Productive Goal Setting

There's been a lot written about goal setting and there are many different approaches and methods ? in fact, it's easy to get caught up in the confusion about how to set goals and not end up setting any. These simple steps will help you to set powerful goals and make goal-setting an invaluable part of your life. You'll be amazed at what you can achieve with the help of some well though-out, written goals ? try it!

Make a date. Make time in your diary to find a quiet, comfortable location to set your goals. I spend a morning at my favourite table in the tearoom of the Sheraton on the Park (a beautiful hotel in Sydney city) in January every year to review my goals and set new ones for the year ahead.

Take five. Create five categories for which to set goals: physical, educational, spiritual, financial, relational. By setting goals for each of these areas of your life, you will be taking a balanced approach and not neglecting any important aspects of your life.

Write it. You must write your goals down ? it makes them more powerful. Use positive language ? words like "I will" and "I am" ? this will help you to feel as though you have already achieved your goals and to change your behaviours accordingly, for example, "I am going to the gym three times per week". Make sure you allocate a specific timeframe for the completion of each goal, for example, "By the beginning of March, I am going to the gym three times per week". Now, identify a reward for achieving each goal ? don't just make a list of rewards, relate a specific reward to the achievement of a specific goal. This will inspire you even more toward the achievement of your goal. And finally, list the possible obstacles that will get in the way of you achieving each goal, and how you will overcome these. This will help you to pre-empt the things that might go wrong and immediately swing into action with your solution, rather than giving up on your goal.

Share. Make yourself accountable to someone you trust. Share your goals with them and ask them to check in with you regularly to see whether you are on track, and if not, why not.

Review constantly. I have been told that the difference between a millionaire and a billionaire is that a billionaire reads their goals twice a day. Simple really. I keep a copy of my goals in several locations around my house (on the bathroom mirror, on the printer, outside the shower screen, on the fridge, on my bedside table and in my wallet), which makes it easy for me to see my goals and be reminded of what I am working towards several times a day.

Keep track. When you return to your favourite place next year, review your progress and take the time to feel proud of those goals you achieve before you move on to setting goals for the next year.

Neen is a Global Productivity Expert: by looking at how they spend their time and energy ? and where they focus their attention ? Neen helps people to rocket-charge their productivity and performance. A dynamic speaker, author and corporate trainer, Neen demonstrates how boosting your productivity can help you achieve amazing things. With her unique voice, sense of fun and uncommon common-sense, Neen delivers a powerful lesson in productivity. Find out more at http://www.neenjames.com/

In The News:


Forbes

Is Everest Climber's Death A Case Of Goal Setting Gone Terribly Wrong?
Forbes
But what about more quotidian examples of goal-setting and their effects on our well-being? Does choosing to metaphorically scale Everest make us stronger and more resilient or do pie-in-the-sky ambitions set us up for failure and disappointment?

and more »

Focus Your Ambitions with the Lifehacker Hierarchy of Goals
Lifehacker
Once you commit to a framework to prioritize your goals and cut the junk, achieving your goals gets a lot more realistic. Here's one way to do it. If you're anything like me you have a ton of goals. Unfortunately, compulsive goal setting can be a major ...

and more »

Goal setting is an art form
Naples Daily News
By JAN KANTOR Goal setting is the art that makes everything else achievable. It gives you energy, focuses your talent and structures your time. To be successful, you must be goal directed. Once you have set goals, you have a script for meeting ...


Goal-line technology to be tested during England friendly
CNN
Forty-six years later, the same London stadium will provide the setting for a major test of pioneering goal-line technology (GLT), that could revolutionize the game of football forever. British firm "Hawk-eye" employ a series of cameras mounted inside ...

and more »

US MNT Opens Five-Game 'Tournament' Against Scotland On Saturday, May 26
PaddockTalk
Clint Dempsey is coming off a record-setting season for a US international in England, recording his 50th English Premier League goal and setting a single-season mark for league goals scored (17) and goals in all competitions (23).

and more »

AUA 2012 - The absence of goal setting in the dialogue between metastatic ...
UroToday
In this study, the investigators endeavored to understand how metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients and their physicians discuss treatment goals. In this study, the authors received institutional review-board approval, ...


