Archive for the ‘Goal Planning’ Category
Thursday, August 4th, 2011
“If we take a risk we might fail. If we don’t take a risk we surely will fail. The greatest risk of all is to do nothing.” – Unknown Author
Why would anyone go through the process of setting and planning goals and then not follow through? One possible answer is the rewards aren’t sufficient enough to motivate you into action. Another probable answer is procrastination has derailed or stalled you. The inability to act can often be traced to fear, doubt, or the absence of a clear picture of the potential rewards and consequences. Fear, in general, can be defined as False Evidence Appearing Real.
Common fears can be divided into three basic categories:
- Fear of criticism, rejection, or exposure
- Fear of the unknown
- Fear of failure
Although any one of these can cause you to become immobile, it is usually a combination of all three that create the most difficulty. Here is a closer look at the barriers to goal achievement …
Fear of criticism, rejection, or exposure is linked closely with the need for social acceptance. People will go to great lengths to adopt a mode of dress or a certain type of behavior because they fear criticism and rejection of others. Fear of having an idea rejected continues to lose billions of dollars for American business.
Fear of the unknown can also inhibit achievement. Many times, our need for security (the need to feel safe) causes us to be fearful in those situations in which we’re not sure what is going to happen. Our fear of what might or might not happen can cause us to keep from doing those things we should do to bring us closer to our goals. One key to addressing fear of the unknown is examining the possibilities and then weighing them against doing nothing.
It is not unusual for a person to want something intensely, but because of the fear of failure, not even try to attain it. Whether it’s the president who’s afraid to make a change in structure or the manager who is afraid to develop a more competent, self-directed team, fear can be a major deterrent to success. If you promote a risk avoidance mentality, innovation, growth, and the entire goal setting process can be stifled. If mistakes are met with criticism and/or punishment, people will be inclined to do only what they know how to do. It will inhibit creativity and improvement. By not trying, people frequently ensure failure—the very thing that they’re trying to avoid. Fear of failure has blinded many people from seeing opportunities.
Many people view failure as a permanent, indelible, and negative state. It’s not that at all! In fact, failure can be a very positive experience. Failure provides an opportunity to learn. Any newly attempted endeavor invites failure. The first time you try to ski you are guaranteed to fall. If you don’t fall you haven’t moved or progressed. Without failure there is no progress. When you stop failing, you stop learning. Failure is important to success if it is viewed as an opportunity to learn. To change failure from a negative experience to a positive phenomenon, eliminate those conditions which contribute to fear of failure. Develop a culture in which individuals are recognized and rewarded for innovation and creative problem solving. “Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.” – Oscar Wilde
Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 30 years, RAC has specialized in helping businesses achieve sustainable results through leadership development and executive coaching. For information on creating a leadership succession plan visit www.resourceassociatescorp.com or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.
Tags: achievement, criticism, failure, fear, goals, mistakes, Oscar Wilde, procrastination, rejection, unknown
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Wednesday, June 8th, 2011
Organizational goals provide the definition of purpose and the direction for an organization. Goals crystallize and bring life to the organization’s vision—its reason for existence. Organizational goals that are developed and executed properly foster organizational alignment and success through the three most critical components of an organization: Strategy, People, and Process.
As the overall goals are carried through every department, business unit, or division of an organization’s structure, they provide the cornerstone to the organizational structure. Organizational goals give you and your team something you can sink your teeth into, provide guidelines for achievement and recognition, and promote pride in the organization. A primary part of your job as a team leader is to communicate the organizational goals and their connectivity to the goals of your team or department.
The primary reason most organizations exist is to be profitable or to generate enough funds to implement their mission as in a not-for-profit organization. Goals provide the direction around which every part of an organization, as well as the various activities of the individuals within the organization, must be organized. When the physical, mental, and emotional efforts of all contributors are channeled toward organizational goals, the organization’s success increases dramatically.
Goals provide the organization with a tracking system and a means of recording its achievements. Too often, organizational goals are achieved but lost to memory by the reporting period. Recognizing achievements is a confidence builder. Past achievements can be a predictor of your future success.
Goals assist an organization in all decision-making processes. When an organization has defined exactly where it is headed, many decisions fall into place. All energies can be focused on discovering ways to get there, rather than deciding where to go. When goals are identified and action steps determined—it is much easier for all parts of an organization to align. Each part of the organization can weigh its own effort in terms of its contribution to the overall goals of the entire organization rather than to its own unique function. Goals help the members of an organization build unity of purpose. Therefore, communications improve and differences of opinion are shared more rationally because the team effort is directed at achieving common goals.
