Make That Move: The Value of Goal Setting

The blue sky was etched with hints of puffy white clouds over the open sea as I sailed aboard a cruise ship heading to the Grand Caymans. I lounged comfortably in a cushioned cabana crocheting with a promising abundance of yarn in various shades of pink that would be transformed into a 50-inch by 50-inch throw.?A few months ago, I started The Comfort Blanket Project in support of women who had been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. My goal was to finish one blanket by the end of my cruise.

I enjoyed warm oceanic breezes and felt relaxed.?I was deep into the “comfort zone.” Occasionally, my fellow passengers stopped by to ask, “What are you making?”

I explained I was making a blanket for a cancer patient.?The repetitiveness of the question made me think about the process of goal setting.?In reference to the blanket, others could see that I was making something. The missing piece was they didn’t quite know what I was making.?They knew through my actions, something was in the process of being made.?They witnessed the physical transformation of the yarn in a short period of time.?

Goal setting is the first step to making things happen. It also involves setting a deadline. I once had a fortune cookie insert that read, “A goal is a dream with a deadline.” How many times have you set a goal without a deadline? Essentially, we get there when we get there. Not having a deadline actually transforms our goal into a wish. There is a reason your mobile service provider sends you a monthly billing statement with a due date. Can you imagine if your mobile provider all of sudden informed you that you are now able to pay your statement balance “at your convenience or whenever?” For some of us, that may be interpreted as never. After all, no deadline signals we will get it done on our own time. No worries. I’ll get to it when I get to it. Since when does that attitude motivate and make things happen?

The concept of SMART goals was developed by George Doran, Arthur Miller and James Cunningham in their 1981 article, There’s a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management Goals and Objectives. The acronym SMART represents:

• Specific - What do you specifically need to do accomplish your goal?
• Measurable – What measurements (quantitative and/or qualitative) will you use to determine if you have been successful?
• ?Attainable – Are you able to reach your goal realistically? What would happen if you stretched yourself?
• Relevant – How does your goal relate/fit with your skills, experience, knowledge and interests?
• Time-bound – What’s the deadline? By when will you reach your goal?

As I physically transformed the skeins of yarn into a blanket, fellow passengers cheered me on as they passed my “work area” the following day. One woman exclaimed, “I love it, I love it!” A gentleman commented, “You are determined to finish before the cruise ends.”?Another woman wished she had joined the bandwagon when she stated, “I knew I should have brought mine,” referring to her own crochet project.

When you take steps to make things happen with a deadline, you are more likely to realize your results. What’s your plan? What resources and support do you need to accomplish your goal? How important is it for you to get it done?

Do you want to learn a new skill or perhaps hone an existing one? Clearly identify the skill and specifically what you need to do to become proficient.?There will be growing pains. Trust the process. When you learned how to ride a bike or drive a car, did you get it right the first time??Hardly anyone does.?Make the time to take action.?Even small steps over time can make a tremendous difference.?

As you embark on a new goal or even revisit a goal from the past, make sure you have the elements and mindset for success.?You are the driver. You decide how you will get from point A to B. Work your plan and hold yourself accountable.?Who else can hold you accountable and cheer you through the process?

Be encouraged when others observe you in action and provide feedback on your progress. Use their feedback as momentum to get you to the finish line.?When you begin with the end in mind, your vision with a deadline will be the start for future possibilities.?

I finished the blanket the following day and started a second one. I felt accomplished. My project had come to fruition. I turned yarn into something that was beautiful and more importantly would provide physical comfort to someone in need. ?

What’s your first step to move toward meeting your goal(s)?