“Managing and Caring for the Self”

Setting goals for success

 Without goals you lack focus and direction. Goal setting not only
allows you to take control of your life's direction; it also provides
you a benchmark for determining whether you are actually
succeeding.

“The Five Golden Rules”

1. Set Goals That Motivate You

 When you set goals for yourself, it is important that they motivate
you: this means making sure that they are important to you, and
that there is value in achieving them.

2. Set SMART Goals

 Specific
Set Specific Goals
Your goal must be clear and well defined. Vague or generalized goals
are unhelpful because they don't provide sufficient direction.
WeRemember, you need goals to show you the way. Make it as easy as
you can to get where you want to go by defining precisely where you
want to end up.

 Measurable

Set Measurable Goals

Include precise amounts, dates, and so on in your goals so you can

measure your degree of success.
  Attainable.
Set Attainable Goals
Make sure that it's possible to achieve the goals you set. If you set a
goal that you have no hope of achieving, you will only demoralize
yourself and erode your confidence.

 Relevant.
Set Relevant Goals
Goals should be relevant to the direction you want your life and
career to take. By keeping goals aligned with this, you'll develop
the focus you need to get ahead and do what you want. Set
widely scattered and inconsistent goals, and you'll fritter your time
– and your life – away.

 Time Bound
Set Time-Bound Goals
Your goals must have a deadline. Again, this means that you know
when you can celebrate success. When you are aww working on a
deadline, your sense of urgency increases and achievement will come
that much quicker.

3. Set Goals in Writing

The physical act of writing down a goal makes it real and tangible. You
have no excuse for forgetting about it. As you write, use the word "will"
instead of "would like to" or "might."

4. Make an Action Plan

This step is often missed in the process of goal setting. You get so
focused on the outcome that you forget to plan all of the steps that are
needed along the way. By writing out the individual steps, and then
crossing each one off as you complete it, you'll realize that you are
making progress towards your ultimate goal. This is especially
important if your goal is big and demanding, or long-term.

5. Stick With It!

Remember, goal setting is an ongoing activity, not just a means to an
end. Build in reminders to keep yourself on track, and make regular
time-slots available to review your goal.

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_90.htm

The Importance of goals

Why goals are important?

 Goals are important in the sense that they give you direction in
life.

6 Reasons why goals are important?

 Goals Propel You Forward

Having a goal written down with a set date for accomplishment gives
you something to plan and work for. A written goal is an external
representation of your inner desires; its a constant reminder of what
you need to accomplish.

 Goals Transform Insurmountable Mountains Into Walkable Hills

Proper goal setting can help break larger, intimidating aspirations into
smaller, more achievable stepping stones. Planning towards these
smaller goals not only makes it easier to formulate a definite plan of
action that we can start working on right away, but research has shown
that hitting smaller milestones provides real motivation and greater
contentment.

 Goals Help Us Believe In Ourselves

Setting goals for yourself is a way to fuel your ambition. Goal setting
isn’t just about creating a plan for your life and holding yourself
accountable, its also about giving us the inspiration necessary to aim for
things we never thought possible.

 Goals Hold You Accountable For Failure

If you don’t write down concrete goals and give yourself a timeline for
achievement. Its a concrete sign that whatever you’re doing isn’t
working, and you need to make real changes if you want to get where
you want to be.
 Goals Tell You What You Truly Want
By asking ourselves what we really want and constantly re-assessing
our goals, we gain the benefit of introspection and self-reflection. We
can figure out what it is we really want in life – and then we can go out
and do it.
 Goals Help Us Live Life To The Fullest
When you take the time to set goals, you ensure that your life is geared
towards getting the most out of every moment. There’s so much to do
and experience in life, but many of the things we want to achieve and
experience won’t be handed to us – we need to work for it. And if you
don't have a clear sense of what you want to do and where you want to
go, you’ll never be able to live life to the fullest.

https://www.keepinspiring.me/why-you-need-to-set-goals/