Well thought out organizational goals often become the basis of an organization’s public image. Publicly shared goals that convey confidence and success can help increase market share, customer loyalty, and earning potential. Customers are more likely to purchase from an organization whose image is that of an organization capable of describing its achievements to a vast audience—your employees and customer base.
Clearly defined goals will also help an organization anticipate, compensate for, and reduce the impact that outside forces have upon its operations. Goals help set into motion plans of action, which take into consideration a wide spectrum of possible obstacles to be encountered. By such systematic strategic planning, obstacles are either overcome or their efforts are greatly reduced.
A team with well-defined goals provides a framework within which your team members can set appropriate and meaningful personal goals. For success in today’s business environment, it is important that employees’ personal goals are aligned with the team’s and the organization’s goals. There is always a much stronger commitment to organizational goals when personal goals and needs are being fulfilled.
Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 30 years, RAC has specialized in helping businesses and individuals achieve high levels of excellence and success. Learn how at www.resourceassociatescorp.com or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.
Tags: goal setting, goals, organizational, personal, resource associate, Success
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Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
From June 11 to July 6, 2010, 642 U.S. students (ages 10-18) participated in the Gallup Student Poll. “The students were asked 20 questions meant to gauge their hope, engagement, and wellbeing—and then were classified as “ready for the future” if they scored high in all three dimensions. Gallup’s research suggests that students who do well on all three metrics tend to achieve higher grades, complete more credits, and report fewer health problems than their peers. The research is meant to help leaders and educators improve student performance and in turn the high school graduation rate nationwide.” – Lymari Morales
The Gallup study’s final conclusion: 34% of respondents in grades 5-12 are hopeful, engaged, and thriving—others fall short in at least one of these dimensions.
Part of what facilitates a hopeful, engaged, and thriving attitude is the ability for a student to see a bright future and feel confident it is attainable. Another important statistic from the Gallup poll is that 42% of the students polled said they were energetically pursuing goals. Life is a journey and it is the most important journey we as individuals will ever take. The sooner young people are exposed to the value of goals in all aspects of their life and are taught how to use a proven goal accomplishment model the sooner they will be “ready for the future.”
Seventeen years ago our company developed a youth leadership process entitled Rising Stars. It focuses on helping young people prepare for a bright future and be contributing members of their community, while exposing them to and teaching them how to use a proven goal accomplishment model. In addition to sharing the S.M.A.R.T.Y. criteria, which many people know is important to consider when building goals, we also focus on the six core components of goal setting.
- Listing your dreams. Every purposeful journey aims for a destination. Where do you want to go with your life? What do you want to accomplish? What are your overall objectives? What are your dreams? Listing your dreams allows you to develop a master list of things you want to do and become—as well as things you want to achieve and attain.
- Conducting personal self-evaluations. You can go wherever you choose on your life’s journey, but you can only start from one place. You can only start from where you are today.
- Developing goal categories. Once a springboard is created to clarify your dreams and you’ve identified your current starting point, the next step requires developing the categories of your life that you’d like to change and improve in order to realize your dreams. Goal categories provide an important step between your dreams and your goals, and they help you translate your general ideas and thoughts into action.
- Creating goal statements. Goal categories are then translated into specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time trackable goal statements that are solely yours (S.M.A.R.T.Y.). In our experience the more focused and specific the better.
- Developing specific action steps. The next step is to identify the actions you need to take in order to achieve your goals. Creating specific action steps will provide the daily, weekly, and monthly activity necessary to make your goals a reality.
- Prioritizing of your goals and action steps. Making a conscious decision through a prioritization process which goals or action steps are the most important. It is also a necessary step. The prioritization process will never stop, as you will need to continually evaluate what is important to your success now.
No matter your age, goal accomplishment is a life long process. It is rewarding to see young people embrace the concepts and apply them early for success in all areas of their life: school, home, career, health, and community. Goal accomplishment is the backbone of creating hopeful, engaged, and thriving lives.
Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 17 years, RAC has specialized in helping young people achieve success through youth leadership development and goal setting. For information visit www.resourceassociatescorp.com or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.
