Achieving what you set out to do in life gives you a sense of accomplishment, and the confidence to take more risks. Failure to reach your objectives leaves you feeling disappointed and discouraged. When the failure is severe enough, you may conclude there is no hope for you, rather than that your goals are unrealistic.
Realistic goals are based on three criteria: measurement, motivation and personal responsibility. If you failed to reach your goals in the past that was because they were too vague, they werent what you truly wanted, or there were too many variables you couldnt control. The goals you achieved, on the other hand, were precise, fueled by genuine enthusiasm, and you and you alone were responsible for the outcome.
Measurement
Lets say your goal is to make more money. Exactly how much money, when do you need it, and why? Will you reach this goal by cutting overhead, increasing your productivity, or both? If so, write the goal as follows: I cut my expenses in the areas of _____________by $_____a month. To increase my income by $______a month I provide the following services. Then write about what you will do and for whom.
Writing goals in language the subconscious will accept as true is the key to reaching your objectives. Just as it took time and repetition to lock in previous beliefs, it takes time to replace what you once took for granted as being true. For example, the reason you do not already have more money is because you have time-consuming habits like browsing the Internet and social networking sites, emailing, text messaging, excessive socializing, and being entangled in family dramas. To resolve the conflict between conscious and subconscious desires youll have to convince the subconscious that you are serious about being more productive. Do this by prefacing your money goal with a statement that addresses time wasting habits: I am efficient; I make good use of my time. It will take a while to lock in this behavior but, as written, this goal also satisfies the other two criteria for realistic goals: internal motivation and personal responsibility.
Internal Motivation Any goal has to be internally motivated or you wont be able to sustain the effort it takes to get there. Even if you do reach the goal, you wont be satisfied with the results because it wasnt authentic, meaning it was based on external motivation: impressing others, as opposed to impressing yourself. Have you ever wondered why some people crash and burn when they reach the pinnacle of success? Why did the view from the top turn out to be such a disappointment? To ensure your goal is authentic, ask yourself if you will enjoy what you learn from the process of getting there. Or is it the reward you are after, in this case additional money? If so, you will feel empty once you have the money; you may even lose it because you learned nothing from the process of acquiring it. On the other hand, if you are open to discovering who you will become as you work toward your objective, you will reach your goal, and you will be pleased with the results. You cant fake interest, or the lack of it. Most people know when you have ulterior motives, or when you are just going through the motions, just as they know when you are engaged in what you are doing. Enthusiasm is unmistakable, and highly contagious. The best incentive, then, is to set goals that have meaning to you, material as well as emotional and spiritual goals. Paradoxically, these goals turn out to have meaning to the people who can help you achieve them.
Personal Responsibility Now that your goals are measurable and internally motivated, the next criterion is that you are responsible for the achievement of the goal. When the end result depends on others or circumstances beyond your control, the likelihood of success decreases, since you cant be responsible for what people do or dont do, or events that were set in motion a long time ago. As an example, can you be responsible for a goal that says, I want to have my own business next year? As stated, the goal is measurable and internally motivated, but reaching it depends on paying customers. Write the goal so that it makes sense to your subconscious: I identify the customers or clients who need and are willing to pay for what I have to offer. Your research may reveal there arent enough customers or clients who are willing to pay you. Maybe this is because you need more training, experience or credentials. Rather than give up on your entrepreneurial ambition, alter the way you write the goal so that you will eventually have more independence. You could say, I go to work for an entrepreneurial organization that provides a service (or product) I would buy. This teaches me what I need to know about being independent. Because you are willing to adapt you will reach your goal, and you will improve as you go along.
Set Six-Month Goals Make a list of goals youd like to achieve by the end of the next six months. A six-month time frame helps you to be realistic about what you can actually achieve, given your current set of circumstances. Some goals youll reach right away, like an updated wardrobe. Other changes will take longer, such as matching what you do with what you say. Measure your goals, make sure they are authentic, and take responsibility for the outcome. If your subconscious accepts these goals as logical, and you are willing to persevere through obstacles, you will like the person you are when you reach your destination. Nancy Anderson is a career and life consultant based in the San Francisco Bay Area and the author of the best selling career guide, Work with Passion, How to do What You Love For a Living. Her new book, Work with Passion in Midlife and Beyond, Reach Your Full Potential and Make the Money You Need is available in online and retail bookstores. Nancys website is workwithpassion.com.
