/TLBOGS1

The Little Book of Series

The Little Book Of

Goal Setting An Introduction to Setting Goals and Achieving Your Dreams

by

Jaki Bent

The Little Book o f Goal Setting

Introduction This book is not about playing football! It is an introduction to the art of setting Goals and achieving your dreams.

Creating Goals is a wonderful tool for moving towards and achieving things that you really want to. Goal Setting can be used for both the small and the large – the steps are the same, no matter the size of your dream. Perseverance, A passion for your goal and determination are key ingredients to successful Goal Setting and achieving your desired outcome.

Disclaimer Each of us is an individual and the content of this book is meant as a guide for things that you could do – In no way am I telling you that ‘if you do this – you will succeed’. It is a compilation of ideas that you can choose to use, or change to suit you as an individual – but the choice is yours and I make no guarantees for your individual outcome.

1

The Little Book of Goal Setting

About The Author Jaki is a single parent of three wonderful young adults. For as long as she can remember she has had a Dream – To be the ‘Water to other people’s Seed’. That is to say she has a desire to see other people happy and succeed with their dreams. To see them find a peace and contentment in their lives. To help them realise that they are in charge of their destiny and that if they have a dream they should follow it.

That may sound like a big dream, but through believing in her Dream and setting Goals she has discovered a way to do this.

‘The Little Book of Series’ is a low cost, Inspirational Introduction to many subjects. It is a ‘Dip your Toe in The Water’ look at a range of areas – each of which has the powerful intent behind it – That of enriching the lives of others through positive actions, information and structure.

Jaki herself has survived adversity and refused to sit down and let life pass her by. Although she admits to many days (and nights -­‐ in fact years) of feeling as though everything was impossible! She is an Inspirational Individual.

2

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Content Introduction

1

Disclaimer

1

About The Author

2

What Is A Goal

4

Great Goals Are....

5

Truth or Myth

7

Create The Right Mind Set

8

Setting Powerful Goals

9

Value Yourself

10

Be ~ Do ~ Have

11

How I Will

12

Setting Powerful Goals (part 2)

14

More Defining Questions

15

Great Goals are S . M . A . R . T .

16

Great Goals are P.R.I.S.M.

17

Clarify Your Goal

18

Breaking Your Goal Down

19

Set Yourself Up For Success

20

If You Hit A Road Block

21

Odds’n’Ends

22

Contact Details

26

3

The Little Book of G oal Setting

What Is A Goal A Goal helps you to clarify a desire

A Goal is a definite plan for a definite outcome

A Goal is a ‘picture of what you want’ and determination to achieve it.

Without motivation and determination to achieve a gaol – it is just a ‘someday dream’.

A Goal is Picturing what you want or where you want to be, then working out what steps you need to take to get there – then travelling to your destination with clarity and purpose

‘A Journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step’ Lao-­‐Tzu

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THAT STEP?

4

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Why Set Goals If you look at successful people throughout History and today – one thing they all have in common is that they all had a ‘dream’, a ‘desire’, an ‘idea’, a ‘plan’ of something they wanted to achieve. In other words they had a Goal -­‐ A desired outcome.

That Goal generated enough passion and motivation in them that they did not give up. They found ways to overcome obstacles, they always looked for what they could do – not what they couldn’t.

One of the most famous examples of this is the story of the Light Bulb. Most of us, if asked who invented the Light Bulb would say Thomas Edison. We would be correct of course, to a certain degree. But did you know that some 70 years prior to Thomas Edison’s invention, an Englishman, Humphrey Davy, demonstrated a powerful lamp to the Royal Society.

History could have been very different if Davy had had the same determination as Thomas Edison.

5

The Littl e Book of Goal Setting

I am not a knowledgeable History buff – but until I did that research I had never heard of Humphrey Davy. The fact is that Thomas Edison had total conviction that he could produce light and he persevered. He used each failure as a positive of how not to do it next time and in the end he was the one that went down in history as the inventor of the Light Bulb.

Other examples of famous people with similar determination are Colonel Saunders – famous for Kentucky Fried Chicken. He had a recipe, for success, and he did not quit, he went from restaurant to restaurant, having the door shut in his face each time. He did not give up at 10 refusals, nor 50, nor 100. He continued knocking on doors until he achieved his goal.

My point in these examples is that we all have knocks in our lives at times. But it is up to each of us as individuals how we respond to them. Do we give up on our dream – or do we persevere, do we get up one more time.

Your Future Begins With You

6

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Truth or Myth There is a story of a survey that was conducted on the graduating class at Yale University in 1953.

The survey showed that only 3% of the class had set clear written goals for their future. Twenty years later, in 1973, the surviving members were again interviewed. Apparently it was found that the 3% that had set goals were worth more financially than the other 97% put together.

This story has been used by many well respected motivational speakers, Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, etc. In the last 12 months web blogs have been cropping up stating that the story is a myth. My take on it is that whatever the truth – if you can use the story to motivate and educate people on the benefits of goals then use it.

