Setting Your Goals for 2009: Step Three

In our goal setting process so far:

1. We listed our accomplishments over the past year.
2. We reviewed this list and noted what strengths and values these accomplishments represent. What lessons did we learn about ourselves and what success patterns did we identify that will carry us forward to continued success?

Now we are going to look forward and set our sights on where we want to be in the future. In Breaking the Rules, Kurt Wright describes a “New Paradigm in Goal Setting”. He recommends that we start with the END in mind. This approach to goal setting with the focus on the long range goals frees you from thinking about limitations and obstacles. (As an example, sometimes when you think about a specific goal you would like to accomplish in the short term, it is easy to start thinking about HOW you are going to do that and then reject it because you don’t know the HOW. This hinders the visioning process.)

Wright recommends that you begin your visioning with ten year goals in these areas:

1. Spiritual Goals
2. Family Goals
3. Career Goals
4. Self-Improvement Goals
5. Health Goals
6. Social Goals
7. Financial Goals: how much money is required to support the above goals?

Start thinking about how you want your life to look in ten years within each of these categories. Jot down some notes in each category. You will have more information in some areas than others. Take your time and write down your thoughts over time. What is your vision for yourself, your business, your relationships? Prioritize the categories. Which ones are most important to you?  Where do you have the most information right now? This is the starting point.

Now, knowing what you do about yourself and your values, what do you think you can accomplish this year toward these goals? Take one category at a time.This becomes your short term action plan for 2009.

1. When do you begin?
2. What results do you expect to see?
3. How do you track my progress?
4. What obstacles might pop up and how do you overcome these?
5. What resources do you need, if any, to accomplish these action items?
6. When do you expect to complete this action item?

Once you have completed your long range goals and short term action plan, Wright recommends that you begin to track your “success factors”.

What three action items can I take on a regular basis that will have the most impact on my success in reaching my goals?

What specific results should I look for to measure my progress?

What can I do to measure specific results? How do I monitor my success?

Tap into the empowering energy of your proven success and know that you have the ability to reach your long term goals when you use your strengths to make it happen.