Do you believe in the power of written goals? I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t. But… let me ask this question – have you written goals for this year or next down?
For years I believed in the power of goals. Occasionally I would write them down. I made New Year’s Resolutions for years, too, and can’t remember one coming to fruition. My problem with my goals? I wasn’t specific with what I wanted to do.
I wanted to lose weight, sure, but I had no plan in place. I wanted to write a book, there wasn’t a plan ready. I wanted to pay off some bills, but again, I had no plan. At this point, they were just dreams, not goals.
If you’ve never learned how to be effective with your goals, don’t worry. Sometimes we just need some instruction to take the next right step.

Here are five steps I follow in pursuing my own goals:

1. Don’t have more goals than you can handle. Some studies show it’s hard to focus on more than 5-7 goals at one time. If you want to keep your focus and make progress in your goals, keep the number to a minimum. Remember, you don’t have to achieve everything in one year.
2. Create “SMART” goals. Here’s the breakdown of the acronym:
   • Specific . You need to identify exactly what it is you want to accomplish.
     • Bad Example: Lose weight
     • Good Example: Lose 25 lbs
   • Measurable. How will you know if your goal is attainable if you don’t measure the results?
     • Bad Example: “Fix more meals at home than I did last year.”
     • Good Example: “Fix 3 meals a week at home.”
   • Actionable. Each goal should start with an action verb (i.e. “start,” “finish,” “lose,” “write,” etc.) versus a to-be verb (i.e. “have,” “be,” etc.)
     • Bad Example: Be more present in your marriage.
     • Good Example: Spend two evenings without technology each week.
   • Realistic. Always have common sense when it comes to setting goals? Yes, you should always stretch yourself but never step outside of the reality of what you can really accomplish. As Michael Hyatt says, “Go right up to the edge of your comfort zone, then step over it.”
     • Bad Example: Run the Boston Marathon
     • Good Example: Train for a 5k
   • Time-bound. Every goal should have a date. Know when you plan to deliver on the goal. By the end of the year? The middle of the year? Someone once said (Dave Ramsey maybe?), “A goal without a date is just a dream.” Every goal should end with a by when date.
     • Bad Example: Lose 25 lbs.
     • Good Example: Lose 25 lbs. by December 31st.
3. Write your goals down. There is power in writing out your goals.  You have a bigger intention to set things in motion when you write them down.
4. Review them on a regular basis.  It is important to frequently review your goals. This, as Michael Hyatt says, “turns them into reality.” When I sit down to review my goals I want to know what the next right step is to moving forward. I try to review mine weekly. Some choose daily, weekly, or even monthly. I also review them on a deeper level each quarter.
5. Review them frequently. While writing your goals down is a powerful exercise in itself, the real juice is in reviewing them on a regular basis. This is what turns them into reality. Every time I review my goals, I ask myself, What’s the next step I need to take to move toward this goal. You can review them daily, weekly, or monthly. (Ireview them weekly.) It’s up to you. The key is to do let them inspire and populate your daily task list.
6. Share them with others, but do so selectively. It’s ok to tell a few close people in your life (mentor, best friend, spouse) your goals, but I wouldn’t share with too many people. The more you tell, the less likely they are to happen. Hint: Don’t share them with the Facebook world.

I believe goal setting sets you up for your best life ever. An article in Psychology Today suggests setting goals is a prerequisite for happiness. I happen to agree.
I encourage you to start thinking about what you want to accomplish in the next year. Block out some time on your calendar and make an appointment to write them down. Remember,  make them “SMART.”
[reminder]Do you have written goals? What has been your experience in setting goals?  [/reminder]