If you decide to go on a holiday (which is a goal in itself), you have likely planned where you are going and how you are going to get there, before you start your holiday. Why do we not apply the same ideas to the goals that we set in our own lives?
All of us have had goals from time to time. Whether they be goals to lose weight, or save for your first home, or career goals associated with earning a higher salary.
However, if you are like most goal setters, you are not a systematic goal setter. In fact, if you were to ask a hundred people whether they have any long range goals, probably only 2 percent of people would have written long range goals. Why don’t the other 98 people have long-range goals?
Some common reasons include: “I don’t have time to set goals”, “I am not a goal-orientated person”, “I don’t like setting goals”.
However, systematic goal setting has a number of important benefits.
Goals provide a snowball effect of success
As you achieve your short-term goals, you start to see your life transform into a record of success. That success will continue as you achieve more successes. This is the beginning of the snowball effect in action.
Goals give you a sense of direction.
I am always reminded of the story Alice in Wonderland, in which Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. “Which road do I take?” she asked. “Where do you want to go?” was the Cat’s response. “I don’t know,” Alice answered. “Then it doesn’t matter” said the Cat. How many of us have encountered our own fork in the road? A clear set of goals can make these decisions much easier. Without a sense of direction it can be hard to know if you are living a purposeful life - for example you make be climbing a mountain, only to reach the top of the mountain and see that you have climbed the wrong peak.
Goals get you to focus on those really important things.
We live in a complex world in which many activities and people compete for our time. Think of the number of things that you could do on the weekend. If your weekend is anything like mine then there are hundreds of things that you could do. You could choose to go walking, wash the car, do shopping, take the kids to the movies, visit friends or just sit around and relax after a busy week. The point is that we have a huge number of choices available, and if we don’t take charge of what is important, then someone else will. Goals are the single most important thing that gets you to prioritize those things that are most important to you.
Goals aid decision making
Just as you allocate time and effort on important things, you also make decisions that move you a step closer towards success. This is a double-edged sword though, as every decision that you make can also move you in the opposite direction. Having goals will help you make the right decisions, by focusing on what is important to you.
Goals provide you with direction in which you can structure your time towards those things that are most important to you. Goal setting creates a standard by which to achieve, and foster expectations of success. By succeeding on the small goals, you create a snowball effect in action. Goal setting is your pathway to success and achievement.
About the Author :
Kell works with elite athletes, professionals, managers and office workers with goal setting, stress and time management.
Tags: goal, Goal Setting, Success
By KALU CHRISTIANA U on May 28, 2008
THANKS A LOT TECHPREPARATION.COM
EVERY JOB SEEKER SHOULD READ THIS. YOU MADE MY JOB EASIER. GOD BLESS
By Raj Kamal on May 28, 2008
this one is too good
By kasi on Jun 13, 2008
hi
By mac on Jul 8, 2008
wow..awesome please post more answers on how to answer the question “describe yourself”
By raghu.g on Jul 11, 2008
i want best &qulitty answer
By gandhi jee on Jul 30, 2008
what is your goal
By S P Sharma on Aug 2, 2008
Your help to improve communication skills
By abhishek srivastava on Aug 7, 2008
Thnkes , and i want to improve our communication skill.
By shilpa pandey on Aug 7, 2008
it help in improving in my communication skill.
By rajeevtyagi on Aug 8, 2008
i am very nerves when i face seminar
By balwan Sharma on Aug 17, 2008
pls give ideas to remove this problem
By rita on Aug 27, 2008
how can i improve my communication skill
By brahmareddy on Sep 23, 2008
hi
By lee on Oct 28, 2008
It is incredibly superb to have posted and read a lot about this goal settings which i can really relate into it..Seems like you’ve awaken me from my very long long sleep..I like it very much..More power!
By enny on Nov 10, 2008
how do i overcome in an interview?
By zafar bukhari on Nov 10, 2008
sir
i am a banker and financial consultant of bancassurance in NIB Bank Ltd in Pakistan,and want to permote ownself as a team leader. HOW?
By Marsha on Nov 26, 2008
I really want to pass the interview.. how can i overcome it and how can i improve my communication skills?