Workers Can Showcase Goals and Accomplishments on Twitter, LinkedIn With ...
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
This latest release brings social accounts integration to the Personal Edition's goal setting and career management mix. With that, WorkSimple's Personal Edition now empowers you to showcase your accomplishments and impact via LinkedIn and Twitter.

and more »

Washington Times

Dwayne De Rosario nears 100 goals in MLS
Washington Times
He's scoring goals, setting up goals, and as always, doing it his amazing unique style. At the moment, there is no better player in Major League Soccer. When De Rosario is on top of his game, he is a joy to watch. There's his bicycle kicks, ...

and more »

Prep roundup: Record-setting Blazers 1 win away
Dubuque Telegraph Herald
The Iowa Class 1A top-ranked Trailblazers got a game-winning goal from Travis Gudenkauf in the 66th minute to give Beckman a 3-2 victory over Postville in a substate semifinal in Dyersville, Iowa. An online service is needed to view this article in its ...

and more »

Goals first order of business for Galesburg City Council
Galesburg Register-Mail
By GARY TOMLIN The Galesburg City Council will address the somewhat contentious goal setting process and implementation at a work session tonight. The two item work session agenda is to discuss goals prioritization and review the 2013 budget calendar.
City Council Talks Goals TonightWGIL Radio News

all 5 news articles »
Google News

Motivation and Goal Settings ?The to Do List

What is it that you need to do in order... Read More

What Do You Really, Really, Really Want?

If the 90s British pop sensation 'the Spice Girls' ever... Read More

5 Steps to Make the Rest of 2005 Extraordinary

So here we are in July. Where did the first... Read More

The Future: Help is Available

How important do you believe it is to think about... Read More

How to Improve Your Life Every Day

Growing Towards ExcellenceWould you like to become a better person?... Read More

Six Keys To Build Vision - Point Six

6.Recognise that all vision has seasonal components within itĀ· Vision... Read More

The Parable of the Jackrabbit: The Missing Key to Effective Goal Setting

So you've got a goal, and you know someone who... Read More

Get It Done-Or 3 Ways to Advance Your Goals

1. WORK WITH THE END IN MIND- OR FOCUS ON... Read More

Keeping the Dream Alive

Like the song by Linda Ronstadt, "a dream is a... Read More

When Expectations Are Not Clear!

IntroductionThere were two incidents, which inspired me to write this... Read More

Goal Objectives: Looking Ahead To Get Ahead With Planning

With goal objectives in mind, consider the organizers of a... Read More

Intense Desire: Rocket Fuel When You Set Goals!

Have you set goals, personal or business, and failed to... Read More

Exploring Beneath The Surface

Unwanted feelings and thoughts are rich territory to dive beneath... Read More

Cultivating Belief in Your Goals

The Belief That You Can Do It and more importantly,... Read More

Keep a Dream Journal: Why Bother?

Want a key to unlock your inner wisdom? Try keeping... Read More

Not Satisfied With Where You Are; STOP - Change The Action Change The Outcome

"If you keep on doing what you have always done,... Read More

I Need to Accomplish Something

Do you have trouble taking a day off? Boy, I... Read More

Get Your Priorites Right!

I have been with this marketing business for a few... Read More

Top 15 Goals Quotations

Examine your own personal goals and find methods to achieve... Read More

New Years Resolutions? Dont Be So Hard On Yourself

Have you set resolutions for yourself to accomplish in 2005?... Read More

Top Ten Methods for Never Achieving Your Goals

Top Ten methods to never achieve your goals:1. Be really... Read More

Ten of My Favorite Quotes About Goals

1. Duke (Edward Kennedy) Ellington (1899-1974) American Composer Bandleader and... Read More

Motivation and Setting Your Goals

Easy Steps for Goal SettingGoal setting is the true secret... Read More

11 Questions To Kickstart Your Dream

What's your dream? Want to give your vision a jumpstart?... Read More

How To Rise Above The Clutter In Your Brain

Ever notice when you start a new hobby or fall... Read More