Write it down. The process of communicating a goal to paper has the tremendous effect of creating the vision of the journey to reach your goal. It’s essentially the first step to figuring out what you want and a perfect place to start brainstorming in case you haven’t quite developed your goal yet. Move backwards from your ideal life in the future when the goal has been achieved. Think of what it takes to get to where you are going and document that. Draw your goal from those steps, and if it helps break them out into a timeline.
Tell Someone. Sharing your goals will give you greater accountability to the path of achievement! Whether it’s a friend, co-worker or family member people who care about you are more likely to check in with you about your said goal and offer suggestions or advice if you ever get stuck.
Keep your resolutions S.M.A.R.T. In a paper by George T. Doran the criteria by which to manage goals can be broken down by creating goals that can follow these objectives:
Specific– target a specific area for improvement.
Measurable– quantify or at least suggest an indicator of progress.
Assignable– specify who will do it.
Realistic– state what results can realistically be achieved, given available resources.
Time-related– specify when the result(s) can be achieved.
Make it fun! Celebrate your achievements along the way. If the goal is running your fastest half marathon time, reward yourself with a massage if you hit your goal of running 5 days that week. Remember it’s not all about the big goal itself but the journey and everyday living that you need to mold to get to that destination of achievement. Use the steps above to keep you on the RISE!
