Goals, Who Needs Them? You Do

by Gary L. Parker

In his book Getting Things Done, Ed Bliss writes, "Good self-management involves finding ways to put pressure on yourself to perform."

We all need a swift kick once in a while. That's why thoughtful development of personal goals is so important. It's a way to put pressure on yourself to perform. Goals provide a motive for better performance.

Successful businesses create goals as a basis for strategic decisions. Without goals, every decision is a crossroads. It's the same for us. The more clearly we understand our destination, the more likely we'll take the right path.

4 Keys To Goal Setting

1. Be Specific. Develop a clear vision of what you want to accomplish. The stronger the vision, the greater the motivation to put forth 100% of your effort and talent.

2. Write It Down. It's been said a goal not written down is just a wish. Write goals where you'll see them often. You can't do what you can't remember. And you can't remember what you can't find. Write goals in your Planner Pad.

3. Make It Measurable. When we know our destination, we can measure progress. Set definite time targets. A goal is a result that must be achieved within a particular period of time.

4. Calculate The Cost. Everything we want to do has a cost. The cost may not be out of pocket. We pay in other ways. Worthwhile goals require your time and effort. Compare costs to benefits carefully. Are you willing to pay the price?
The more clearly we understand our goals, the more likely it is that we'll be willing to give the performance today, this week, this month to achieve our objectives.