Kick your Goals into High Gear

by Carol Giannantonio

When it comes to goals, you can accelerate your progress and kick them up a notch to high gear by thinking about the 4 most important elements of Goal Setting:

Importance

Ability to Achieve

Goal Statements

Strategy

If you haven't achieved something that you want or you feel like you are not making significant progress toward one of your goals, focus on this short, simple and basic list. Use it as a checklist for determining what's missing in the quest for your goal.

ONE: How important is your goal?

Is it a "should" or a "must" in terms of whether or not you want to make it real? Goals that are a must in your minds eye say they are worthy of effort. On a scale from 1-10 how important is it to you? If it's an 8-10 then you mean business...so get going.

Life has a way of helping those individuals with goals that "must" be accomplished. Those individuals that think they "should" achieve a certain goal usually wind up frustrated and disillusioned. Those individuals with a goal that's a "must" will not settle for anything less than accomplishing the objective.

TWO: Do you believe you can achieve your goal?

Do you want to become financially independent but believe deep down that it really isn't possible for you? If your beliefs don't support your goal, you know exactly where the challenge lies.
Examine your daily thoughts and you'll quickly discover what you really believe about the goal. Is it possible for you? Only you can decide! You can achieve what you believe.

THREE: Is your goal written out correctly and is it a SMART Goal?

Success starts with writing out your goals on paper as SMART GOALS.

SMART GOALS are: specific, meaningful, attainable, realistic, time based.

SMART goals also have a vision. Ask yourself, what will it look and feel like when you reach the goal. Imagine yourself as already accomplishing your goals.

Now keep that vision clear in the forefront of your mind. Reflect on it daily. Have a picture; quote or image in eyes reach at all times to remind you of your goal. Let your goal surround you.

Live it. Let it become a part of your life and your world.

According to the SMART System developed by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson, the most effective, useful goals meet five key criteria:

S - Specific, significant, stretching

M - Measurable, meaningful, motivational

A - Agreed upon, attainable, achievable, acceptable, action-oriented

R - Realistic, relevant, reasonable, rewarding, results-oriented

T - time-based, timely, tangible, trackable

Example:

On May 15, I am proudly stepping on the scaling weighing 150 lbs.

Write out each of your goals using the formula above and you will be well on your way to success.

FOUR: What's your approach?

What is your approach and is your approach working? Does your goal have a set of strategies or plans for achieving it? Does each of your strategies have meaningful action steps? Are you staying in constant action to meet your goal?

If you've tried and failed numerous times with a specific strategy, it may be time to employ a new strategy. Often, the only thing holding us back is our unwillingness to be flexible in our approach and to stay in action.

You can reach any goal if you remain committed to reaching it! That means having a plan, staying in action and keeping the momentum.

This is the most common problem folks have in achieving goals. They don't know where or how to begin and they fall off track or simply give up. Sound familiar, if so, consider hiring a life coach.

A good coach will guide you to stay on track, hold you accountable, and keep your momentum going. The right coach is your biggest fan and gets you playing at the top of your game.

Next time you find yourself feeling stuck or falling short of reaching a goal, refer back to this list.

Check yourself against each of these steps. You will quickly discover what's standing in your way. Need help; drop me a note and we can get there together.


About Carol Giannantonio
For over 10 years Carol Giannantonio has helped individuals positively transform their lives and careers through her unique coaching and goals setting process. Carol's knowledge of and passion for coaching combined with her compassion and wisdom provide her clients with an enriching coaching experience. Her clients quickly see an improvement in their performance, experience positive changes in their overall quality of life and learn new and improved ways of thinking that allow them to reach their full potential. Carol is an Educator, Life, Business and Career Coach who specializes in helping people clarify what's really important to them, break through their limitations, and tap into their energy to have a life they want and love. Her guiding principle is, "Go The Distance to Reach Your Dreams. Please visit her Web site www.carolgcoach.com and sign up for a free consultation, her newsletter, daily quotes and much more. Contact her at carolgcoach@aol.com for a truly unique coaching experience.


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