Welcome to Tony Richards Messages

35 Setting Goals Pt5

Welcome to this week’s message on leadership, self- confidence, and how to feel good about yourself everyday.

Last week’s message was about Critical Step 3. Writing a Vision Statement.
This was the Critical Step that linked the first three Steps together, to ensure you never lose sight of your real value as an individual, and also assisted to display that value to everyone else you come into contact with.
If you wish to be reminded of that message, it is also available back on the message page.

This week’s message is about Critical Step 4 Setting Goals.
This Step will assist you to feel the benefits of taking small but positive steps that reinforce your focus on how important YOU are. It is deliberately the 4th Critical Step.

The Critical Step must be completed in their numerical order. The Recognition and Embracing of Your Own Uniqueness (Step1), the Celebration of Achievements (Step2), and the Writing of a Vision Statement (Step3), must be in place before you attempt to set too many goals.

The reason for that is because you need to have a positive view of yourself, be comfortable with your uniqueness, and have a certainty of direction in life before you can be confident that those goals are always achievable. I want you to receive the full benefit of goal setting.

Don’t be concerned if you have missed some of the messages on how to achieve those first three Critical Steps, as they will be returning with more information over the coming weeks and months. Today’s message will concentrate on the ten-point plan, explaining HOW to set goals.

Point 1. Decide what they are. That may seem obvious but you come to understand the difficulty you may face when upon telling someone of your plan they respond with, “So how are you going to do that?” If they consist of a number of goals together then the secret is to list them in order of ease of attainment, not to prioritise them in order of desire.

Point 2. Write them down. That will start to clarify the issues raised from point 1. Writing them down makes them more tangible, just like your Vision Statement and that gives them more currency. They are more easily attainable if you can see them.

Point 3. Write the reasons for setting those particular goals. What you’re looking for here is your motivation for setting the goals. What will be your incentive to ensure you succeed? Is it for recognition, benevolence, competition, or is it for someone else that you love?

Point 4. Acknowledge the price in time and effort to complete your goals. There is always a price to pay. Don’t start if you think the price is too high or, alternatively, make another plan on how to raise the capital, or where to find the time. Being realistic helps to ensure success.

Point 5. Ensure the goals conform to the ethics of your Vision Statement. If your goal was to rob the Reserve Bank of their gold deposits – forget it. Half way through the job you’re going to feel too guilty to continue. That’s why your Vision Statement is based on Principles that are reflective of the good character from your conscience.

Point 6. Make the steps to attainment of your goals small and easy. Bigger goals require many small steps, which are of themselves goals that need to be completed. The importance of short-term objectives is to ensure that you are not overwhelmed by the tasks ahead.

By fulfilling short-term goals your ability will rise to match your dreams of acquiring your long-term goals. Short-term targets are easily reached and will therefore inspire you to continue.

Point 7. Revise, change and refine your goals as circumstances change. Your goals should be updated and adjusted regularly. Remember that any goal not fulfilled needs to be re-written with even smaller steps towards its achievement. As your goals are fluid, they will need frequent reflection, revision and refinement. That way you own your goals and won’t feel burdened by the effort of attainment because of changes in circumstances. Following that formula, your targets become realistic and achievable.

Point 8. Carry a copy of your goals for daily reference. When you carry your goals with you they are easier to see and thus more tangible and achievable. If your goal was a material target, such as a red Porsche, you can be reminded every time you see a photo of it why you’ve stopped taking the family on holidays or out to dinner. Good luck getting away with that!

Point 9. Celebrate the completion of every step in attainment of your goals. Not only do you deserve to do that, but also you have an obligation to yourself to maintain your commitment to Critical Step 2, Celebration of Achievements. This step reinforces your value and reminds you that nothing is out of your reach. Every celebration supports your positive self-image.

Step 10. Ask for, and expect, support from others for your plans. That could include giving support to others if you are working on a goal plan together. That is often the case if you are planning a holiday with a friend and neither of you would want to fall behind in the goal plan or you may end up travelling alone.

That is the basic ten-step plan, and it can be used to plan anything from a holiday, to taking over a company or a country, if your aspirations go that high. Contact me if you need help in planning your goals. Some take a number of white boards to complete. Others – ten minutes.

Please take the opportunity this week to think about your goal setting plans. We would all love to hear about any of your personal goals that have paid off, and how they have given you some positive results. New types of personal goals are always a pleasure to share.

Your stories – even short comments – are of great value to inspire others, and I would like to take the opportunity to include your stories, or comments, in upcoming episodes of ‘Special Interest Items’. They will be included as they fit into the theme of the message for that week.

Next week’s message will be about Critical Step 5. Application.
It is the fun step that allows you to display, and share, the positive view you have of yourself and everyone else in this world who will want to share your world with you. It will be followed in coming weeks by a message of Special Interest and the Cycle of Confidence and Leadership.

Until then, please continue to see yourself as a unique and remarkable person. You deserve to feel good about yourself every day.

Tony Richards.

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