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5 Important Steps in Setting Goals...
1. Write It Down
Dr. Gail Mathews, a psychology professor at Dominican University in California did a study with 267 participants and she found that simply writing down your goal will increase your chances of accomplishing it by 42%. But even better, those who wrote down their goals and were committed and accountable accomplished 76% of their goals.
Be very clear on what you want to accomplish.
You can’t achieve it if you don’t know EXACTLY what you want.
Be very clear on what you want to accomplish.
You can’t achieve it if you don’t know EXACTLY what you want.
2. WHY is this goal important to you?
Your goal has to be important to you to do what it will take to reach it. You have to know WHY it resonates with you. It needs to really mean something to you in order for you to keep working especially when it gets difficult.
Throughout each Pursuit you will be asked these questions to be sure you have set the right goal.
Tip: It’s important you can envision yourself there. For example, can you see yourself walking on the beach or laying by the pool with a drink in your hand after working so hard to earn extra money (Stash Some Cash Pursuit) and save for the trip? Or crossing the finish line after running your first half marathon? (Move It Or Lose It Pursuit) What does it feel like? What are you wearing? Who are you with? These are just examples, you need to be able to see yourself accomplishing whatever your goals are within each Pursuit.
**You will also be asked to write a detailed paragraph about what that day will look like when you reach your goal!
Throughout each Pursuit you will be asked these questions to be sure you have set the right goal.
- Why is pursuing this goal important to you?
- Do I get excited about the process or just the outcome?
- Does my motivation to pursue this goal come from within because it is personally important to me?
- Do I want to accomplish this because it’s important to me or important to others?
- Does this goal align with what really matters to me?
Tip: It’s important you can envision yourself there. For example, can you see yourself walking on the beach or laying by the pool with a drink in your hand after working so hard to earn extra money (Stash Some Cash Pursuit) and save for the trip? Or crossing the finish line after running your first half marathon? (Move It Or Lose It Pursuit) What does it feel like? What are you wearing? Who are you with? These are just examples, you need to be able to see yourself accomplishing whatever your goals are within each Pursuit.
**You will also be asked to write a detailed paragraph about what that day will look like when you reach your goal!
3. Set Proper Expectations
Setting proper expectations will only bring you greater success. If you truly know what you're getting into you are more likely to accomplish it.
You will be asked to rate your goal on a scale of 1-10.
Tip: Do you need to re-access your goal based on your answers to the questions? Is your goal bold but still do-able? Or are you comfortable moving forward? When setting your goals keep this rule in mind…The Goldilocks Rule: Not too hard, not too easy, JUST RIGHT!
You will be asked to rate your goal on a scale of 1-10.
- Be honest with yourself. How difficult will this be?
- How important is it that I accomplish this goal?
- Do I have the resources and the skills to achieve what I am setting out to do?
- How committed and motivated am I?
Tip: Do you need to re-access your goal based on your answers to the questions? Is your goal bold but still do-able? Or are you comfortable moving forward? When setting your goals keep this rule in mind…The Goldilocks Rule: Not too hard, not too easy, JUST RIGHT!
Write Action Commitments
Your goal should be time bound and measurable.
Example of a Move It Or Lose It Pursuit Goal: In 3 months I will run my first 5k race at the Cherry Creek Sneak on April 23rd.
Create action commitments that are also time bound and measurable.
Example: I will join my local running club
Celebrate the wins of completing your smaller action commitments. Set a marker for when you will reward yourself along the way.
Tip: You will see momentum and won’t lose motivation to keep moving forward if you create smaller goals that ultimately get you to your Pursuit goal.
Example of a Move It Or Lose It Pursuit Goal: In 3 months I will run my first 5k race at the Cherry Creek Sneak on April 23rd.
Create action commitments that are also time bound and measurable.
Example: I will join my local running club
- We train every Tuesday, Thursday at 6pm and Saturday mornings at 8am
Celebrate the wins of completing your smaller action commitments. Set a marker for when you will reward yourself along the way.
- Example: I will buy a new pair of running shorts after I am able to run 2 miles without stopping
Tip: You will see momentum and won’t lose motivation to keep moving forward if you create smaller goals that ultimately get you to your Pursuit goal.
5. Share with your Empower Partners
Share your goal with your Empower Partners and set up weekly check-ins to share your progress. When we say it out loud to someone it becomes real. Not a dream or idea any more or something in our head we just continue to think about doing but never do.
When your goals are set and in place, sit down with your EPs and tell them what your goals are and how you plan to achieve them. Tell him or her why it’s important to you and that you will need their support and encouragement but most importantly you need them to hold you accountable to what you say you are going to do. Agree to check in weekly to access your progress and celebrate the wins.
When your goals are set and in place, sit down with your EPs and tell them what your goals are and how you plan to achieve them. Tell him or her why it’s important to you and that you will need their support and encouragement but most importantly you need them to hold you accountable to what you say you are going to do. Agree to check in weekly to access your progress and celebrate the wins.