Everyone talks about setting goals, but few of us do.
In thinking back over my life, I realise I never heard of setting goals for myself until I went to TAFE. Why? I don't know.
I don't think my parents ever set goals. There was always 'some rainy day', 'what's your dream', and other trite sayings, but I was not taught about goals. I don't think my parents knew the word. I realise whatever goals they may have had may have been pushed to the back of the cupboard as they grappled with sick children, eye surgeries, pregnancies and miscarriages, and life in general.
As a young woman, I certainly didn't have goals. As a mother I tried to give my children what they asked for, (Dancing lessons for my daughter, horse riding for my son), I worked beside my husband in HIS Business. Yes, his. It wasn't my idea or dream but as a good wife I did what I could to help him. My dreams, the few I had, were immaterial. (And I bet there are more than a few heads nodding in agreement.)
So I go to TAFE and hear about setting Short and Long term goals. Yeah, I understood it in a business sense (Wish I knew about those before my husband decided to go into business). Even so, it was still a bit nebulous. And it didn't really click.
I joined a network marketing company and they talked about setting goals and writing them out five times daily, and all that. Still really didn't register.
Last year, I went to a workshop by QWC. Whatever the blurb was Goal setting wasn't mentioned, but that was the workshop was about. I do hate it when something is advertised and then you find it is something totally different. However, I did pick up a hint. It has taken a while, but it has finally worked its way into the right place and things are finally slotting into place.
Yes, Write your SMART goal out, but include a reward for achieving it, AND a penalty for not achieving it, (Of course, six weeks in traction throws a spanner in the works, but the goal can be adjusted.
So my hints for Goal Setting are:
Specific - put a name to your goal. It does not have to be a gigantuous goal like retiring as a trillionaire. It can be as simple as completing a task, or buying a new mixmaster.
Measurable - this is how you know you are on track. For a mixmaster, it can be saving x amount a fortnight until you have the purchase price.
Achievable - Let's face it, buying a little Holden Barina is a lot more achievable than buying a Ferrari. Retiring as a trillionaire is definitely not achievable when you a living on Centrelink, or working at MacDonalds.
Relevant/Realistic - what is relevant to you may not be relevant to someone else. I am not going to buy a super duper TV when I don't watch TV. I much prefer documentaries on You Tube so a bigger computer monitor may definitely be in the picture.
Timeliness - put a date on it. When are you going to do this by?
Reward - so you are walking out of the Good Guys with your new mixmaster, now reward your self for it. Buy a box of chocolates after all it was on Special and you saved your self $20.
Penalty - dire circumstances excepted, what are you going to do if your deadline comes and you haven't achieved your goal?
Now write it out and pin it where you can see it and read it each day, Set it up as a screen saver if you like.
FOR EXAMPLE my first goal for this year went like this:
Goal: Unbroken Vow
By February 28, 2019 (Time), I will have an outline (Achievable; it is an outline and not the novella) for my Unbroken Vow novella documented (Specific). This will include the chapters that go into making up the story (Measurable). If this is not done I will not watch any YouTube documentaries (Penalty) until it is done. If I achieve my goal, I will buy my self a bottle of wine (Reward).
Although not stated, this is relevant to me, and also realistic. I set this goal sometime in January so I had an entire month to do it in.
In thinking back over my life, I realise I never heard of setting goals for myself until I went to TAFE. Why? I don't know.
I don't think my parents ever set goals. There was always 'some rainy day', 'what's your dream', and other trite sayings, but I was not taught about goals. I don't think my parents knew the word. I realise whatever goals they may have had may have been pushed to the back of the cupboard as they grappled with sick children, eye surgeries, pregnancies and miscarriages, and life in general.
As a young woman, I certainly didn't have goals. As a mother I tried to give my children what they asked for, (Dancing lessons for my daughter, horse riding for my son), I worked beside my husband in HIS Business. Yes, his. It wasn't my idea or dream but as a good wife I did what I could to help him. My dreams, the few I had, were immaterial. (And I bet there are more than a few heads nodding in agreement.)
So I go to TAFE and hear about setting Short and Long term goals. Yeah, I understood it in a business sense (Wish I knew about those before my husband decided to go into business). Even so, it was still a bit nebulous. And it didn't really click.
I joined a network marketing company and they talked about setting goals and writing them out five times daily, and all that. Still really didn't register.
Last year, I went to a workshop by QWC. Whatever the blurb was Goal setting wasn't mentioned, but that was the workshop was about. I do hate it when something is advertised and then you find it is something totally different. However, I did pick up a hint. It has taken a while, but it has finally worked its way into the right place and things are finally slotting into place.
Yes, Write your SMART goal out, but include a reward for achieving it, AND a penalty for not achieving it, (Of course, six weeks in traction throws a spanner in the works, but the goal can be adjusted.
So my hints for Goal Setting are:
Specific - put a name to your goal. It does not have to be a gigantuous goal like retiring as a trillionaire. It can be as simple as completing a task, or buying a new mixmaster.
Measurable - this is how you know you are on track. For a mixmaster, it can be saving x amount a fortnight until you have the purchase price.
Achievable - Let's face it, buying a little Holden Barina is a lot more achievable than buying a Ferrari. Retiring as a trillionaire is definitely not achievable when you a living on Centrelink, or working at MacDonalds.
Relevant/Realistic - what is relevant to you may not be relevant to someone else. I am not going to buy a super duper TV when I don't watch TV. I much prefer documentaries on You Tube so a bigger computer monitor may definitely be in the picture.
Timeliness - put a date on it. When are you going to do this by?
Reward - so you are walking out of the Good Guys with your new mixmaster, now reward your self for it. Buy a box of chocolates after all it was on Special and you saved your self $20.
Penalty - dire circumstances excepted, what are you going to do if your deadline comes and you haven't achieved your goal?
Now write it out and pin it where you can see it and read it each day, Set it up as a screen saver if you like.
FOR EXAMPLE my first goal for this year went like this:
Goal: Unbroken Vow
By February 28, 2019 (Time), I will have an outline (Achievable; it is an outline and not the novella) for my Unbroken Vow novella documented (Specific). This will include the chapters that go into making up the story (Measurable). If this is not done I will not watch any YouTube documentaries (Penalty) until it is done. If I achieve my goal, I will buy my self a bottle of wine (Reward).
Although not stated, this is relevant to me, and also realistic. I set this goal sometime in January so I had an entire month to do it in.
RSS Feed
