| With focus, you create a powerful laser-like ability to | | | | governs them. For purposes here, just commit to |
| accomplish things. However, it is extremely important | | | | writing goals down. They do not have to be recorded |
| that you focus on your goal, rather than just focus on | | | | in an expensive journal or on complicated flow charts. |
| working hard. Many people, some leaders included, | | | | In fact, often keeping it simple is best. Just be sure they |
| believe working hard is all there is to it. Unfortunately, a | | | | are challenging but reachable, quantifiable, and have |
| person can work hard with efforts focuses in the | | | | specific timeliness and committed to paper. If you do |
| wrong direction and come up short. Hard work does | | | | this, you will be way ahead of most people, and if you |
| not guarantee success. It is a component, but you | | | | do this for your business, it will have greater chances |
| must focus your hard work and efforts toward the | | | | of succeeding to great levels. Now that you have |
| result you want to achieve. With focused effort, you | | | | committed to committing your goals to paper, let us |
| can achieve much more with greater ease. However, | | | | look at how we can make them SMART. |
| before you can focus, you must know one thing: what | | | | Many books, articles, and courses teach SMART |
| your goal is. | | | | goals. It is a good acronym to use as you begin your |
| You Must Know Where You Are Going | | | | goal setting. SMART goals are simply: |
| When people discuss leaders as having vision, they | | | | Specific |
| are simply saying the leader knows what outcome | | | | Vague generalities do little to inspire us. Our minds |
| she desires. Vision is nothing more than a clear picture | | | | need specific targets to work toward. You must state |
| of what you see for yourself, your organization, or the | | | | exactly what you wish to accomplish. Provide enough |
| world in the future. A powerful, compelling vision can | | | | detail to eliminate indecision when determining exactly |
| be exciting and energetic. But most important, a clear | | | | what you should be doing. To set specific goals, you |
| vision provides direction and meaning. Without vision, | | | | should answer the six "W" questions: who, what, |
| without goals to work toward, a leader and the | | | | where, when, which, and why. |
| organization he leads cannot concentrate energy | | | | Measurable |
| toward the desired results. Without goals, how can | | | | How will you know if your goal has been attained or |
| priorities be set? When a leader has a clear a vision | | | | not? A measurable goal has an outcome that can be |
| and goals, the chances of achieving them are much | | | | assessed. It should have measurable progress, and |
| greater. Because goals are so important, and focus | | | | you should establish concrete criteria for measuring |
| without them lacks the ability to achieve the greatest | | | | such progress. Measuring helps you stay on track, |
| successes, the remainder of this article will be a short | | | | reach your target dates, and experience the |
| primer on setting and achieving goals. | | | | exhilaration of achievement when the goal is |
| Setting and Achieving Goals | | | | accomplished. |
| There are countless resources on goal setting. Many | | | | Attainable |
| of these are very good, and people who follow them | | | | When you identify and set specific goals that are |
| end up achieving greater results and live more | | | | important to you, you begin to figure out ways to attain |
| successfully. Unfortunately, not that many people | | | | them. You go the extra mile to develop attitudes, |
| actually design their own lives. Studies show that the | | | | abilities and skills to reach each goal you set. You can |
| majority of people do not formally set and achieve | | | | attain just about any goal you set, if you really want it, |
| goals. Many people spend more timing planning a | | | | and are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to |
| vacation each year than they do on what important | | | | achieve it. |
| things they will accomplish or achieve. | | | | Realistic |
| Goals should be set in all areas of your life. You must | | | | Goals should represent things you are willing and able |
| have balance. Areas to consider setting goals in | | | | to work toward. It can be set high, and still be realistic. |
| include: Mental Goals, such as learning more about a | | | | Only you can determine what is too high. Your belief |
| topic and improving yourself; Physical Goals, such as | | | | and commitment that the goal can be accomplished |
| engaging in an exercise program and eating healthy; | | | | represent if it is realistic or not. This can not be |
| Family Goals, such as spending time with your wife or | | | | emphasized enough, it is your call whether a goal is |
| husband, kids, and extended family; Social Goals, such | | | | realistic or not. What is realistic to one person may not |
| as going to community events, joining a local service | | | | be to someone else. Your goals must be within the |
| group, or socializing with people in your industry to | | | | realm of your believability. |
| share ideas; Spiritual Goals, such as attending a | | | | Timely |
| religious service, reading from the great religion's texts, | | | | A goal must have a time frame. We are driven by |
| or just being more helpful to people; Career Goals, | | | | deadlines, and establishing them for our goals is |
| such as doing what is needed for a promotion or | | | | powerfully motivation. It must not be set too far into |
| leading your company to success; and Financial Goals, | | | | the future, or it is too easily put off. At the same time, it |
| such as owning your own home, getting out of debt, | | | | should not be set too close, making it unrealistic and |
| increasing your net worth to gain financial | | | | discouraging. If you do not set a time, goals tend not to |
| independence. | | | | happen. It is too easy to think that you can start |
| After you have determined what areas you will set | | | | anytime, and you never do. Without a time frame, |
| goals in, you must commit to writing them down. | | | | there is no urgency to start taking action toward your |
| Studies show that committing goals to paper increases | | | | goals, toward your dreams, toward your success. |
| the probability of achieving them. In a "Forbes" | | | | Setting goals is powerful. Use the SMART acronym to |
| interview, Lee Iacocca said, "writing something down is | | | | help set goals you will achieve. Once set, remember |
| the first step toward making it happen." There are | | | | that you must focus on your goal and remain focused |
| many ways to write your goals down. Different books | | | | until you are successful. Getting sidetracked and |
| and courses have a variety of forms to use to record | | | | drifting off in different directions will stand in the way of |
| goals, sub-goals and the mission statement that | | | | true success. |