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Knowledge Portal/
HOW TO WORK TOWARDS YOUR GOALS
By: Dr. Tony
Alessandra
(Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 30, 2005)
Now that you know the
rules for setting goals, you can apply them to the goals you set for
yourself. Here’s an explanation of each of the areas you need to
complete while working towards your goals.
DEFINE YOUR GOAL. Your first task
is to determine whether your goal meets all the requirements of the
rules discussed in the first part of this article. If it does, then
write it as clearly as possible at the top of the worksheet.
EXAMINE OBSTACLES THAT STAND IN YOUR WAY.
This is a time to guard against negative assumptions and other
self-defeating thoughts. Remember the definition of realistic. An
obstacle blocks you only if you let it. You should also write down
your innovative ways of overcoming obstacles. W.I.I.F.M. – What’s in
it for me? Why do you want to achieve the goal? What kind of payoff is
motivating you?
PLAN YOUR ACTION. You need to
carefully list the steps you will take, which will bring you closer to
your goal. The smaller the increments, the easier they will be to
accomplish. There is a German proverb that says, “He who begins too
much accomplishes little.” As the American Dental Association is fond
of saying, “Don’t bite off more than you can chew.”
Project a target date for your goal. State your deadline range, such
as, “between March 15 and April 1st.” Think carefully about the amount
of time you need. Too little time will increase the pressure and
frustrate you. Too much time may reduce your drive.
KNOW HOW YOU’LL MEASURE YOUR SUCCESS.
Goals should be described in terms of the final outcome of an activity
rather than as the activity. This is the part of being specific.
Instead of saying “I will be running more in four to six months,” you
could say “I’ll be running three miles instead of two miles in four to
six months.” How will you measure this? Probably by having one third
more blisters on your feet.
VISUALIZING
Visualization is an indispensable tool in helping people attain their
goals. Olympic athletes have proven that visualization is an effective
substitute for real practice. In visualizing your goals, you will live
your accomplishments in your mind’s eye. The more of the five senses
you can involve in this exercise, the greater your chances are of
accomplishment.
Let’s say, for example, that you want to be the Salesperson of the
Year in your company. You know that each year an awards banquet is
given during which a plaque is presented to the year’s sales leader.
You may choose to focus on this banquet for your visualization
exercise. Here’s what you do:
Make yourself comfortable, close your eyes, and relax. Slowly and
systematically go through all of the five senses. Imagine what you
would be experiencing at the banquet.
SIGHT. Imagine what you would see
there. You’d see other salespeople and their spouses. Imagine what
they are wearing. You’d see tables decorated and waiters scurrying
about. You’d see the bar and people standing around talking. Keep
going for several minutes.
SOUND. What would you hear? You’d
hear the chatter of people. You would hear laughter, the tinkling of
glasses, and music from a band, people talking. You would also
continually hear people coming up to congratulate you. Imagine that.
SMELL. Imagine all the smells
you’d experience. Women’s perfume, food, alcohol, men’s cologne, the
smell of polyester suits (not yours, or course).
FEEL. What would your tactile
sensation be? You’d feel people rubbing up against you in the crowded
room. You’d feel others shaking your hand.
TASTE. Taste in your mind the
champagne you’ll be drinking. Taste the food you’ll be eating.
Experience the sweet taste of success! In advance!
Most importantly, imagine the exhilaration you’ll feel when your name
is called to receive the award! Take your time during this exercise
and enjoy it. The more you can “visually” attend this banquet the more
motivated you will become. (You might even learn something about the
catering business!)
VISUALIZATION FILE
To aid in your visualization exercise, you might want to start a
visualization file. This is an envelope or file into which you put
pictures, clippings, letters, and other reminders of what will be like
to succeed. Your file should also contain letters or awards that you
have received in the past. Anything that makes you feel good about
yourself can be included in the file. It can then be used as a source
of motivation and inspiration, especially if you begin to feel a
little down or demotivated. We all need to be reminded of our past
accomplishments once in a while. Be your own best friend – remind
yourself!
ROLE MODELS
Many people concentrate only on the goal they wish to attain. There’s
more to the picture. Successful people in every field have certain
character traits in common. These common traits do not occur by
chance, they are an integral part of goal attainment. It is worth your
time to analyze the constructive characteristics of people who are now
where you’d like to be.
One effective method is to choose role models. These are people to
look up to and emulate. Your choices can include people who are dead
or living as long as you are familiar with their personalities and
accomplishments.
In choosing a role model, several things must be kept in mind:
1. KEEP THEM OFF THE PEDESTAL.
There is no doubt that you will choose people whom you see as being
“above” you because of what they have accomplished. That’s good. What
isn’t good is to put them on the pedestal, thereby making them larger
than life. We are all humans. We all have strengths and weaknesses.
You might not lose these perspective on people. Putting them on
pedestals only further separates you from them.
2. ISOLATE THEIR STRONG POINTS.
You need to look at the person you wish to emulate and analyze the
precise qualities he or she possesses which you need to acquire. Sit
down and write out the characteristics that seem to encourage their
success. Use concrete examples of their behaviors that you can adapt
to our own situation.
3. REMAIN YOURSELF. Quite often
the tendency when admiring someone is to try to become his clone.
People who seem to “have it all together” have done all the “work” for
you. All you have to do is imitate them. This is a dangerous way to
think because you are not working on your own personality.
In the final analysis, you are you. It is impossible to become exactly
like someone else. And why should you want to? So remain yourself
while you acquire new traits to help you achieve your goals.
THE THOUGHT DIET
The thought diet developed by my friend and colleague Jim Cathhart, is
a toll that you can use on a daily basis to help you become the person
who will achieve your goals. It breaks down goals into daily actions
that are bite-size and easy to do. By showing you the steps along the
way, the thought diet will keep you from being overwhelmed by your
lofty goals.
On your thought diet card, write out the “minimum daily standards”
which you will perform everyday to move you closer to your goal. Be
specific.
The following are some examples of minimum daily standards:
• MENTAL: I will spend 15 minutes every
evening doing visualization exercises.
• PHYSICAL: I will do at least five push-ups and ten sit-ups every
morning.
• PROFESSIONAL: I will read something related to my career for at
least 15 minutes before going to bed.
• FINANCIAL: I will keep a complete record of every expense and
financial transactions.
• SPIRITUAL: Each day I will do a good deed to help someone less
fortunate than I.
• FAMILY: I will relax over dinner and enjoy a meaningful
uninterrupted conversation with my family.
• SOCIAL: I will take time during my coffee breaks in the office to
chat with coworkers.
Read the thought diet
card twice a day until everything becomes a habit. Once you’ve
developed constructive habits, you can move on to new goals and
behaviors. Fill out a new card and practice the new challenges every
day until they become habits. In this way, you will painlessly move
closer and closer to your goals.
They dividends reaped by investing in yourself are unlike any other
found in the financial world. When you clarify your values and set
goals in all the major areas of your life – mental, physical, family,
social, spiritual, professional, and financial – the right roads
appear in front of you like mirages in desert, yet they are real.
Choices become infinitely easier to make because you are aiming at
something specific, and you’ve taken a giant step towards hitting your
goals, with amazing accuracy.
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