Tags: engaged, Gallup, Goal accomplishment, goal setting, Leadership, RAC, Resource Associates Corporation, Rising stars, students, youth leadership
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Wednesday, December 29th, 2010
2011 is fast approaching and many sales organizations have already strategized their sales goals and objectives for the New Year. Some organizations may be finalizing their 2011 projections as we speak. No matter where your company is in the forecasting process it is critical to have established and clearly defined sales goals. Sales is all about being focused on generating the right activity that will effectively fill your funnel, and therefore net the results your organization requires.
In addition to defined goals there are several other criteria that foster success in sales:
- Sell with questions not answers – Potential customers for your product or service really don’t care what you have to say. Your sales pitch or sales script is really the last thing they want to hear. What potential customers really want are their questions answered. Their questions are indicative of what is really important to them. When you understand what is important to them, you create or uncover their personal buying motive. Spend more time asking questions about what they want or need. Use your product or service knowledge to answer their questions concisely while moving directly into the next question. Remember that it is really about them … not about your knowledge. Help a potential customer make a buying decision through the questions you have asked rather than trying to sell by guessing at which features and benefits you think may be important to them.
- People buy based on emotions – Another powerful reason to sell with questions is because it helps you uncover personal buying motives. Buying motives are typically emotional as rarely do people make buying decisions based on logic. Someone could decide to buy a car but they purchase a Volvo specifically for the safety of their family. Safety is an emotional reason. Most men and women resist the need to go to a new barber or hair stylist. Getting your hair trimmed or styled is a very practical exercise. However for many people the resistance to change is based on the fact that, “no one can do my hair exactly the way Joanne does it.” That response represents a personal and emotional attachment.
- Build relationships not orders – Success in sales is about relationships. Orders are nice but the benefit is short term at best. Creating relationships built around a management philosophy of creating loyal customers means you get to take orders from that customer for life because they keep coming back. And, they keep coming back because of the relationship they have with you and your company. If you promote the sales philosophy of taking orders you are promoting the idea of shopping around, looking for the better price, or the biggest discount. Promoting loyalty mean your customer all ready knows the service or product is great and they truly appreciate the way they are treated and served as a customers. A strong relationship is critical to the long-term success of sales organization.
- Think – Sales is a profession that can never be mastered. There is always something to learn, a new technique to be mastered, and a more thorough way to understand the emotional buying motives of your potential client. Therefore you must always be thinking, learning, and honing your skills. If you truly believe that you have mastered your sales profession then I am here to tell you, you are your biggest obstacle to your sales success. Personal growth and development as a sales professional is key to generating the income you desire.
- Spend your time wisely – Time is money, so allocate your time as if your were actually allocating real dollar bills. Money truly is what you are throwing away every time you don’t manage your time wisely.
2011 is going to be a great year because it is time we take control of our success and economic destiny. Success in sales is exciting but requires dedication and work. How can you take some of the tips above and apply them to your success in sales? Start today—2011 is right around the corner.
Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 30 years, RAC has specialized in helping businesses accelerate results through sales development and sales coaching. For information go to www.resourceassociatescorp.com or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.
Tags: 2011, Customer Loyalty, obstacle, RAC, Resource Associates Corporation, Sales, sales goals, Success, Time
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Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
Unfortunately, many people go through life without ever identifying what they want, where they want to go, or who they want to become. They wonder why they feel frustrated, never achieving anything significant. What they should realize is that the difficulty is in finding something you’ve never visualized, or returning from somewhere you’ve never been. People who have no goals, have no direction, and are almost always very busy, but rarely achieve what they want to achieve.
Now is the perfect time of the year to stop and evaluate what you have accomplished, and what accomplishments 2011 will bring. People who experience high levels of achievement and success have clearly defined personal and professional goals with specific action steps and benchmarks. As goals are achieved, confidence and knowledge heightens and expands; therefore, even higher goals become realistic. While there is no guarantee that you will achieve your goals within the given time frames, establishing them helps to ensure you will. The more passionate you are about achieving your goals, the less you will worry about possible problems, details, and day-to-day challenges. Having clearly defined goals allows you to have a sense of control over your action, your life, and your organization.
Developing personal goals that you are committed to as well as a solid plan for your organization will help to minimize setbacks. However, there will always be setbacks so expect them. Look forward to them and use them as springboards to higher levels of success. In adversity, there is opportunity. Successful people are those who have learned to face adversity with anticipation because they know that they are the greatest opportunities for learning. If you want to succeed, you must develop a positive attitude about failure. You only fail when you stop trying. In fact, failure can be your most important learning opportunity. Those that succeed are those who do the things that failures don’t like to do. Failure provides you with a chance to grow, learn, and to become better.
