One way proposed to formulate goals is as "SMART goals". By following this pattern you can get a bit closer to reaching those goals.

Specific. By making your goals as specific as possible you are that much more likely to reach them. It is very hard to know whether you've reached a goal if it is only generalities.

Measurable. Once you have a specific outcome in mind the real way to know you've reached it is by having something about it to measure. A number or a figure to compare against is a more true indicator than a feeling or impression, even if the feeling is the true desired outcome.

Achievable. Is this goal something that is humanly possible? Flying to the moon by flapping your arms is not a smart goal no matter how specific you are about how fast your arms must move. Is there even enough time to reach this outcome?

Relevant. Is reaching this outcome going to serve you in an appropriate way? While having a sports car may be a fun drive a two seater is not going to be any good for taking the kids camping.

Time based. Having an actual time tied to your goals adds another dimension to that specific, measurable outcome. This gives another aspect of accountability to your smart goal.

By making your outcomes Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time based you are getting that much closer to reaching it.

Of course, formulating your outcome as a SMART goal is just the cherry on the top of the real goal setting process. To learn more about creating your own customized plan for creating the life of your dreams click here.

Six Steps For Change

Goal setting is more than just wishing and wanting. It can, however, start there as long as you have a little structure and go beyond that wishing and wanting to create a plan and most importantly do something!

If wishes were fishes I'd eat like a king. But since I'm not a big sea food fan I'd prefer to expand my dreams and learn to think bigger. One exercise I love to run people through is to push past the self created boundaries, find the edges of what you think is reality, and push a bit further. Even if you decide to come back to reality you now have blown out some limits and have discovered how much more is out there. Living somewhere between what you've settled for and what is possible is a reasonable place to be happy.

Once you've started dreaming bigger putting together a plan for reaching that dream is the meat of the goal setting process. Whether you decide to "plan backwards" or draw mind maps or shuffle decks of index cards there are two important outcomes from planning. The first is that you have a plan. Whether that plan will work, is realistic, or even pleasant are all debatable. Secondly, and more importantly, you've been through the planning process. You have spent more time thinking about your future than the population of most small towns combined.

The part that turns goal setting into goal getting is taking action. You have to do something. At first it doesn't matter what you do, do anything and pay attention to the results. The nice thing about the whole taking action thing is that once you've done something it is much easier to do more of what works. You can even start doing more random things that may work even better.

These three things are needed for getting to your dream life. Start thinking bigger and take some action towards your goals today. If you don't know how to get there yet take a look at the Six Steps For Change process.

For a guided tour through the goal setting process and to learn more about creating your own customized plan for getting the life of your dreams click here.

Six Steps For Change

Goals are marvelous things. They help us strive to do bigger and better things. Reaching goals is even better than setting goals. One reason people don't reach their goals is that they are over complicating the process. It is time to go beyond setting goals and start taking the "right" actions needed to reach those goals.

Reaching your goals can be as simple as: set your goal, take the right actions, and celebrate! Let's work backwards.

If you're stuck on the last one let me know -- I'll be glad to help!

Before celebrating, however, many people get stuck on taking the right actions. The worst possible situation is that they aren't taking action. This is easily solved by taking an action -- any action! Once you've started doing something you can figure out whether it is the "right" thing to do at that moment or not.

What we mean here by "right actions" are those that get your closer to your goal. No judgement on the moral, ethical, or legal status just the effectiveness at reaching your specific goal. Please note, that for an aciton to be "right" it must bring you closer to your goal. If it is not bringing you closer to your goal it is taking you farther from it -- there is no neutral.

The key to reaching your goals is taking the right actions. The key to taking right actions is knowing whether they are getting us closer to our goals. The key to knowing whether we are getting closer to our goal is knowing what our goal really is. Which brings us back to the beginning -- set your goal.

If you are stuck on the goal setting process click here and learn how to leverage the power of simple steps, Native American wisdom, and a proven process to set goals -- and reach them!

Six Steps For Change