Quick tips on goal setting

Tips for Setting Goals
Developed by the
Office of Student Retention
Wallace State Community College—Hanceville
Seven Steps to Goal Setting
There is a very simple process in seven steps that you
can go through to set any goal whether personal or
professional. To be effective, the goal you choose must
include all seven of the following steps:
• Identify your goal by writing it down
• Set a deadline for the achievement. Put a
date on it.
• List the obstacles to overcome in accomplishing
your goal.
• Identify the people and groups you need to
work with to reach your goal.
• List the skills and knowledge required to
reach your goal. What do you need to know?
• Develop a plan of action to reach your goal.
• Write down the benefits of achieving your
goal. ("What is in it for me?")
On a periodic basis, it is important to re-evaluate your
goals to make certain that they are in alignment with
what you truly value and want out of life. Remember,
goal-setting is a life-long process. Once you have completed
one goal, be sure to replace it with something
else. This way you will always reap the benefits that
goal-setting provides.
First, our motivation can only come from inside
ourselves. Why? Because motivation is an internal
force that drives individuals to act in order to achieve a
specific goal. Two people might read the same book, or
listen to the same inspirational speaker but respond
differently. One person might feel motivated to act, the
other might not.
Second, you must have a big enough 'reason why' in
order to feel motivated. Your reason why must provide
a 'meaningful motive'. It can be useful to look for a reason
that's bigger than yourself. For example, you may
want to earn enough money to take care of your family
- not just yourself. So David McNally's advice is to dig
deep into the truth of what you want. This is why it's so
important to choose goals to which you feel 100% committed.
Third, you need to believe that your goal is attainable.
Either that or your fear must be so great that you
will try anyway. Without this fear or belief self motivation
is difficult to maintain. Given that you probably
don't want to live with feelings of dread, let's take a
look at belief. You can start by looking for evidence
within yourself that you can achieve your goal. You can
then back this up by seeking support, mentors and rolemodels,
either directly or indirectly through books and
audios.
Fourth, your environment is an influence on motivation.
That's a key reason why you need to choose
your friends and colleagues carefully. This doesn't have
to mean saying goodbye to the people you know now.
But consider whether it would be helpful to make
new contacts. Again, books and audios can be very
supportive when you are looking to new ways of thinking.
Finally, there is a difference between motivation and
inspiration. Inspiration is getting in touch with our human
spirit, whereas motivation is the driving force to
move towards our goal. Inspiration can certainly help
self motivation - and we can look outside ourselves for
help with inspiration. So speakers like David McNally
might help us feel inspired. It is then up to us whether
to decide to be motivated to take action to achieve our
goals.
Self Motivation and
Goal Setting
Without self motivation you will not achieve your goals.
As the saying goes, "if it's to be it's down to me".
Motivational speaker David McNally sets out a number
of 'rules' for motivation.