Creating focused and purposeful goals takes time and careful thought. It is not an exercise to be done quickly or taken lightly. It is only when you seriously evaluate what you want to accomplish, do, and become that you begin to see the future you want. Once the vision is in place it becomes much easier to create a goal and actionable plan. Start by asking yourself some seemingly easy, but often tough questions about your future.
- In 2011, what do you want to achieve for your business and for you personally?
- Where do you envision yourself personally in 1, 2, and 5 years?
- What qualities and skills do you need to develop in order to achieve your goals?
- What do you want your career or your business to provide you?
- Where do you see yourself in the next 20 years?
We are embarking on a new year full of opportunities and potential accomplishments, and they are not far beyond your reach. Define what you want and where you want to go. Develop specific goals to make that vision of your future a reality, and then create the specific action steps that will become your road map for success in 2011. There may be bumps in the road, wrong turns, or total course corrections but stayed focused. Your success is not a matter of chance!
Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 30 years, RAC has specialized in business and management consulting, strategic planning, leadership development, executive coaching, and youth leadership. For more information visit http://www.resourceassociatescorp.com/ or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.
Tags: 2011, achieve, action steps, business, career, goals, personal goals, planning, RAC, Resource Associates Corporation, Success
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Friday, October 30th, 2009
Are you inspired? Does your life currently hold within it surpassing brilliance or excellence? Are your dreams becoming a reality?
All accomplishments begin with an idea, a seed, or a dream. It is impossible to emphasize strongly enough the power of a creative and uninhibited imagination. Every achievement has emerged as the end result of a dream, a vision, or what may even have seemed to be a far-fetched idea. When is the last time you exercised your inspiration?
It is so easy to get caught up in the function of business and life that often times we forget to stop and think about what we are really working for or toward. Our daily routine becomes just that … a routine. We get used to going through the motions, and our dreams and inspirations start to take a back seat to the job, the career, and the family—and then slowly slip away into oblivion.
Have you ever created a Dream Inventory©. A Dream Inventory is a continuous, life-long list of ideas and dreams no matter how extravagant or insignificant. It is a list that contains everything you ever wanted to do, to have, to be, and to become. It is an exercise that allows you to take off the blinders of probability and possibility and throws out the filters of whether you need it, deserve it, or are worth it. It is lifelong exercise that gives you permission to exercise your inspiration.
Create a personal Dream Inventory and fill it in spontaneously. It will later provide clues to the kind of things that will motivate you. Many of the dreams that you put on your inventory may seem totally out of reach and that is okay. As you begin to grow and achieve, some of your dreams will become goals and some never will. Keep in mind that this is an exercise of dreaming and inspiration so give no thought to your ability to obtain the dreams. Many of your dreams may seem too small or insignificant to list in your inventory but list them anyway. There is no such thing as a small dream. If a dream has value to you, it is important.
I filled out my first Dream Inventory in 1985 when I started working for my current firm. In 1996 as I was updating my Dream Inventory, I listed I wanted to become President of my current firm. I listed it with really no thought as to a specific action plan, but I knew that role was what I was inspired to become. In 2002, I became President of the firm and remain in that role today.
The power of capturing your dreams and inspiration is life altering. The power of capturing an idea in writing, placing the thought in your subconscious, and letting your subconscious work on the action plan is a science we are only beginning to understand. What we do know is many inspired individuals throughout history have harnessed the power of dreaming to create surpassing brilliance and excellence! I challenge you to create your Dream Inventory today!
Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 30 years, RAC has specialized in business and management consulting, leadership development, executive coaching, and youth leadership. For more information visit www.resourceassociatescorp.com or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.
Tags: business, Dream Inventory, dreams, imagination, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Motivation, subconscious, Success
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Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
“Success is … the continual achievement of your own predetermined goals, stabilized by balance, and purified by belief.” – Resource Associates Corporation
In real life many people get stuck in a professional or personal position where goals are defined for them. The result is frustration where no one feels fulfilled and the goals often are never reached. However, sometimes developing a successful business does not come easily or in a time frame that is initially envisioned. This is not only frustrating, but often creates self-doubt. Our research shows that one of the key factors to a successful business is the commitment to a plan and persistence to make it.
However, there are a set of principles, that if applied will pay rich dividends toward your personal and professional success. These eleven principles will give you some additional direction in creating a balanced, successful life. As you continue to read, challenge yourself to identify which principles if implemented will take your business and life to the next level. Success, accomplishment, and life balance are right around the corner if you choose to do something about it – so – carpe diem – seize the day!
