Tips for Stress free life  >  Expert Zone   > Goal Setting

       Goal Setting Tips by experts


Make Your Goals Stick


The amazing thing about the future is that if you wait, it will always come to you. No doubt you sat down and created your share of New Year's resolutions to conquer this year. The unfortunate truth, however, is that most people's resolutions fizzle and die before the first quarter is even over. It doesn't have to be this way - with a few key steps, you can be well on your way to goal-getting instead of just goal-setting and turn your resolutions into real solutions.

Goals aren't enough - know your reasons

It's great to have goals, but by itself, a goal is not much. Have you ever shared with someone else that you would "try" to accomplish a goal? Try is a very weak word. When do you think you'll be ready to commit to actually doing it, instead of just talking about it?

The main reason most goals don't stick is because there is not a big enough reason to follow through with them. For example, losing weight is a great goal. However, why do you want to lose weight? See, if the goal is just "lose weight" then when that surprise birthday party happens, it's easy to talk yourself into letting loose and stuffing your face because that goal can be pushed aside, delayed, or even forgotten.

On the other hand, if your reason for losing fat is to avoid health problems or gain confidence, now you have a reason. That reason is your passion, your fire, your spark and your fuel to keep going. When you identify the true reason behind wanting to change, write it down. Keep it with you. Read it when you wake up, and before you go to sleep. Let your mind know what the reward will be, because most people focus on the process when it is the reward that keeps you going.

A real goal is about a vision. You must have a vision bigger than the obstacles you may face. Goals are stepping stones towards turning the vision from a dream into reality. Remember, goals are simply dreams with deadlines. So commit to your goal, know the reason, visualize the change, and it will stick with you despite the challenges you may face.

Hold Yourself Accountable

A goal is not much if you don't share it with others or create accountability. Without accountability, it's easy to make the goal simply disappear when things turn sour. Then you are simply a great goal-setter, but have nothing to show for the goal-getting department.

Accountability can take many different forms. If you're not ready to share it with the world, then simply write it down in a journal. Each day, spend five or ten minutes to reflect upon the steps you took that day that are taking you closer to your goal, and what choices you may have made that have you headed in the wrong direction. This will allow you to decide what changes you must make to keep moving closer to your goal.

For example, if your goal is to run your first triathlon, one of the daily actions you can take towards that goal is to eat healthy. This will fuel your body, improve recovery, and provide the nutrients necessary to have the energy to succeed. If you decided to blow your nutrition program, then this is a habit that is taking you farther from your goal. Identify it and decide what is more important - the short-term satisfaction of eating a treat, or the reward of finishing your first triathlon event. Stay in focus, and you'll go far.

Join the Right Team

Have you ever heard the phrase that your success is determined by the company you keep? Can you imagine how your life would be different if your circle of influence included those people who have already accomplished many of the goals you are setting for yourself?

Sometimes it can be difficult to lose your friends, but if your friends are not supporting your growth, they are holding you back. Trade them in for someone more positive who will keep you headed in the right direction. Author Napoleon Hill describes a group of like-minded people as a "mastermind group" where a true synergy is created - the results of the mastermind group become greater than the sum of the individual contributions. BeginnerTriathlete.com is a great place to connect with others who have similar goals to your own. Plug into your mastermind group!

Follow the Right Coach

Last but not least, it is important to have a good coach.

Have you ever stopped to really think about successful people? People who are top athletes, or business executives, or great piano players, for example. What most of these people have in common is that they did not learn everything on their own - they had teachers and coaches. In fact, I don't know any successful business people, athletes, or simply those who are in great shape who don't have coaches. I have coaches for fitness, coaches for business, and coaches for my personal life ("life coaches").

A good coach will empower you to achieve your goals. They do this by helping you avoid the mistakes they've already made, or already witnessed their other clients make. You also benefit from their knowledge and experience without having to go through the entire process yourself. A quality coach will have a background in the area you are trying to improve, solid references, and will offer time to connect with you before you make a coaching commitment. This will allow you to decide if there is a fit to move forward and conquer your dreams together in the coming year.

