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The 12 Commandments of Goal Setting
by: Della Menechella
Many professionals have a basic idea of what they want to achieve
in their careers. They may want to close more sales, earn a higher
income, or move into a different job. However, somehow they do not
achieve the success they desire. Why? Why is it that intelligent,
motivated, hard-working individuals are not achieving the success
they deserve? It is because they haven't set clear goals.
They may have a general idea of what they want to accomplish, but
the mind does not work effectively with generalities. If you want to
earn a higher income and you earn one more dollar, have you achieved
your goal? No, of course you haven't. Because you were not specific
about what you wanted to accomplish, your creative mind could not
assist you in reaching your true objective.
In order to be effective, goals must be written down in the
present tense using clear, specific, vivid words. For example, if
your goal were to earn a salary of $50,000 per year, you would
write. "I now earn $50,000. per year in a job that is fulfilling and
allows me to express myself creatively."
Completing the following steps will help you set goals
effectively so you can achieve positive results in your career.
1. Decide what you want to accomplish. The goal should be very
specific. If you want to close more sales, how many more sales do
you want to close? What do you want your closing ratio to be? If you
want to move into a different job, what are the characteristics of
that job?
2. Determine a deadline for accomplishment. A goal must have a
deadline. If you do not have a date on it, the goal is only a wish
or a dream.
3. Determine that the goal is believable to you. You must feel
that the goal can be realized. If you believe it is impossible to
achieve, you will never take the action necessary to make the goal a
reality.
4. Where are you now? Take a current inventory. You will never
know how far you have to go if you don't know where you already are.
5. What obstacles do you need to overcome? Is there something
that may make it difficult to achieve your goal? Be aware of the
obstacle so you can make plans to overcome it.
6. What knowledge will you need to acquire? Will you need to earn
a professional designation or take certain courses? Will you need to
research new markets?
7. What organizations and groups should you associate with? Are
there certain groups of people that can make it easier for you to
accomplish your goal? How can you become affiliated with them?
8. What are the benefits to you? Write down as many benefits as
possible. The more benefits you can come up with, the more likely
you will be to stick to the goal until it is achieved.
9. Develop an action plan. Determine the specific steps that will
be necessary to achieve the goal. Start at the accomplishment of the
goal and work backwards.
10. Visualize yourself accomplishing the goal. See yourself in
clear detail as if you have already achieved the goal. If you want
to close more sales, see yourself closing more sales easily. Do this
over and over again until it becomes part of your subconscious mind.
11. Take daily action towards the goal. Dreams and goals require
action. The best goal in the world will never materialize unless
consistent action is taken.
12. Resolve to never quit. Decide that you will never give up,
even when times get tough, until your goal is reached.
Taking the effort to complete the steps in goal setting is not
easy. However, when you follow these steps, your success is almost
assured.
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About The Author
Della Menechella is a speaker, author, and trainer who
inspires people to achieve greater success from the inside
out. She is a contributing author to Thriving in the Midst of
Change and the author of the videotape The Twelve Commandments
of Goal Setting. She can be reached at della@dellamenechella.com.
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