A large percent of effective educating is done by using stories to get a point across. The stories are memorable and way of teaching without preaching or dictating – so if it works use it.

As you may have gathered – this story is another subtle lesson!

7

The Little Book of G oal Setting

Create The Right Mind Set This Little Book covers suggestions for the steps you can take for setting goals and ideas to get you started – but the most important thing of all is the way you view your goal, the level of importance you give it.

If it is just, for example, a level 6 goal (out of 10), then it might be an idea to review the goal and either find a way to make it a 10 – or change the goal to one that is definitely a 10. Think about what might be holding you back – be true to yourself. It is very easy to take on a ‘goal’ that is someone else’s; because you think it will make them happy. You need to own the goal – take responsibility for it and enjoy the journey

8

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Setting Powerful Goals ‘The truth is that we are often so focused on what we are doing; that we lose sight of where we are going’ Do you believe me when I say it is unlikely that you could hit a target that you could not see?

If you were going on a journey, to somewhere new, how likely would it be that you got there if you had not planned your journey first?

Life is like that – without a goal or a plan how likely is it that you will achieve your dreams?

A goal is a planned dream! It is a thought that you have had that has enough passion behind it ~ that means you are determined to succeed.

By writing and planning to succeed you have set a goal!

By planning your goals and your strategy you are setting yourself up for success.

9

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Value Yourself

‘We are often limited by the choices we make and how little we value ourselves’ Allow yourself time to dream, your imagination can be your most valuable tool. Keep a pen and paper close by and if you have an idea, no matter how ‘far-­‐fetched’ it may seem, write it down.

If you are struggling to clarify or quantify your goal you may find it useful to complete the ‘Be ~ Do ~ Have’ sheet. This has 3 columns – How do ‘I’ want to be? ~ What do ‘I’ want to do? ~ What do ‘I’ want to have?

Use the sheet ‘How I Will’ to write down all the ways that you can move towards your goal. This sheet has two columns – The first has been blanked out and is headed ‘why I Can’t’, the reason for that is to train your mind/thought process not to consider why you can’t do something but to change the process to ‘How you Will’ (2nd Column).

10

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Be ~ Do ~ Have This is a simple exercise – either create a sheet of your own or download the sheet from ~ www.youpublish.com/thelittlebookofinfo Think about each of the sections and fill in your thoughts, try not to censor your answers – it is amazing how many of our thoughts that we dismiss because we think they are far-­‐fetched, outrageous or just ‘pie in the sky’.

How do I want to Be?

What do I want to Do?

What do I want to Have?

E.g. -­‐ Confident

E.g. Swim with Dolphins

E.g. Nice home

11

The Little Book of Goal Setting

How Will I Another simple exercise – again either create a sheet of your own or download the sheet from ~ www.youpublish.com/thelittlebookofinfo

Write down all of the things that you can do to achieve your goal – remember do not censor your ideas.

Write your Goal Here WHY I CANT

HOW I WILL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

12

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Setting Powerful Goals I have found that the best way to set a powerful and achievable goal is to work backwards!

Think about your goal/topic and take yourself forward to a point in time when you have reached your desired outcome.

Be in that moment ~ See your surroundings; imagine you are standing in the middle of your desired destination or situation.

What can you see?

What are you feeling?

Who are you with?

What can you hear?

What can you smell?

Allow yourself the luxury of being there in that moment. Take in as many details as possible – really be there – does it feel good? Is there anything that you would change? If the answer is yes – then remember you have the ability to change it.

13

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Setting Powerful Goals There are obviously some things in life that cannot be changed – for example if a loved one has died. But in an instance like that – you have memories and they are always present and everything in life can be made into a positive.

Now -­‐ Ask yourself the following questions; make a note of your responses What do you notice that shows you that you have achieved your goal?

If it was a problem that you wanted to solve – how will you know that this has happened?

What are you Seeing? Hearing? Feeling? Doing?

Where are you?

When is this happening – how far in the future?

On a scale of 1-­‐10 how much do you want to achieve this goal? If it is less than 10 – what can you do to make it a 10?

14

The Little Book of Goal Setting

More Defining Questions Just in case you are struggling with defining your goal or dreams – here are a few more suggestions for delving into your sub-­‐ conscious.

Think about what it is in your life that gives you the most satisfaction or pleasure.

If you won a million pounds what would you do with it?

If you found a magic lamp what three wishes would you make – knowing that they were going to come true?

Is there something in your life that you have always wanted to do – but been too nervous to try?

If you were told that you had six months where you would be able to achieve anything – everything would just happen – what would you choose to do?

Is there one thought that keeps coming into your mind – but you keep pushing it to the back as you think ‘it is silly’?

15

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Great Goals Are . . .

S.M.A.R.T.