Earn trust by giving it. We live in a cynical world and it is becoming commonplace for people to want to see “it” before they believe “it.” Trust in the business world is critical, and you can build trust by being a person of your word and encouraging people to trust you by trusting them.
Take responsibility for your actions. Do what you say you are going to do! Admit it when you are wrong and take corrective action immediately. Make sure your actions are consistent with your values, and remember actions will always speak louder than words.
Get the facts before making a decision. Take the necessary time to collect the facts in order to make the best-educated decision. However, do not overdo it—too much information can cause paralysis by analysis, which causes inactivity, and inactivity causes failure.
Go the extra mile. Decide to make a difference! Go the extra mile for your customers, your family, and yourself. The little things always matter and they will add up to a stronger business and better relationships.
Put first things first and last things not at all. Use your “must do” and “should do” lists effectively. Focus on the activities that will impact your business and life goals—let the rest go. Simplify your world by knowing what is important to you and prioritize accordingly.
Accentuate the positive. Focusing on the negative will always net negative results as well as make everything seem incredibly challenging. Focusing on the positive will unveil new possibilities and opportunities that will directly link to your goals … and it just feels much better.
Center your life on specific goals. Specific, measurable, attainable, realistically high, and time trackable goals are the key to success and the fulfillment of your purpose.
Devote yourself to lifelong learning. What goals have you established to exercise your brain muscles? If you are unclear about the answer to this question develop those goals now! Develop goals that will force you out of your own comfort zone—it will be a liberating and exhilarating experience.
Discover and follow your calling. We refer to it as discovering and following your passion. Understanding your passion is critical to your success and living a life of balanced fulfillment. Living your passion is not the impossible dream; however, it will always require focused commitment and the desire to be the best you can be.
Concentrate on what you do well. Everyone has been given specific and unique gifts. Determine what yours are and maximize them. Do not try to be somebody else—work on being the best YOU! Listen to others, learn from others, but follow your unique direction.
Pour a solid foundation of hard work. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Hard work is essential for a successful business. Hard work is required for success in personal relationships. Hard work is required for any kind of worthwhile goal accomplishment, however, some of the hardest work I have had to do, I enjoyed the most.
So which of the eleven principles did you make a written note to address as it relates to improving your business, your life, and your current level of accomplishment? One of them, half of them, all of them … the number you selected is irrelevant. The commitment to take action is the most important step of all. Success in life is a continuous and evolutionary process. There really is no destination; there are only self-imposed limitations. Every day provides new challenges and if you are looking in the right places, life also provides the necessary solutions.
Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 30 years, RAC has specialized in business and management consulting, leadership development, executive coaching and youth leadership. For more information visit www.resourceassociatescorp.com or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.
Tags: fulfillment, goals, persistence, plan, results, Success
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Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not, nothing more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved, and will always solve, the problems of the human race.” - Calvin Coolidge
“Press on” is a powerful and necessary mental attitude. It is the attitude that is found permeating through every successful person and organization.
As a country the U.S. pressed on after 9/11. As a world leader we knew it was necessary, and it did not change the intensity of the horror, the sadness, or the trauma the events caused.
Martin Luther King, like many historical heroes, continued to do what was necessary in order to share the power of his vision—no matter what amount of ignorance or violence stood in his way.
The NASA program exists today because the Kennedy administration had a vision and a goal to put a man on the moon. Many thought that vision was insane; however, in 1969 the vision became a reality. The space program has dealt with a great deal of set backs and has needed to press on after significant tragedy like the loss of the space shuttle Challenger and the space shuttle Endeavor.
Lance Armstrong, seven-time consecutive winner of the Tour De France, accomplished those victories by pressing through a traumatic diagnosis of testicular cancer that masticated to his brain. Lance, like so many other cancer patients, have after diagnosis adapted a press on attitude because they know it is required to deal with the required treatment and victory over their disease.
All of these examples are of exceptional people with a press on attitude who achieved amazing results in extreme situations. However, I submit to you that the press on attitude is required in everyday life and business. I believe that every person involved in the above examples always had a press on attitude. However, we saw their real capability because they were faced with adverse, challenging, life, or vision threatening situations.
The business community as a whole is currently faced with unprecedented changes of which many are out of our direct control. Recovery and regaining success in the business world will come because of the conscious decision to press on.
