Michele 1 #1 January 5, 2004 I'm pretty determined to change my life around. Not resolution kinda thing, but in business and in personal issues. And I know I have the determination and commitment to make it work. However. I am trying to set goals, but I am foundering. Does anyone have any successful goal setting strategies that have worked well for you? Would ya share them with me? And any pitfalls in goal setting, too, that I should look out for? Thanks - I do appreciate it. Things are gonna change. I just gotta figure out how to do it. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jimbo 0 #2 January 5, 2004 I've found when managing projects that it helps to break them down into small, easily achievable goals. There's a constant feeling of accomplishment, I believe that's important. - Jim"Like" - The modern day comma Good bye, my friends. You are missed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian425 0 #3 January 5, 2004 Jimbo's 100% on track. Set small acheiveable goals. Use these small goals as a path to your larger long term goal. If you do not meet your goal, do not consider it a failure. Just examine why and readjust you timetable. Also WRITE it down. When things are in your mind, it's easier to cheat yourself and adjust the goals with less feelings of guilt. Don't give up. It's worth it. Good luck. The only time you should look down on someone is when you are offering them your hand. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #4 January 5, 2004 Write it down, then post it in places you look at frequently. Keep both the overall goal and the next step along the way "on your mind" as often as you can - so set goals you are excited about, not goals you think you should set/meet for someone else. Tell people your goals and how you're going about achieving them; they can be both your cheerleading section and your cattle prod. Failing to reach a goal doesn't imply anything wrong with you. It simply tells you that the way you went about it didn't work, or the goal didn't excite you enough to stick with it. Try it again in a different way, or set a completely different goal. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muenkel 0 #5 January 5, 2004 I'm with Jim and Brian. Once you decide on the specific goal...and be specific, then you must take it one day at a time toward the goal. Keep a journal (your specialty) each day on your progress toward that goal. You will have setbacks, but reviewing the journal will help you to realize that your progress is still far greater than the setback. It's the setbacks that usually make people abandon the goal. Must focus on the progress. Good luck, Chris _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pick 0 #6 January 5, 2004 It's easy to get really discouraged if all of your goals are "out there"....you have to figure out how to break them down into smaller steps. Another thing that a former employer once told me is that you MUST know where you intend to arrive before you start the car. Sit down and figure out where you want to end up, plan the route you're "driving", and then figure out how to get there. Make each day's drive reachable and you'll get there. When we were having this discussion it was about a business that I envisioned. He asked me about sales figures, number of employees, merchandise, the size of the facility, colors, layout, advertising.........WAY more than I had considered up to that point. (I was 19.) When I looked at him like he'd just told me to go eat a bug, he simply said "if you don't know what it looks like, how will you know when you actually get there?" Obviously, there are detours and delays at times......life still happens........but keeping the destination in mind, with reachable waypoints along the way has worked for me ever since. My goals have changed as life has happened, but his advice has stuck with me and served me well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dropdeded 0 #7 January 5, 2004 Im doing a lot of changing myself, and its been my experience that I have to set realistic, and attainable goals. Then if they are pretty major goals, I just trudge along, doing the next indicated step. And I really try not to burn bridges along the way. Dont know that any of that helps. Good Luck Michele, and feel free to ask for any help I may be able to give. dropdeded------------------------------------------ The Dude Abides. - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freefallfreak 0 #8 January 5, 2004 All my goals are unattainable.... All I ever wanted to do was kiss every woman that ever posted anything on DZ.com. So, I can't help...but if anyone (female) knows how to help me reach this goal, just let me know...lol. I'm an extremely good student. FFF "Upon seeing the shadow of a pigeon, one must resist the urge to look up." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowwhite 0 #9 January 5, 2004 Goal setting. A) define the goal,,,, make it measurable! B) Break it down into daily, weekly, monthly portions C) Keep track of it, in a SIMPLE format, so that the 'keeping track' doesn't take over your life D) Give yourself an attaboy each time you reach a goal, and DON"T beat yourself up if you are on your way, but miss one. The measurable part of this whole thing is the difficult thing for women. "I want to be smarter", I want people to like me" I want a better job. These are NOT measurable goals. If you want a degree by X date If you want to form an alliance with so and so If you want to be the VP of finance, these are measurable goals. Be sure to cut thru the bullshit, DEFINE what you are after, DEFINE how you are going to get it, and GO for it I am only telling you what I learned after running several political campaigns, and a city for the last decade and a half.skydiveTaylorville.org freefallbeth@yahoo.