Setting @ MindSay

Goals must be…..

Specific - Objective or goal can't be diffuse or nebulous but should be precisely defined

Measurable - Define a method of measuring the objective/ goal

Achievable - It also must be achievable

Realistic - It must be realistic objective/ goal, and it must make sense to do it.

Time-related - to be completed within an agreed time scale.

In addition to the SMART Acronym and as is explained in Launching A Leadership Revolution, goals must be…

Written – If a goal is not written it gives someone the room to maneuver if things don’t go as planned. 

Set in Stone – The goal CANNOT change no matter what! 

Provide Motivation – the goal must be strong enough to provide an incentive for the person to meet it. 

In Line With Priorities and Values – The goal should not compromise your one of your core beliefs.

Prominent – There should be a systematic way of regularly reminding yourself of the goals.  One example would be to place a list of your goals on the bathroom mirror.  That way you will be reminded what your goals are every time you go into the bathroom.    

I have been reading Launching the Leadership Revolution by Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward and I am amazed at how great this book is.  It provides a specific step by step guide for becoming a leader.  I wish I had access to book like this when I was a captain on my college basketball team.  We might have won a few more games.  I highly recommend it to anyone that is looking to take charge of their lives.    

One valuable lesson taught in this book and that I would like to share with you is what the authors write about goals and goal setting.  On page 60 the authors write that “Without specific goals at which to direct energies and ambitions, all efforts will be wandering generalities at best.”  I think this is a very profound statement and stresses the importance of goals and goal setting.  If you don’t shoot for something specific then chances are you won’t get as far in life as you would hope. 

Having and setting goals is important in all aspects of your life. Whether that be financially, spiritually, health, etc.  An important acronym that I learned in school regarding goals is SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Tim Related).  The authors take it this idea a few steps further and explain that there are five more things to consider when establishing goals.  They are….

1.)    Goals must be written.

2.)    Goals must be set in stone

3.)    Goals must provide motivation

4.)    Goals must be in line with priorities and values and

5.)    Goals must be prominent

In my next post I’ll do my best to explain each attribute.  But until then you should pick up the book and read this section for yourself.  It starts on page 60.  You can purchase the book from Amazon at the link below. 

http://www.amazon.com/Launching-Leadership-Revolution-Mastering-Influence/dp/0446580716/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195225138&sr=8-1

1. Decide exactly what I want in each area of my life, especially in my financial life.
2. Write down my goals clearly and specifically.
3. Set a deadline for each goal. Set subdeadlines if a goal is big enough. Give myself a target to aim at.
4. Make a list of everything I can think of that I will have to do to achieve each goal.
5. Organize my list into a plan of action. Determine what I am going to do first and what I will do later. Decide what is important and what is less important.
   
6. Take action on my plan immediately.
   
7. Do something everyday that moves me at least one step closer to my most important goal.

1. Take a sheet of paper and write the word "Goals" at the top page with today's date.
2. Make a list of 10 goals that I would like to achieve over the next 12 months.
3. Write goals in the present tense, as though a year has passed and I have already achieved them.
4. Go over the list of 10 goals and ask myself this question, "Which one goal on this list, if I were to achieve it, would have the greatest positive impact on my life?"
5. Make that goal my number one goal for the future.
6. Set a deadline, make a plan, take action on my plan.
7. Do something every day that moves me toward that goal.

1. October - Finish my 1st Semester at the graduate school
2. October - Start my Spanish tutorial
3. October - Start losing a few inches of my waist
4. October - Stand-High
5. November - Business is fully operational. Be my own boss!
   
6. November - Start my French tutorial
7. November - Widen English vocabulary
8. November - start picking gifts for family
9. November - start the 2nd Semester rightly
10. December - unclutter
11. December - new look

Many experts believe that one of the biggest health problems facing the U.S. today is the growing prevalence of obesity. Some 65% of adult Americans are overweight, and nearly a third are medically obese. By contrast, obesity in other industrial nations is far lower, averaging 10% to 12% in Continental Europe.