Setting Goals

Pathways 2010

A specific, measurable occurrence, object, or accomplishment that you would like to achieve, or obtain in the future.

It is where you want to end upNot where you are todayAlways keep the end in mind

What is a goal?

To achieve your goals for your career and your life requires self-motivation—the determination to stay on track and avoid distractions.

Self-Motivation

Is a positive step in reaching your end result

S-SpecificM-MeasurableA-AttainableR-RealisticT-Timely

SMART Goals

A specific goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general goal.

EXAMPLE: General goal -"Get in shape”Specific goal - "Join a health club

and workout 3 days a week"

Specific

If you can't measure it, you can't manage it. Choose a goal with measurable progress, so you can see the change occur. Be specific!

EXAMPLE: Not measureable - "I want to be a good reader" is not as measurable.

Measureable - "I want to read 3 chapter books of 100 pages before my birthday”

Measurable

Identifying goals that are important to you, helps develop attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to make them come true.

EXAMPLE: Unachievable - lose 20 lbs in 1week

Achievable - lose 1 lb once achieved aim to lose another 1 lb.

Attainable

Means "do-able.“ An objective which you are willing and able to work towards. It may push your skills and knowledge but it should not break you.

EXAMPLE: Unrealistic - A goal to never eat sweets

Realistic - Eat a piece of fruit a day instead of the sweets. Reducing the amount of sweets is a realistic goal.

Realistic

A goal should be grounded within a time frame.

EXAMPLE: Untimely - You want to loose 10 lbs, somedayTimely – I will loose 10 lbs by January

Timely

Short-term goals: within 1-6 months

Med-term goals: within 1-2 years

Long-term goals: within 5 or more years

3 Basic Time Frames

RealisticChallenging ImportantPositive

Strategies for setting goals

How much time will be required to meet your goal.

Divide the time into smaller components. Use a desk calendar, a planner, or to

schedule the day, month, or year by which each step should be completed.

Use a time line, including all the steps necessary to reach your long-term goal

Timeline for goals

Difficult school courses Inability to concentrate Indecision Distractions Procrastination Lack of money for education Strong competition for jobs

Roadblocks

Ask for guidance from someone who has faced the same obstacle.

Break a roadblock into smaller problems and try to find a solution to each problem.

Strategies to overcome Roadblocks

◦Goals- It is where you want to end up not where you are today Always keep the end in mind

◦Make SMART goals

Recap

Time Frame Short-term Mid-term Long-term

Strategies to accomplish your goals How to overcome roadblocks

Recap