Conclusion

It's great to make New Year's resolutions, but do yourself a favor. Self-esteem is related to self-promises. When you break a promise to yourself, you lose a bit of your confidence and self-esteem. When you keep a promise, you gain confidence. Don't commit to a resolution you are not ready to achieve. Don't let your goals simply remain words on paper. Create a plan for success, tackle the areas we discussed and your New Year's resolutions will truly stick in the coming year.

Jeremy Likness is an International Health Coach and motivational speaker. After losing 65 pounds of fat, he discovered his true vision to coach thousands around the world to better health. A Certified Fitness Trainer and Specialist in Performance Nutrition, Jeremy is the author of the internationally-selling e-Book, Lose Fat, Not Faith and the companion 5-CD set. Jeremy has been published in major online publications including Tom Venuto's Fitness Renaissance and Bodybuilding.com. Jeremy's approach is unique because he focuses on fitness from the inside out. Visit Jeremy online at Natural Physiques.


MORE RESOURCES:

See the complete list of Articles on Goal Setting here

Have a look at Best Selling Books on Goal Setting

 

Google

See also : Other articles on

Depression, Grief-loss, Elder Care Relationships
Inspiration, Inspirational, Goal Setting,
Goal Setting
,  Meditation, Goal Setting

 

Latest info on : Goal Settings

 

 


Business Goal Setting – 7 Tips
Corsavoo.com, France - Aug 25, 2008
When a business owner learns how to efficiently delegate tasks, overall results are much better. This is especially true when a small business owner feels ...


Goals will set you up for success
Bolingbrook Sun, IL - 10 hours ago
Whatever it is you are striving to accomplish athletically, personally or academically, strategic goal setting can help get you there. ...


Office Politics: Is goal setting holding you back?
Nova Scotia Business Journal, Canada - Aug 21, 2008
The truth is, the traditional goal-setting method is no longer effective, even though most teachers, books, trainers, coaches and schools are still teaching ...


The Associated Press

No Brady, No Manning, Giants win backup battle
The Associated Press - 17 hours ago
Jones had a 44-yard kickoff return after Huston's second field goal, setting up a 16-yard TD pass from O'Connell to Chad Jackson. ...


Fitness success depends on SMART goal-setting
BCLocalNews, Canada - Aug 13, 2008
Every athlete in the Olympics has trained for thousands of hours in a very specific way for their sport. These athletes know precisely what they want their ...


Living Smart schedule announced
Roxby Downs Sun, Australia - 17 hours ago
"The workshops don't focus on a single environmental issue, it involves goal setting," Sabina said. Each workshop will have a presentation and discussion ...


Galesburg City Council Holds Goal-Setting Session Tonight
WGIL Radio News, IL - Aug 11, 2008
The Council will meet this evening at six o'clock at the Galesburg Community Center for a goal-setting session. The city says aldermen will go over goals ...


'You go from the top of the world to pushing paper, answering phones'
Globe and Mail, Canada - 6 hours ago
Many companies covet the focus and goal-setting abilities of athletes. For Mr. Harnett, there was yet another upside. When his tree-trunk bikers' legs ...


Goal Setting and Outdoor Adventure for Women
YourHub.com, CO - Aug 6, 2008
Launch into fall with a rejuvenation of mind, body and spirit. The clinic will guide you towards identifying, achieving and living your personal goals with ...


Going for goals
Attleboro Sun Chronicle, MA - Aug 26, 2008
Goal setting, Bosak said, is essential to lowering the dropout rate, and The Legacy Project advocates starting children early on, at the elementary and ...

Goal-Setting - Google News

 

Why not be an expert yourself  ?

 If you can write on any of the above topic, you are welcome to submit your
 articles in our database :

 Submit your article here   Our Article Area

You are here Home > Tips for Stress free Life > Expert Zone > Goal Settings Tips


| Goal Settings Tips Home | Goal Settings Tips - Complete list 

| Main Home | | Meditation Corner

                |Health Tips  | Workplace Tips  | Soul Tips  |Expert Zone  |

Recommend us  |

 Books, DVDs and accessories on meditation & yoga  |

[About us] [Contact] [Privacy Policy]

Copyright 2006, Meditation is Easy.com, All rights reserved