EFFECTIVE AND PRACTICAL GOAL SETTING PT 1

 Have you ever been conscious of what happens when you pronounce 2016? You might want to try it now to see. You will realise you can’t pronounce 2016 without smiling. I believe that’s a sign that 2016 is going to be a great year for you and you will be smiling all through the year. You’re Welcome.

Today I will be sharing with you on Practical and Effective Goal Setting. This is because I don’t want this year to be an ordinary year for you. I want it to be a great one where all your desires and aspirations would be achieved.  The truth is, you have all the capacity to become all you’re designed for but until you go for them, you’ll remain the same.  People that will accomplish great things in life rarely sit back and let things happen to them, rather, they go out and happen to things. They set goals and achieve them. Understand that life without goals set and achieved is life wasted. 

That’s why you’ll need to set goals in every aspect of your life so as to have a successful balanced life at the end of the year.  Set your spiritual goals, career goals, academic goals, business goals, financial goals, relationship goals, family goals etc. Now you know why it’s important to set goals but then how do you go about attaining those goals because many set goals quite alright but don’t achieve them. I will be sharing with you today three out of the SIX Steps to having an effective goal and achieving them.

1. Have a PICTURE. This is the first step in setting goals. Describe the ideal person you want to be if there is no limitation whatsoever. Picture and describe what you desire to be your life recap of year 2016 on December 31^st.  Imagine you have the ability and power to achieve any goal you set, what do you really want to be, achieve or do? The essence of these exercises is to have a clear picture of what you want to become or achieve at the end of this year and in life. The future you can’t picture, you can’t feature in.  Take a journey into your imagination and into the mind of your creator (through His Spirit) and take those beautiful and awesome snapshots. And don’t forget to describe your picture in words by writing it down in strong affirmative sentences. For example, you might picture yourself being celebrated as the best worker/student in your company/class at the end of the year. The description in words will be something like ‘I want to be the best staff/student in my class by by December  31^st, 2016’

2. Have a REASON. One of the fuel that fuel passion and commitment to pursue your goals is to have reasons for every goal you set. Ask yourself, why do I want to achieve this goal? Failure to ask and answer this question will result in lack of motivation and failure to follow the plan. Imagine the benefit attached to every goal achieved and write them down.  The longer the list the stronger your motivation.

3.  Have it SMART. I know you’re familiar with the SMART goals but I will love to simplify I for you.

• S-Specific: be very specific about what you want. Don’t be vague. I want to be successful in 2016 is a vague goal, it doesn’t define what success is to you. This is because success is relative. Success in 2016 might be to finish your degree, pass an examination, get promoted, earn #200,000 per month, build a house, buy a Toyota Venza  etc.

• M-Measurable: let your goal be measurable. I want to increase my monthly income by 20%. You know that if at the end of the month/year you didn't make the 20% the goal has not been attained. Another might be I want to read 20 books this year. Always make it measurable-something you can measure.

• A-Actionable or Attributable: there is no point setting goals you don’t have control over the outcome; that you cannot work out. It’s foolishness to set a goal that your favourite football club wins the league title if you cannot directly influence it. That could be set by the coach, the owner of the club, a player in the team but not you a mere spectator. Your goals must be such that you can influence, you can act it out.

• R-Realistic: just be realistic with yourself. There’s nothing God cannot do but yet God is not a magician. Setting goals like I want to be the richest man in the world in 2016 is not a realistic goal if you’re not into any business, don’t have an idea, and don’t even have a job. Even though that might be your ultimate goal in life, it’s good to break it down into smaller steps. The richest man on earth didn't get there in a day or a year.

• T-Timed: your goal must have a time frame or limit. I want to get married. When? I want to release my music single, when? I want to get promoted. When? If you can answer the ‘When’ question, you won’t struggle much to accomplish your goals. Its fuels the drive for accomplishment and helps to take necessary steps to get there at the set time.’ I want to get married by April 2017’ ‘I want to release my new music single by June 7^th, 2016’ ‘I want to get promoted by November 30^th, 2016’

To be continued tomorrow. Don't miss the remaining three.

theINSIGHT 2016