1. Your most important goals must be yours.
This sounds obvious. However, a common mistake made by thousands of people across the country is to allow their main goals to be designed by someone else. When you let other people or society determine your definition of success, you’re sabotaging you’re future. Decide now to create your definition of success and stop worrying about what the rest of the world things.
2. Your goals must be meaningful.
When you prepare to write down your future goals, ask yourself, “What’s really important to me? What’s the purpose of doing this? What am I prepared to give up to make this happen?
If this doesn’t get your adrenaline pumping, visualize the alternative. If you just keep on doing the same things that you’ve always done, what will your lifestyle be like five years from now, ten years from bow, twenty years from now?
3. Your goals must be specific and measurable.
Here’s where most people lose it. It’s one of the main reasons individuals never achieve what they’re capable of. They never accurately define what they want. Vague generalizations and wishy-washing statements aren’t good enough.
Here are three words that will help you tremendously: Be more specific.
Remember, a goal without a number is just a slogan.
4. Your goals must be flexible.
Why is this important? There are a couple of reason. First you don’t want to design a system that is so rigid and cast in stone that you feel suffocated by it. Here’s the second reason: A flexible plan allows you freedom to change course if a genuine opportunity comes along that is so good you’d be crazy not to pursue.
5. Your goals must be challenging and exciting.
When you set goals that are exciting and challenging you acquire an edge that prevents you from settling into a life of boredom. To do this you must force yourself to jump out of your comfort zone.
6. Your goals must be in alignment with your values.
Synergy and flow are two words that describe any process moving effortlessly forward to completion. When your goals are in sync with your core values, the mechanism for this harmony is set in motion.
7. Your goals must be well balanced.
So when you’re setting goals make sure you include areas that give you time to relax and enjoy the finer things in life. Working yourself to a standstill every week is a surefire way to create burnout and ill health. Life’s too short to miss the good stuff.
8. Your goals must be realistic.
At first this sounds contradictory to the previous comments about thinking big. However, a measure of reality will ensure that you get better results.
So by all means think big and create an exciting picture of the future. Just make sure your plan isn’t far-fetched and that you allow a reasonable amount of time to get there.
9. Your goals must include contribution.
There’s a well-known Bible phrase that says, “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
Contribution can take many forms. You can give your time, your expertise and you can, of course, give financially.
10. Your goals need to be supported.
This last part of your goals checklist is controversial. There are three points of view. Some people advocate telling the whole world about what they are going to do. They rationalize that is makes them more accountable. There’s a lot of pressure when you choose this strategy, and certain individuals thrive on it.
Here’s the second option. Set your own goals, keep them to yourself and get on with the job. Actions speak louder than words, and you’ll surprise a lot of people.
Third, and this may be the wisest strategy, selectively share your dreams with a few people you trust. These are carefully chosen proactive individuals who will support and encourage you when the going gets tough.
