A Goal Needs to Be Specific, Measurable, and Time-Bound
Gary Ryan Blair - better known as "The Goals Guy"--defines "goal" as follows: "A goal is a specific, measurable, time-bound end toward which you direct effort until achieved." That is, a goal has three components: it has to be specific, you have to be able to measure your progress, and you have to set a deadline by which you want to have accomplished the goal.
Gary explains that when people talk about setting and achieving goals they'll say things like the following: "I want to stop smoking"; "I want to lose some weight"; "I want to get in better shape"; "I want to be more successful"; and so on. Are these specific, measurable, and time-bound? The answer is "no". This is why most people don't achieve their goals.
Gary then goes through each of the components of the definition of "goal", one by one. He begins with the first component, that a goal should be specific, and explains that everything in life requires specificity.
For example, if you go to an ATM machine to take out money, you need to input your four digit code in the exact same sequence which will work 100% of the time; if you dial a phone number, again, you have to be absolutely precise; if you sit there and type in an email address or try to log onto a specific web site, you have to type in the right email address or the correct URL. A successful outcome requires specific instructions.
Just like shooting a missile in order to hit a specific target is dependent on the longitude and latitude, you want to program your mind appropriately to hit your goals. So it's imperative that you determine exactly what it is that you want to achieve.
As an illustration, if someone wants to increase sales, Gary would suggest that they determine exactly what the product is and exactly the percentage. That is, you need to know exactly what product you're going to increase sales for, by what specific percentage, by what date you want to have achieved that increase, and how you're going to measure whether you're on the right track.
For an explanation of the "measurable" component of goal setting go here, and for an explanation of the "time-bound" component go here.
For those people interested in taking their lives to the next level and ending 2009 with a bang, Gary has created a program called The 100 Day Finish Strong Challenge which will expose you to the best ideas, the best strategies, and the best personal practices for living a successful life. This program will expose your mind to what it means to be the best, and it begins on the 23rd of September, 2009.
There's a special report created by Gary which is titled: "How to Create Your Own Big Bang!" which you can access right away, for free, simply by clicking here.
Marelisa Fábrega blogs over at Abundance Blog at Marelisa Online. She's the author of the ebook: "How to Be More Creative: A Handbook for Alchemists".
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