Are you setting and following through with your goals?

Yesterday I mentioned about how doing the business plan is like setting goals so today I figured I would go into about goals and what makes something a goal.

First of all a goal must be written. If it is not written it is just a dream or a New Years resolution. By writing your goals you are making a commitment to see them through. Plus as Zig Ziglar says, you cannot hit a target you cannot see and so writing it down insures you can see it.

Next your goal must be specific. If your goal is not specific, it becomes more difficult to hit and muddies what the goal actually is. Also, you need to have a specific goal in mind in order to create an action plan to reach that goal.

Third the goal must have a specific timeline. You cannot have a goal that says someday I would like to have a successful business. Guess what, in my years on this planet I have never, ever seen a day on the calendar called someday. You must set a specific timeline for your goal. Once you have a specific timeline for your goal then you can set check points (short term goals) to insure you are making progress toward your goals.

Finally, your goals must be realistic. Now I am not saying you should not have big goals, after all it is the big goals that get us exciting. What I am saying it does no good to have a goal you cannot hit. For example I will never be star in the NBA no matter how much I make a goal of it after all I am too old, too short, and I suck at basketball.

You put these four items together and you are on your way to setting some good goals. The Million Dollar Portfolio also talked about setting goals today.