Make the commitment now to do what is necessary to make your business successful. Look at each business issue with which you are challenged as an opportunity for success. Use your talent, experience, and education to your advantage. Develop a plan that leverages your background and experience. Review your marketing plan and your marketing mix of activities and make sure they are the right activities. Reach out for assistance as often as needed.
Make the commitment to press on … the results are and will be worth it!
Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 30 years, RAC has specialized in business and management consulting, leadership development, executive coaching and youth leadership. For more information visit www.resourceassociatescorp.com or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.
Tags: attitude, commitment, mental, organization, personal, Press on, results, Successful
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Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
“All things are created twice. There is a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation of all things. You have to make sure that the blueprint, the first creation, is really what you want, that you have thought everything through, Then you put it into brick and mortar. Each day you go to the construction shed and pull out the blueprint to get marching orders for the day. You begin with the end in mind.” – Stephen R. Covey The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Working in the learning and development industry presents a wonderful opportunity to help many types of organizations as well as many adults and young people accomplish what they have defined as success through meaningful goals. It is amazing how many organizations and individuals have yet to be exposed to a systematic process that allows them to develop a clear mental creation and the steps to develop the physical creation. Most people know what goals are and will agree that they are important; however, most people have not been trained on the effective mechanics of goal accomplishment and don’t know the power that they represent.
Developing Blue Prints
Goal accomplishment begins by establishing a relationship between where you are now and where you want to go. Begin this process with a personal and professional inventory or assessment that will help you identify your current dreams and aspirations. Define what do you want to accomplish, achieve, own, do, and be? Be careful not to let your practical mind limit your dreams and ideas. Grant yourself permission to think big and out of the box.
In addition to allowing yourself to desire and dream, take a moment to assess where you are mentally, socially, physically, financially, in regards to your family as well as with your personal belief system. We usually have a tendency to evaluate, focus, and measure effectiveness only in our professional and business lives. The common measurement is financial success, however a truly effective and well-balanced person looks at all areas of their being.
Through the dreaming process we determine what we want to achieve, what we want to do, and what we want to be. Next an evaluation or assessment process provides a clearer picture of our strengths and areas that we may choose to improve. The next step is to prioritize based on your dreams, evaluations, and assessments those specific items or goals that are most important to you now and that you want to take action on. This is the final step to providing the blueprint for your success.
As Covey indicates creating the brick and mortar is the second phase. Blueprints alone will not generate success. An architect can create a perfect blueprint, but without the appropriate building supplies and a contractor to do something with the supplies, the perfect house will never be built. The same fundamentals apply to goal accomplishment.
Bricks and Mortar
First, all goals need to be written down. Many people have goals but readily admit that they have not committed them to writing. Writing forces you to clarify your thinking and serves as a reminder of your objectives. Written goals will keep you on course in the midst of interruptions and distractions. Using a RAC Goal Planning Sheet© is an excellent mechanism to commit goals to writing and create a working document that will provide the focus necessary for success.
Working through the Goal Planning worksheet provokes the thought necessary to identify the obstacles, brainstorm all of the possible solutions, and then identify the required action steps needed to accomplish the goal. The components of the Goal Planning sheet are the bricks of your success. What provides the mortar to hold the bricks in place? All goals must have an overall target date with time specific action steps.
All the identified action steps need to be transferred to your personal planning system, which will provide a constant reminder of your plans and objectives. As you arrange your actions steps and timetable, remember that the goals are personal and you are in control. If for some reason you miss a designated date, examine the situation and find out why. There is always the possibility of unforeseen circumstances. You have the ability and authority to change a timeline. It is your blueprint.
However, those time sensitive dates will hold you accountable to yourself and others, which allows you to accomplish more sooner. Be careful to make sure that you are moving dates based on valid reasons and choices. Do not let fear, procrastination, and frustration (common, everyday occurrences) get in the way. The potential rewards of accomplishing your goal or the possible consequences of not accomplishing a goal should always be in the forefront of your mind to help you make the appropriate time sensitive decisions.
You are the architect of your life—personally and professionally. If you do not like the current results, you always have the power to change them! Take advantage of all your strengths and proven tools and use them to create a life that fulfills your every dream and desire.
Tammy A.S. Kohl is President of Resource Associates Corporation. For over 30 years, RAC has specialized in business and management consulting, leadership development, executive coaching and youth leadership. For more information visit www.resourceassociatescorp.com or contact RAC directly at 800.799.6227.
Tags: achievement, effective, Goal accomplishment, goal sheet, plan, process, proven
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