How to write Goals

Goals 

 

As soon as we can read and write were are expected to make goals for ourselves. One of my main goals as a child was to be the first girl in the NBA. As you may have noticed I did not make it to the NBA nor did I even make it close but at least I set that goal for myself. I did play a couple years of Canadian college basketball which although is not NBA it is still fairly impressive. Writing goals can be challenging especially without help. The first time I sat down to write my goals they were a mess and made no sense whatsoever. After being goal coached at work I have learned to write realistic and attainable goals and this is how I did it.

1. Replace “I want to…” with “I WILL…”

Replacing one word in the process of making goals can make all the difference. I have learned that you are more accountable for your goals if you say you will do it rather than you want to do it.

 

2. Make attainable goals that can be measured and that are specific

An example of this would be, “I will run a half-marathon” instead of “I will run”

 

3. Give yourself a By When

When are you going to complete your goal by? Make it reasonable like by April 2013 I will have completed my undergraduate degree at MRU.

4. Write them in 1 Year, 5 Year and 10 Year Goals

What are your 1 year goals that you will complete by next year. What about your 5 year goals? Then your 10 year?

5.  Keep them to yourself

This was hard for me to understand at first because when you are making goals you want people to know what they are so that they hold you accountable to complete them.  That I have found is untrue. Once I tell someone that, “I will be going to the gym 5 times I week,” I was less likely to go. 

 6. They need to be SMART

The acronym SMART stands for:
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timed. 

I find now that if I don’t make goals for myself I will not complete things. The goals I have made for myself in the last year have all be attained and I contribute that to the success and choices of my goals.  Goals can really take someone from being good and what they do in life to being GREAT!