Setting and achieving goals is how you get things done every day - but it's also how you design your future. By establishing your goals, you can map out exactly where you're going and how you want to get there. Whether you want to get into law school, win a national award or land the job of your dreams, every accomplishment consists of a series of goals.
Set Your Goals High
To get your best results, set goals that require hard work and will be worth achieving. A "B+" in calculus might be a sure thing, but shooting for an "A" will push you to improve.
On the other hand, don't set your goals too high. If you start out a fitness plan with a marathon, you'll be discouraged if you fail and will stop trying to reach your goal of getting in shape.
Short-term and Long-term Goals
Realize that your plans should be made up of short-term and long-term goals. Short-term goals can be accomplished within a short period of time (anywhere from a day to a year) and can be measured easily. Long-term goals focus on what you plan to achieve in the next several years of your life.
Generally, your long-term goals guide your short-term goals. Sharat Raju, a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, has the long-term goal of being a successful film writer and director. To achieve this goal, he has worked on several short-term goals: taking film classes, freelancing for a video producer, applying to graduate school and writing and directing his own independent film. "You should be doing something every day to help you reach your long-term goals," Raju says.
Keep It Specific
Every goal that you make for yourself should be detailed enough to get you closer to your desired result. "A goal shouldn't be 'to be a better student,'" says Virginia Lacy, former career services administrator at Northwestern University. "Instead, you should have the goal of obtaining a certain GPA or take classes in an academic area you want to improve." Lacy emphasizes that it's hard to carry out action or measure the accomplishment of a vague goal.
Make Your Goals Real
In order to accomplish your goals, it's important to commit to them. Make a list of your long-term goals and the short-term goals that are going to help you achieve them. Then put your list where it will be a constant reminder, like on a bulletin board or in a daily planner. By putting your goals down on paper, you'll be able to see what it is you're going for.
Stay on Track
Create goals that can be measured. "Measurable goals help you determine your progress on a goal," Lacy explains. Having checkpoints along the way will help you see if you're on track or not. A good way to measure them is with deadlines.
"There's no way I'll get anything done if I don't set deadlines," Raju says. Deadlines give you the structure you need to accomplish your goals. Be firm with your deadlines, but also be realistic. Think about how long it will take you to accomplish your goal, taking into account all of the other things you have to do.
Most importantly, to achieve your goals, you must be positive. Plan to succeed and you'll have a good chance at getting to where you want to go.
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