-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUPERCHARGE YOUR GOALS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Goals. Most people have a love-hate relationship with
goals. They love them because they are such a great idea and a wonderful way
to motivate us to achieve, as well as evaluate our progress, but hate them
because for many, they more often than not go unattained and simply frustrate
them. This isn't what goals should do!
So here are some simple ways to set goals so that we achieve them! After all,
what good is a goal if it isn't something you achieve? Here are some simple
steps you can take to make sure that you see change in your life this year.
Narrow your focus. That's right, start small. Pick two or three areas tops,
that you want to work on. Too many people say to themselves, "I want to
do this, and this, and this, and this..." and they end up doing nothing!
Most of what you do throughout your day can be done without a lot of mental or
emotional exertion, but change isn't one of them. So focus down to a couple.
This way you can get some victory in these areas. Here are some areas to think
about: Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Spiritual, Financial, and
Relational. What areas need some work? Now, what one thing should be the first
item on the change list? The others will come later, but for now, you should
focus on two or three total.
Keep the long-term in mind, but set your sights on achieving your goals in the
short-term. Do you want to lose 75 pounds? Good. Long-term you will. But for
now, think short-term. Don't think about losing 75 pound by summer 2002. Think
about losing 5 pounds by November 1st. This does two things. First, It makes
it urgent. Instead of blowing it and saying, "Oh well, I still have 17
months to lose the 75 pounds" (because eventually that becomes 2 months
to lose 75 pounds) your goal is only a few weeks out. This is better in terms
of reaching your goal. Secondly, as you reach these shorter goals, it gives
you regular victories instead of regular progress. Progress feels good, but
achieving a goal is awesome!
Reward yourself when you achieve the goal. When you lose the 5 pounds by
November 1st, go get yourself a grande whole-milk mocha. But just one! Then
get back to your goal for December 1st. This puts a little fun back into the
process of self-control and self-discipline. You will look forward to the
reward and when the going gets tough, you will say, "two more weeks, two
more pounds, then..."
That's it. I truly believe that it can be that simple for you.
Bonus ideas:
1. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Instead of saying, "I am going
to quit my three pack a day habit cold turkey," say "I am going to
drop to a pack and a half a day." You can always make new resolutions
when you have achieved the first ones. Give yourself small victories a little
at a time. Instead of saying "I am going to lose 75 pounds," say
"I am going to lose 20 pounds."
2. Be specific in your timeline. Don't just say, "I am going to lose 20
pounds." Say, "I am going to lose 20 pounds by April 1st." This
way, when you start to be tempted in the ice cream aisle in the middle of
November, you can say, "Nope, only 10 more pounds to go in a month and a
half and I am not going to blow it."
3. Post your resolutions where you will see them every day. This will keep the
resolution in the front of your mind at all times. Instead of forgetting that
you are trying to lose weight and ordering a big, thick porterhouse, you will
have been reminded earlier that day that you need to go with something a
little more on the lighter side. It will help your will beat your desire.
4. Find an encouraging person, who you respect, to keep you accountable. This
person should ask you, at an interval established by the both of you, how it
is going. They must be the encouraging type, though. If you are blowing it,
they can say, "Well, that's okay, get back to it tomorrow." If you
are doing well, they can say, "Awesome job. I'll talk to you next
week." You will look forward to their weekly encouragement.
5. Find a partner. That's right, someone who is trying to accomplish the same
thing (or something different if need be). Just make sure that they really
want to change, or they will end up just bellyaching about how hard it is and
you will both fall into the abyss.
6. Write down a list of all of the benefits that will come if you accomplish
this. If it is losing weight it might be something like this: Feel better,
better self-esteem, longer life, clothes are more comfortable, no more time
spent sewing on popped buttons, wife says you look 22 again, etc. If it is
quitting smoking, it may look like this: Better breath, no more brown fingers,
no more wrinkles on my face, no more red eyes, no more smelly clothes, longer
life, wife don't make me spend two hours a day on the back porch, etc. This
will help you see what you will get from accomplishing your resolution.
7. Plan a reward if you accomplish your resolution. It can be anything from
small to large. If you drop the twenty pounds, go out for dinner and dessert.
Then get back to lose the next 20. If it is quitting smoking, go on a
mini-vacation. Whatever you do, reward yourself. Or let a spouse or a friend
pick the reward. Then splurge and enjoy!
Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made
for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their
potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve
their dreams.
