Most of us have dreams. Whether it is to excel at the workplace, or to become financially independent at a certain age, or to win an industry or company award – dreams keep us going and give meaning and purpose to our lives. The process of setting clear goals and working out a concrete plan towards these outcomes often separates those who achieve their dreams from those who merely continue dreaming.

Goal setting is a powerful process for thinking about your ideal future, and for motivating yourself to turn this vision into reality. The process of setting goals helps you assess which stage of life you are at, and determines where you will be going. By knowing where you need to go, you will know where to focus your energy and efforts on, and you will be less likely to veer off course.

Start setting your personal goals today – use the SMART method:

S – Specific

Be specific on the goal you wish to achieve and the amount of time you will need to achieve it. For example, instead of saying “I want to excel in my career,” set a more explicit goal such as “I want to be a director in a multinational firm before I am 40 years old”.

By knowing exactly what you are working towards, you will know when you have reached your goal.

M – Measurable

Rome wasn’t built in a day. By taking small, measurable steps, you can tell if you are moving in the right direction. It helps to break down a seemingly huge and difficult goal into a series of smaller, more manageable tasks which leads you to your goal.

For example, if your goal is to lose 3kg, you can start by aiming to lose 0.5kg per month. This helps you to monitor your weight loss progressively until you reach your ideal weight.

The same goes for picking new skills or learning new things. For example, if your goal is to pick up a new language, start by learning basic conversational words, before progressing to more difficult grammar and sentence structures.

A – Achievable

 Set realistic goals which you know you can achieve and commit to. Repeated failures from unrealistic goals may make you more likely to give up halfway. On the other hand, a goal needs to stretch you slightly so you are motivated and committed to it.

For example, if you aim to join and complete a half marathon for the first time, you should start training at least a year in advance. Begin with short distances of 5km. Then gradually increase it to 10km, 15km and finally 20km. By completing each milestone, you can see yourself moving towards your goal, and you will know you are on the right track. This will in turn help you to stay motivated.

R – Relevant

When moving towards your goal, it is vital that every step you take is relevant. For instance, if your goal is to become chef and eventually open a restaurant, it would be more relevant to take up vocational training in a good culinary institute and learn from established chefs, rather than only reading up on recipe books.

It would also be relevant for you to work for a number of years in various hotel/restaurant kitchens, to learn the people and business skills and to accumulate enough experience to eventually go solo.

T – Time bound

Setting a deadline commits you to your goal and gives you a clear target to work toward. If you don't set a timeline, you will not have a sense of urgency or drive to start and move quickly towards your goal.

Staying motivated to achieve your goals

Now that you know how to set goals, the next step is to motivate yourself to achieve them.

Visualise what you want

Start first by writing down your goals and visualising where you would want to be. For example, if your goal is to save enough money to take an exotic vacation in a far away resort, away from the hustle and bustle of city life, you will find it motivating to visualise yourself relaxing in on a beach. Visualising your goal will help you see what you want to accomplish and keep you motivated and focused.

Tell others about your goal

Another way you can stay motivated is to tell everyone around you what you want to achieve and surround yourself with positive people who can encourage you each day to reach your goal. For example, if your goal is to pass your driving test, talk to others who have taken and passed the test, so that they can encourage you and guide you towards that goal.

Reward yourself

We all need that little pat on the back once in a while - it doesn’t hurt to reward yourself when you have achieved significant steps toward your goal or have completed it. For example, treat yourself to a nice healthy meal or a spa session when you have completed a particularly difficult project at work. Take time out to review and enjoy your success, and at the same time plan for the next goal. This can help you to stay motivated and focused to achieve greater things in life.

Tips

1. Why is it important to set a time frame when planning your goal?
   1. It helps me to break down the goal into a few stages
   2. It commits me to a goal and instils a sense of urgency
   3. It helps me make my goal more attainable

   

2. What does SMART in goal setting refer to?
   1. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time bound
   2. Special, Measurable, Achievable, Relaxing, Timely
   3. Specific, Maintenance, Achievable, Relevant, Timeless

   

3. Why is it important to write down your goals and visualise them constantly?
   1. So that others will know and can help motivate me
   2. So that I can stay motivated and on track to achieve my goals
   3. So that I can make my goals measurable