Setting Goals Copyright Houghton Mifflin Company All rights

Setting Goals Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Why goals are important • Goals add meaning and purpose • Goals transcend our day-to-day lives Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 2

What are the most important aspects of setting goals • The goals you set must be your own • Each goal should be part of an overall strategy Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 3

Marching to your own rhythm • “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. ” – H. D. Thoreau Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 4

Putting a personal stamp on your goals • You don’t have to be an outcast to define your own goals • You don’t have to ignore advice from people you trust Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 5

Crowd psychology • Le. Bron: Once part of a crowd, individuals “feel, think, and act in a quite different manner. ” • Gould: Running for the exits at the shout of “fire”, even when there isn’t a fire Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 6

Imaging: Turning a simple statement into a vivid picture • Peale: “Imaging” involves fastforwarding in your mind to your completed goal • Move from merely thinking about your goal to actually seeing it Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 7

Pursuing Quality Instead of Quantity • Money plays a dominant role in the goals of many • But money is a tool, not a goal Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 8

GPA: The three-part strategy for realizing your dreams • G: Goal • P: Plan • A: Action Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 9

Goal: A goal is a destination, real or figurative • Pike’s Peak • The Moon • A college degree • A cure for cancer Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 10

There are two types of goals • Major goals • Minor goals Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 11

Minor goals • Minor goals provide small victories • Completing an assignment • Passing a test • Scoring a run Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 12

Major goals • Major goals should be long-term but tangible • Getting in to medical school • Becoming fluent in a second language • Training for a triathlon Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 13

The value of documentation • Writing down your goal helps to make it real and “keeps you honest. ” Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 14

Plan: A plan is a roadmap for your goal • Most goals have several plans • The best plans are usually the most efficient • Good plans aren’t always obvious Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 15

The right plan must be a good fit • It should match the goal you are seeking • It should reflect your own needs and strengths • It should be flexible Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 16

Action: Action brings goals and plans to life • Without action, goals are meaningless Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 17

Impediments to action • Procrastination • Difficulty visualizing the finish line Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 18

Solutions • Have a concrete goal and a plan formulated • Visualize yourself succeeding Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 19

Steps for deciding on a goal • Brainstorm possible goals • Devise a step-by-step plan for achievement • List the strengths that will help you achieve your goal • Assess the weaknesses that may make achievement more difficult Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 20