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowwhite 0 #10 January 5, 2004 QuoteAll my goals are unattainable.... All I ever wanted to do was kiss every woman that ever posted anything on DZ.com. So, I can't help...but if anyone (female) knows how to help me reach this goal, just let me know...lol. I'm an extremely good student. FFF THIS I can help you with..Simple solution, attainable, measurable. Yup, I like this one!skydiveTaylorville.org freefallbeth@yahoo.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kpjumps 0 #11 January 5, 2004 Tell EVERYONE of your intentions. I ran the Boston that way. For those nonrunners out there, you must qualify for this marathon. I had to finish 26.2 miles in three hours and forty minutes. First I told everyone I was running a local marathon, then a few weeks later I started telling everyone I was going to try for the Boston. Nothing like your friends and family to keep you accountable. Tell you mother!!! They wouldn't let me quit, they were calling me at four in the morning to make sure I was up and getting ready to run. Friends were waiting at certain mile markers knowing what time to expect me to keep up the pace I had set for that day. I had someone to hold me accountable, cheer me on and bring me fresh shoes on the really long runs! I signed up to run to challenge myself, I got to the starting line to prove I could do it, and I ran across the finish line to SAVE FACE!Your character will ultimately determine your destiny. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nightingale 0 #12 January 5, 2004 1. figure out where you want to go. specifically. not just "I want a better job" or whatever. something like "I want to work as a real-estate agent." you need to be very specific about what you want, or you'll never figure out how to get there. 2. figure out how to get there. baby steps. list every single little step you need. plans are good things! GOOD LUCK!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #13 January 5, 2004 I think the most important thing in goal setting is a realistic expectation of pain and sacrifice. Unless you understand that sacrifice goes along with achievement, it will be difficult. That means you must prioritize your goals to make it clear to you which are the most important. Once you reach the goals, step by step, ensure that you prioritize maintenance of the standards (which is sometimes tougher). I've accomplished a lot in my life. Most of these came at the expense of other things that I wanted to do. Once you understand that you will have difficulty with these things and are prepared to deal with it, there ain't no holding you back! Kick ass, Michele! My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #14 January 5, 2004 Quote Tell EVERYONE of your intentions That's the difficult part. Because of the depression, I have spent years (literally) with the goal of making it through the day. Didn't really even matter if I accomplished anything or not - just making it through the day was the accomplishment. The other side of this is that if I don't meet the goal I set (whether realistic or not), it is very easy for me to get into the self defeating habit of telling myself I suck, and not in the nicest possible way. I dunno how to not have that happen, though. So I suppose I need to just do it anyway. The other thing I am dealing with is - and this is really odd... - a significant fear of success. Why that would scare me I don't know, but it does. O.K. (edit: Vectorboy has a point...) Lawrocket, you are correct. Sometimes, things need to get prioritized. Often, I get unbalanced - too much focused on work, so no play time. Or too much play time, and work suffers. Family will always be first, though. No exception. QuoteKick ass, Michele! Well, that's the overall goal. I just am dissatisfied with my life, so I need to make the changes. I am not sure the above will do it, but it's a start, at least. Maybe I need my ass kicked? One of the things which showed up last year during a seminar I took was that I could set goals, but had no plan as to how to acheive them. I am still not sure, but like Jim said, smaller things rather than the whole thing at once breeds confidence. (Kris said it too, but Jim said it first....LOL). Thanks for the ideas, all - especially Snowwhite. This will be interesting. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #15 January 5, 2004 Quote Tell people your goals and how you're going about achieving them; they can be both your cheerleading section and your cattle prod. Tell SOME people your goals, those that WILL be your cheerleading section . Others that have similar goals and that are aligned with your purpose ( as in loosing weight or making more commission ). Don't tell the nay-sayers, the overly critical, the ones that are competitive overly negative and just can't seem to see you happy. They are everywhere, Some may even be posing as so-called friends. All you need to share with them is the sucess, your smile and the video after the fact. This way they will not help you defeat yourself before you start. