Goal orientation is a way of thinking practiced by optimists and all successful people. To think future you first develop a clear, ideal picture of what you want to accomplish. With goals, you crystallize that image into specific, measurable, detailed goals and objectives you’ll need to accomplish to achieve that future vision or goal.
Successful people develop the habits of personal strategic planning. They sit down and make a list of exactly what they want to accomplish in the short, medium, and long term. They then use a powerful, seven-part goal-setting methodology to create blueprints and plans of action that they follow every day.
Many formulas and recipes exist for goal setting. As a rule, “any plan is better than no plan at all.” Here are 7 habits that can help set you up for success!
A habit is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously.
Step one: Decide exactly what you want in a certain area, and write it down clearly, in detail. Make the goal measurable and specific. (S.M.A.R.T.)
Step two: Set a deadline for achieving the goal. If it’s a large goal, break it down into smaller parts and set sub deadlines.
Step three: Make a list of everything you’ll have to do to achieve this goal. As you think of new items, add them to your list until it’s complete.
Step four: Organize your list of action steps into a plan. A plan is a list of activities organized on the basis of two elements, priority and sequence.
Step five: Identify the obstacles or limitations that might hold you back from achieving your goal, both in the situation and within yourself. Ask yourself, “Why have I not achieved this goal already?”
Step six: Once you’ve determined your goal, developed your plan, and identified your major obstacle, immediately take action of some kind toward achieving your goal. Step out in faith. Do the first thing that comes to mind. But do something to start moving toward your most important goal.
Step seven: Do at least one thing every day that moves you toward your most important goal. Make a habit of getting up each morning, planning your day and then doing something, anything, that moves you at least one step closer to what’s most important to you.
*from the book Million Dollar Habits, Brian Tracy