Goal – Dictionary.com defines it as: “the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.”

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 June 1, 2008. I will do this by using the money that I saved by not eating out and putting those dollars on credit card debt” Be specific. How much will you pay off, by what date, and how.

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.