Goal Setting

Goal setting is a formal process for personal planning. By setting goals on a routine basis, you decide what you want to achieve, and then you systematically move towards the achievement of those goals. Goals provide you with a focus for your life.

By setting goals, you create a rippled effect. The process of setting goals gives you a purpose and direction by allowing you to choose where you want to go in life. By clarifying your expectations and by challenging yourself, you become more intrinsically motivated. You force yourself to focus on the acquisition of knowledge and to organize your resources, thus allowing you to become more organized and effective. As you increase your personal effectiveness, you can improve both your decision making and performance. As your performance increases, you achieve more and your self-confidence increases. An increased self-confidence leads to being happier and feeling more fulfilled in life.

Having no goals is like going on a trip without a map. When there is no destination, vision, or plan, most people tend to drift. However, when people have a vision of where they want to go, they tend to feel a greater sense of commitment than they would without having the vision. By creating goals, you create a long-term vision. You give yourself a sense of purpose and you provide yourself with a focus. By concentrating your energies and thoughts on your goals, you are better able to use time-management strategies and this in turn enables you to achieve more.

Goal Setting Process

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Printable Version of Goal Setting Outline – Goal setting basic steps outline