Goal Setting As A Means Of Self Improvement

It is often easy to forget exactly how important goal setting is to self improvement. We can have lofty ambitions for changing or improving who we are, but if we don't begin the journey with one step as Confucius once said and then break it down into smaller plans, the journey might begin to seem impossible.

The reason goal setting works as a means of self improvement is two-fold: the first part is obvious it allows us to break a really complex task down into small components that are easier to follow, more detailed, and less overwhelming. The second reason why goal setting is an effective means of self improvement is that it provides us with constant motivation. Whenever we accomplish that goal or objective on the way to the greater goal, we feel as if we have made progress, and it emboldens us to work towards the next goal in line.

Before anyone can begin goal setting for self improvement, he must determine what it is about himself that he would like to change and for what reason. For some people, the ultimate act of self improvement would involve quitting smoking cigarettes. For others, weight is a self improvement issue for which they are most concerned. For others, it might be something different, like being more assertive, more financially secure, or more charitable.

Of course, no one knows our faults better than we do. If we're overweight, we usually know just horrible it makes us feel, even if no one around us even really notices it. If we drink beyond what could be considered careful moderation, we know how it makes us feel and what it has done to our relationships.

Now, once you have identified what it is that you would like to improve about yourself, you can begin the goal setting process. Start with the ultimate goal (i.e., to lose 30 pounds). Next, depending on how large your ultimate goal is and how long it will reasonably take you to accomplish begin goal setting for objectives with timelines. For these smaller objectives, it is a good idea to tie them to actions, rather than results. If, for instance, your goal is to go to the gym three times each week and decrease your fat and carbohydrate intake, you might accomplish all of those goals, but it doesn't mean you will accomplish your short-term intended result, which was to lose ten pounds in 30 days.

If you only lose 10 pounds when your goal was 30 pounds, don't feel like you haven't succeeded. Instead, see if you followed the goals you set out to accomplish for the time period: did you go to the gym three times each week? Did you decrease your fat and carbohydrate intake? If you answered yes to all of these questions and you DID lose at least some weight, then you know your goal setting activities are on the right track, but you just need to intensify the components or increasing the overall timeline.

So, to reiterate, successful goal setting for self improvement consists of three things: creating long term goals, short term objectives, and re-evaluating the plan to make sure it is more realistic.
Read More...

Three Goal Setting Tips That Will Change Your Life

If you use these three goal setting tips you will be on your way to creating the life you desire.

Goal Setting Tip #1: Where are you going?

This goal setting tip can be summed up with the title of a book my father bought me on goal setting quite a few years ago. The title of the book was "If you don't know where you're going you'll probably end up somewhere else". Those words have stuck with me all these years.

When you think about the title and realize that most people have no idea where they're going or what they want. It's really sad. Our minds are goal seeking computers. Just give it a specific goal and it will work to complete it. However, all most people have is vague wandering thoughts of what they want. They've never written their thoughts down in a coherent manner.

If you send a message to a friend you don't write the words down in whatever order and expect them to figure out what it says. Why do we do it to ourselves with what we want out of life?

It's your job to write down on paper how you want to live.

Get out a piece of paper and start with your top 100 goals. Start writing a list of the things you want to accomplish in your life. I mean anything you can imagine, learning a language, taking a trip, meeting a famous or not so famous person. Write on that list everything from the littlest thing like brushing your teeth twice a day to flying in the space shuttle.

Keep making the list until you reach 100, however, don't stop there. Carry the list with you and continue to write down more goals as you think of them. It may take several hours or days to complete this list. However, it's essential that you do it.

Goal Setting Tip #2: Let's get specific

The second goal setting tip, get specific about the things that you want. Take your top 100 list and start with the easiest ones and write a more specific description of what you want. If it's a car, what make and model, what color, leather or cloth seats. If it's a trip, where are you going, how will you get there and what will you see. If it's money, be specific. How much, why do you want it and what will you do with it when you get it. Remember, BE SPECIFIC!

Goal Setting Tip #3: It's in the want to, you'll find the how to.

Now let's discover the key to successful goal setting. Why do you want it? Think about and write on paper why you want each of the dreams on your Top 100 list. Get specific and dig deep to the emotions and feelings that are behind each one. It's in this step you'll find which ones you truly are willing to pay the price to get and which ones are not really important.

"The best way to predict your future is to create it". - Chinese Proverb
Read More...

Are You At Risk Of Wasting Your Life Away Without A Goal?

Boy, I did learn a valuable lesson when I did not put up a plan for my online business. I have no goals, no plan of action. I was wasting 2-3 years of my time! Now I have learnt the importance of goal setting because it sets the path for me.

When it comes to goal setting just how many people out there are really willing to set some goals for themselves to go by and live by anymore? There are probable not as many as you think there would be. This may be because there are more people that are going to live life as it comes to them. There is nothing wrong with that but you may want to still think of setting a couple of goals that could help you out in the future with your job or family situation.

If you think about it when you set goals you are going to be able to better your life in the long run. With setting realistic goals you will soon see that the goals that you did set will be achieved with ease if you just put your mind to it and stick to the goal that you want to achieve. You and your family may even notice a change in how you feel about yourself when you are working towards a goal that you set for yourself. You could be more focused on what you are doing so that you are moving a little closer to reaching your goal in life. That will not only make you feel better but it will also prove to your boss and you family that you are ready to take on anything that they may throw at you.

If you notice that you have a little more self-esteem than what you started out with you are defiantly going to feel better about everything that you are going to be doing in your life. You could even notice that you are going to be offered a job promotion because of the way that you are representing your self in the company that you are working for. You are going to feel better about yourself because of the goal setting you have done in the past. It is going to be all because of you working hard and proving to people that you are going to reach any and all of the goals that you have set.

In conclusion, goal setting is important and you should have a yearly goal setting activity done. Remember that without a goal, there is no plan. When there is no plan, nothing is done.
Read More...

Goal Setting Tools Make Achieving Goals Simple

Many people know about the power of goal setting. Some people even go through the trouble of setting goals. However, for most, part of the reason people don't set goals is they find it to be a tedious exercise. In order to eliminate that, goal setting tools such as software can make goal setting activities much easier. The new age has arrived. Computers and the software that run them are helping humans in ways we never imaged just ten short years ago.

There are a multitude of goal setting tools out on the market. The best ones allow you to not only set goals, but also to help you achieve them. Writing down or typing a list of goals is not enough. They must be reviewed and action must be taken on a regular basis. Goal setting tools will help you do just that. I myself use goal settiong software and it really helps me to stay focused on my goals.

Depending on your preferences, some software is available on the internet and some come as software for your computer. The advantage of the internet-based goal setting software is that you can access it anywhere there's a computer with an internet connection, and you won't need to haul a laptop around to get to your goals.

The disadvantage is that you have to have a computer with an internet connection. Software on your computer is advantageous in that you can use it regardless of whether there is an available internet connection or not. The disadvantage is that it has to be on a laptop if you want to use it away from home. Some software will allow you to do both - it is installed on your computer and will allow you to upload your data files to the internet. Then, if you have the software installed on another computer, such as at work, you can download your data from the internet and pick up where you left off.

The first thing goal setting tools will assist you with is setting a proper goal. Many software applications have a wizard that walks you step-by-step through a properly-defined goal. In fact, it should be one of the first things that come up when you run the software. After inputting your goals, it should allow you to revisit them every time you fire up the software. It will help keep you on track until you achieve your goals.
Read More...