Sitting still when the world around is moving is clearly not a good idea. Keeping up is a choice. Moving ahead is even better. Which is why we need clearly defined, challenging and inspiring goals.
Now that I've made it clear how important goals are, let’s see what it takes to make a smart goal. A goal should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound). You can ask yourself a number of specific questions to further ensure the smartness of your goals: What? When? How? What obstacles might I encounter? What kind of support might I need? Is there any information or skills that I need to accomplish this?
Motivation is crucial. Imagine yourself with your goal achieved. What would it feel like? Think of what were once just goals, and are now part of your everyday life. You've been here before and you've succeeded. Think how much better your life would be when today’s goals will be something you take for granted tomorrow. Don’t be disheartened if things are not going according to plan A. There’s always a plan B, and a C and so on. Obstacles help strengthen your resolve.
Get organized, start working for your goals now. Note which actions you are putting off. Ask yourself why.
But being a high-achiever doesn’t mean you have to do everything at once. You must learn to prioritize. Get used to doing something everyday, but don’t expect to do everything in one day. Temporary achievement is not as important as the fact that you're moving in the right direction. (And you are living your life to the full.) Leisure is also important. You shouldn’t feel guilty about not working, and not even think about work. Then it won’t leisure anymore; you won't be relaxing, you'll just be wasting your time. It is also important to notice that staying happy while you work for your goals is of crucial importance. It’s not just the end result the matters; the process of getting there should be as pleasurable as possible.
When working toward your goals, there are five frequent mistakes you should watch out for:
? Be perfect. (You’re never satisfied with yourself)
? Please others. (Not doing what you want)
? Hurry up. (Being a busy fool, rushing to much and failing to prioritize)
? Try harder. (Persevering to much, not being flexible and innovative)
? Be strong. (Shouldering the burdens without complaint, so that no one will help you)
It might be useful to notice that these five items, when used appropriately and moderately will help you achieve your goals faster, but if you overdo it they will prove a huge hindrance and a source of unhappiness.
Thinking about your goals and putting them on a piece of paper will be a huge boost to your motivation and to your commitment. Put your goals where you can see them every day (on the bathroom mirror). What you consistently focus upon and think about, you move toward.
Write a short paragraph stating why your goal is important. Write a statement saying you’re committed. The words you use in describing your goals influence your chance of success. For example, you're not ‘interested’, you're ‘committed’. Then describe all the skills, abilities and attitudes you need to achieve your goal.
As you approach your goals, make sure to develop new ones so that your growth is constant.