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skyyhi 0 #16 January 5, 2004 Michele, Since you know your goals. . .take each one and "BRAINSTORM" the ways you will need to go about achieving those goals. . .For example, pay off credit card debt - for this you could say pay x number of dollars per month until such and such a date. . .for weight loss - set mini goals 1 lb this week - exercise 3 times this week. . .etc. By identifiying the baby steps needed to reach your goals, you can get there by the straightest path. . .and be able to pat yourself on the back a lot more. . .________________________________________ Take risks not to escape life… but to prevent life from escaping. ~ A bumper sticker at the DZ FGF #6 Darcy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Antithesis 0 #17 January 5, 2004 It seems like you have no shortage of advice. I would only like to add... YOU CAN DO IT I travel the land, Work in the ocean, Play in the sky Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumpinjackflash 0 #18 January 5, 2004 Michele, sounds like your in the market for a good technique. I've gotta say, I'm working with John J DeRosalia's book right now. It's titled "Mental Training for Skydiving and Life" and it's really incredible. The book not only details methods for taking your "inventory", but then builds on that to actually build an action plan, mission statement and overall process to improve the areas your looking to improve. Now, please take this from someone that has been doing it forever. Last year was the first year in the last ten that I did not have a well thought out, clearly defined action plan for the year. My whole year went to shit by the way. Some of it out of my control, other, well within. I've used tons of different methods, but more than anything, the key here (and in Johns book as well), is you have to write it all out, and read it daily. The thought being, if you wrote it and read it daily, one of two things will definitly happen, you'll either stop reading it, or you'll start doing it. Will work everytime. You'll learn how to refine your plan, you'll learn tons of things that make it easier for you as well. Keep in mind, keep it simple at first, don't get fancy. Detail the main things you'd like to achieve for the year. Then work backwards. For instance, from a skydiving perspective. I intend to make at least 150 jumps this year. I will have my B license before the WFFC. I will attend the WFFC. I will get my first coaching classes taken. I will begin training for rigging. I will be part of a "new" four way team and have set a training schedule for the following year. This goes on and on. You'll find, the goals that you don't make, can easily be moved on to your next list. As things are completed, the lower priority things either move up, or higher priority things take it's place. It's all good Michele. Let me tell you though. I'm a freak about this. It changed my life. Without being to detailed, I earned on the average of around 10 thousand a year when I started this years ago. After implementing my first year of "goal setting", my income climbed exponentially every year thereafter. Since then, I've travelled to many of the places I said I would and I've done things that were only "fantasy" previously. Very cool, the power lies in setting an objective, outlining how to get it, then executing to that plan. This is the most powerful stuff on the planet, it truly, if you keep with it, can bring you anything your heart desires! Let me know if you have any specific questions Michele, I'd love to help. Jack Also, the book I mentioned above not only has goal setting tools, but also tons of visualization tools too that aren't only applicable to skydiving, they can (and damn well should) be used with everyday things too! PeaceIt's a gas, gas, gas... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,156 #19 January 5, 2004 Quote If you do not meet your goal, do not consider it a failure. Just examine why and readjust you timetable. . No - if you don't achieve your goal, just retroactively redefine it to be what you did achieve, and lie about it to the rest of the world.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nightjumps 1 #20 January 5, 2004 http://www.adv-leadership-grp.com/articles/goalsetting.htm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nacmacfeegle 0 #21 January 5, 2004 "S.M.A.R.T. GOALS Whether personal or for business, the most effective goals are designed to be S.M.A.R.T.: Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Tangible with a target date " This is the important bit.Nice link though!-------------------- He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Michele 1 #22 January 5, 2004 Great link. Keith. Thanks mucho. Some easily understood concepts. Now, to just do it. That's the goal this week - to set goals that are realistic and achievable. And Kallend, that may be how you work, but it isn't how I work. Thanks for the contribution..... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dropdeded 0 #23 January 5, 2004 Michele, I think you need to stop all this "GOAL" nonsense immediately. Just toss some stuff in a bag, jump on the Grey Doggie and head north. I got room for ya here in Bakersfield. Goals dropdeded------------------------------------------ The Dude Abides. - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nightjumps 1 #24 January 5, 2004 You're welcome. Attached is a copy of the sheet I have my students use. Hope it helps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DickMcMahon 0 #25 January 5, 2004 Michele: For what it's worth, I think it was Yogi Berra who said, "If you don't know where you're going, you're liable to end up there". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
