The Magic of Writing Goals Down
What are S-M-A-R-T Goals?
Personally, I grew up in the call centers with whiteboards/goals/results all over the place all the time, so, for me it has become part of my DNA. One of the best practices I picked up a few years ago was a VISION BOARD. Each year I have my goals – both professional and personal outlined along with some fun pics that help to VISUALIZE THE END IN MIND.
Be specific, try to make your goals – SMART goals.
S –specific
M - measurable
A –attainable
R – realistic
T – time sensitive
Write down the reasons that these goals are important to you. Ask friends/family to hold you accountable. Use visual reminders. Don’t be afraid to re-calibrate/re-adjust your goals.
BE REAL – what really matters to you. Don’t compare yourself to others.
Jim Rohn – “don’t wish things were easier; wish you were better, work harder on yourself than you do your job…”
Most successful people I’ve met over my lifetime carry a small notebook, a planner or they are diligent about taking notes in their tablet/laptop. Diligent note taking helps make sure you follow up on the expectations of a meeting with a client, co-worker, or friend.
Writing things down is magical. The act of putting it down on paper forces your brain to be specific. This is key when goal setting and planning. Keeping your thoughts and goals organized and specific helps put your desires into action. The key is NOT to prioritize your daily tasks and what is on your schedule, but to schedule your TOP priorities. Consider writing down your next day or week on paper before it starts. Write down the most important five things that you feel you MUST get accomplished. In today’s busy world, it is easy to get distracted by time consuming less important actions. There is a clear difference between being BUSY and being PRODUCTIVE.
For me journaling is more effective in the morning to evaluate the day before. Some find it better to do it in the evening. Jim Rohn also suggests to get something nice to journal in – maybe leather bound, it must go where you go. Write facts/not fiction, don’t exaggerate/distort the truth, be scientific, learn from mistakes, avoid repeating the same mistake twice, capture good ideas, hear it, see it, read it, WRITE IT, if you have a chaotic manner of storage, helter skelter will result, and your thoughts/ideas will be irretrievable. As Tony Robbins states, “If your life is worth living, it’s worth recording.”
Napolean Hill says, “Everything man creates or acquires begins in the form of desire, that desire is taken on the first lap of its journey, from the abstract to the concrete, into the workshop of the imagination, where plans for its transition are created and organized.”