: What is the blueprint? You can't build without plans.

Goal Design

• Itemize: List possible goals without analyzing at this stage.
• Categorize: Divide goals into personal, family, and work categories.
• Prioritize: Relate to what you value and rank.
• Crystallize: Make specific and clear, use the KISS principle ("keep it simple, stupid").

Remember, goals are dreams which come true. The essence of goal setting is commitment, discipline, and determination.

Conclusion

There is nothing more exciting and inspirational than new goals. Our attitude towards ourselves determines our ability to set and achieve goals. With positive attitudes and a good self-image, your enthusiasm for challenges will be heightened, resulting in greater job satisfaction and a life filled with meaning and purpose.

Remember, negative attitudes in other people can easily block your goals. Raise your sights high and dare to be different. Follow your own heart in setting your goals.

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." - Johan Wolfgang Von Goethe (German philosopher)