Goal, intention, objective, destination, target, mission. No matter what word you use, it is a point in your future that you aim for success.
We have all set goals, we have successfully achieved many and we have all not met some of the goals we set for ourselves.
Goals are important both professionally and personally as they are a stake in the ground that we (or your employer) set to encourage growth and forward movement.
It has been said that most people believe in setting goals, however only about 3% of us actually set and write down goals for our personal life. There are many reasons for this; fear is very near the top of the list.
Most people who don’t set goals are afraid they will not meet the goals they set. They don’t want to fail. Yet, I think dong “nothing” is worse than trying to do something and missing the mark. It is always better to attempt to improve even if you fail, than stay stagnant as life passes you by.
We have all set goals like “I am going to lose weight” or “I am going to stop smoking” or “I am going to get out of debt.” What ever it is you feel you need to improve, you have probably set a goal about it. Or have you? Have you really set the goal to the point where it is attainable? It is safe to say, “I am going to be debt free” you haven’t really set a goal; you have just made a statement.
Goal setting is about being specific to what you want to achieve. Draw a line in the sand.
Be honest with yourself, look at your debt and your income, determine your behavior change and commit. Set your goal, write down your goal as well as a plan to achieve it. For example your goal should read something like: “I will pay off $18,000 by
Write your goal down on 3×5 cards and place them in multiple places around your environment. On the refrigerator, bathroom mirror, visor in the car, edge of your computer screen. When you see it, read it out loud as well as to yourself, positively reinforce your goal to yourself, remember PMA – Positive Mental Attitude.
Once you have your goal set, tell someone close to you. Now this is very important. When I say someone close, I don’t mean your spouse, after all you two are already in it together. Tell someone that is close to you, friend, parent someone who is not directly related to the debt, who you trust. By telling someone else what that goal is, you are placing accountability on yourself. You are making that goal real. It turns a general statement into something you must take action on and be accountable to yourself as well as admitting to someone else the status of your goal.
Set a goal to pay of a specific amount of debt by a certain date. Living with the stress and fear of debt is far more risky than setting a goal to begin your journey down the path toward financial freedom.
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You have made some excellent points on goal setting. There is a clear similarity in the 3% who set goals and the 3% who are wealthy in North America. If you do not know where you are going, how will you ever get there? Clearly defined goals is a necessity for long term and short term success. Even daily goals are very powerful.
Hi Wanda – Thank you for visiting and for your comment. I totally agree and you are correct, daily goals are very powerful and a great idea.
Setting goals is very difficult for most of us.
We say that we want something and subconsciously we don’t have full agreement.
My ex set a goal to make debt and promised to pay it off.
I set a goal not to make debt, save money and invest.
I set goals every night before going to bed for the following day. And it works great.
I think that I see what you are doing but somehow I am not sure how I apply the concept to paying my house off.
Best of luck to you……
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