Time to set some big goals (or perhaps, just one that makes you proud)

Setting personal goals is one of the most important actions we can take. This topic reminded me that some time has gone by since I really locked in on this process for my personal life. As a matter of record, a few years ago I wrote down where I specifically wanted to travel, by year, for 5 years straight…and guess what? I actually achieved that – so I know there is indeed great truth here!

Goal-setting is so powerful that if we write them down, we are 42% more likely to achieve them, according to a Harvard Business Study. A more specific example from that research: “The 3% of graduates from their MBA program who had their goals written down, ended up earning ten times as much as the other 97% put together.” That’s POWERFUL.

So, why is this true? The difference is that this effort requires you to get them out of your head and into a place where you can set your focus and move forward toward their achievement. When you can actually visualize yourself at the counter of that restaurant you now own, or driving in that ultra-cool truck, you want it more. It becomes real. It isn’t about the competition; it becomes about creating a better experience for ourselves, and that often requires us to push to a new level of thinking and activity. Our minds can literally CREATE new paths to achievement if we can articulate what we want and begin to focus on how we might go about making those goals a reality.

The same blog that gave me the Harvard Study offered a few ideas on the “types” of goals. They are basic, but still a quite helpful construct when you decide to frame them up and put them on paper.

1. Short Term Goals: Goals you’d like to go after in the next 5 minutes to 6 months. Of specific help, they are great as a smaller part of a larger goal. For example: I want to run a 10K but my feet often hurt. A short term goal would be to go visit a specialized running store this week and get educated on the “right” shoes for my stride. ( side-note: not sure what to do about that little fact that I hate to run…?… may be more than a short term situation!)
2. Long term Goals: Goals you want to achieve that may take a bit of time. For example: I want to go on a 2-week trip to Greece.
3. Lifetime Goals: The ultimate big-picture goals go here. For example, I’d like to pay for my grandchildren’s college education.

This little excerpt reminded me of the SMART goal setting process which you likely have heard before. Goals should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. (So, re-working the 10K goal above may look like: “As a part of my personal wellness plan, I would like to run a 10K in my city by March of 2020.”)

We have one life and we have the ability to do the unimaginable. I hope this blog encourages you to set some goals, write them down and move yourself closer to your dreams – ones you’ve held on to for years/decades, and new ones, too. I’m cheering you all on.