S = Specific ~ Significant ~ Stretching be as detailed as you can

M = Measureable ~ Meaningful ~ Motivational be able to see an outcome

A = Achievable ~ Action-­‐orientated ~ Attainable ~ Agreed Set yourself up for success

R = Realistic ~ Relevant ~ Results-­‐focused ~ Rewarding pushing boundaries is good for growth

T = Timed ~ Tangible ~ Trackable ~ Timely Set a time line for each step towards your goal

16

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Great Goals Are . . .

P.R.I.S.M. A PRISM -­‐ a glass object that can separate white light into a spectrum of colours. Liken it to breaking your goals into a series of steps – to make it achievable.

A Goal is a dream that can be separated into a number of steps/actions so that it can be a reality.

P = Personal – Ensure that the goal is yours, not someone else’s

R = Referred to regularly– Look back to your main goal often

I = Inspiring – Ensure your goal inspires a passion to succeed

S = Scribed (written down) – Write it down – it makes it real!

M = Match your values – Goals need to hold values Also ~ set your goals in the ~ Present Tense

17

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Clarify Your Goal Write Your Goal Down – Use the 4 P’s P ~ Positively stated

~ I am working towards being.....

P ~ Present tense

~ I will be.....

P ~ Personal

~ Make it positive & be what you want

P ~ Possible

~ Make it possible

~ I am in control of my time

Keep Reviewing Your Goal Can you foresee any obstacles to you achieving your goal?

If the answer is yes – what can you do to overcome these?

Break Everything into Tiny Steps It does not matter the size of your goal – you can break everything into small steps that are manageable – keep breaking every step down until it is a comfortable one – a successful one to take. Set yourself up for success.

‘If you want something different you have to do something different’

18

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Breaking Your Goal Down

If you want something different You have to do Something different If you think about all of your daily activities – everything you do is broken down into small steps/stages. Right from getting out of bed, to cleaning your teeth, to cooking a meal or driving to work.

We just take those things for granted, we have done them every day for so long that they are a habit, we don’t even realise that we are doing them.

The more you practice setting and writing goals – the more they will become instinctive – just like cleaning your teeth!

Main Goal Sub-­‐Goal Sub-­‐Goal Sub-­‐Goal

Sub-­‐Goal

Sub-­‐Goal

Sub-­‐Goal

19

Sub-­‐Goal

Sub-­‐Goal

Sub-­‐Goal

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Set Yourself Up For Success Keep breaking your steps, to achieving your goal, down ~ until each step is simple and achievable.

Set yourself up for Success Simplicity is a key ingredient to your success.

Write each step down Make Lists Enjoy crossing things off – know that you are on your journey.

Set a Goal Have Passion

Achieve

One step at a mme

Break down

20

The Little Book of Goal Setting

If You Hit A ‘Road Block’ The chances are that at some point you may hit a ‘Road Block’. If it is something that feels insurmountable – don’t give up. Try using the ‘How I Will’ sheet. Think of all the things you can do to get back on track.

Remember that you are in control of your thoughts and actions.

You can choose to think positively – you can choose not to be defeated. Use the block as a learning curve, turn it into a positive.

If you find that the people around you are adding to any negativity – start choosing who you talk to or associate with.

Think of all of the things that have gone well. Ok – if it is your first step – try breaking it down into a smaller step. Just don’t give up.

Remember this is your Goal/Dream. Remember the exercise at the beginning – How will you feel when you succeed?

Insanity is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results Albert Einstein

21

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Odds’n’Ends The next few pages are made up of simple sentences that may inspire or ‘just be’ what you needed to read at the right moment.

They are things that have helped me – words that have given me a nudge and they always cropped up at just the right moment.

Don’t be Scared to Dream Big Have Faith Be able to look at yourself in the mirror Don’t make excuses! Excuses will stop you from moving forward.

Think Long Term

22

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Odds’n’Ends ‘In each of us are places where we have never gone. Only by pressing the Limits do you ever find them. ’ Joyce Brothers Work out your steps – no excuses – move forward – stay positive – Have faith in yourself and others – despite all things that knock you back – things can only knock you back if you let them – the way you think/react to anything is always down to you – you are in charge of your thoughts and reactions – not the other way round!

23

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Odds’n’Ends A Dream is just a Dream.

A Goal is a Dream with a plan and a deadline Our Imagination Creates our reality Without Change there is no new reality Focus on the positive end result Share your goals with someone important – we share things like marriage, faith, hope – by sharing we put a ‘positive’ pressure on ourselves to achieve

24

The Little Book of G oal Setting

Odds’n’Ends Courage is very Important.

Like a Muscle it is strengthened by Use Ruth Gordan Always operate ethically Give yourself a time frame – if for some reason that changes – reframe it – do not give up – this is your goal!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help – help can be your life jacket – it can help you to tread water and then regain strength and ability to move forwards.

25

The Little Book of Goal Setting

Contact Details

www.TheEmotionalBaggageDiet.com

26