How do we turn goals into reality?  Knowing what you want is a good start, but saying, “I want x to  happen” isn’t going to do the trick, unless you happen to have a fairy godmother or Aladdin’s lamp up in the attic.

Step 1: Define your goals

It may seem obvious that you need to decide on your goals, but often we fritter away our days and evenings just getting along, not really thinking about next steps or where we want to be in a few years…or even days or hours – we just go with the flow. That’s fine if you don’t want to accomplish anything in particular, and if you’re pretty sure you won’t need extra cash for anything down the road or ‘someday’, but it can leave you in the lurch if suddenly your life changes.

So first, let’s look at what goals you may have already. It may sound obvious, but any goal you have has to be important to you. Too often, people set goals based on what they think other people want or what they see other people doing.  If a goal doesn’t really matter to you, you won’t be motivated to keep on pushing through, and it’s much harder to get to the finish line.

Step 2: Write it down

Once you’ve thought of a goal, big or small, write it down.  Putting something in writing helps you focus, and makes it more concrete in your mind.  Now is the time to be both specific and measurable about what you’re going to do. “Do better in school” could mean a lot of different things, and how do you gauge your success?  “Get good grades” is more specific, but “get an A in Chemistry” is concrete, specific, and quantifiable.

Your goal should also be realistic.  If a short term goal is “get an A in Chemistry,” but finals are a week away, and you’re barely passing, that might not be the most attainable goal.  This isn’t to say that you should never reach for the stars. We would never have some of the world’s most amazing feats without the lofty aspirations that originally inspired them. (However, if your goal is the very specific “play for a professional football team by the time I’m 18,” please do look at the statistics involved in that – you’ll need a great plan!)

In addition, whether your goal is long-term, short-term, or somewhere in the middle, consider the terms. That is to say, how long will it take to achieve that goal? Again, be specific. That A in Chemistry has a built in end point:  the end of term. But while something like, “start a dog walking business” is specific, when will you start?

Step 3: Make a plan

The bigger the goal is, the more important it is to have a plan. Achieving the goal of staying awake through your homework might take nothing more than getting a glass of water or having a good stretch, but let’s think bigger.

Once you’ve got the goal, write out the steps needed to get there. Don’t just be specific – be sure to frame your steps in a positive way. Use the word “will” instead of “would like to” or “might.” The number of steps involved depends on how complicated the final goal is.

Long term goals are helped along by reminders or mini-goals. If it’s the start of term, the end goal of the A in Chem is somewhat complicated.  Accomplishing mini-goals of “study every night for an hour” and “get an A on the next test” are good steps toward the ultimate goal.

Sometimes goals change, and that’s ok too.  Reevaluating and reconsidering goals can be an important part of creating a future you really like, whether it’s one filled with good grades or one that includes a trip around the world or owning your own business.  At the same time, the goal itself might remain the same but the steps to achieve it could change, based on new factors. The evolution of a goal can be as important as achieving it, and it’s up to you to decide what makes a goal important and how much effort you’re willing to put into it.

OK, so now that you know all about goals setting, let’s apply some of these ideas.  Think about what’s important to you, and Define two goals – one small, one bigger. They don’t have to be life-changing, but maybe something a little more challenging than “get to school on time in the morning.”  (Of course, for some of us, “get to school on time in the morning” IS a life-changing goal., so if the shoe fits…..) Write the goals down, remember to be specific, realistic, and have a time frame. Once that’s done, write out the steps to achieve them.  

Let’s go change your world just a little!