Goal Setting

[Teli]

I was just about to publish my goals for March and decided I should probably pop over here and make an entry on the importance of goal setting.

You've probably already heard the spiel - goals are important, goals are great, set goals if you want to succeed, etc.

It's true. Once you have a point of reference for where you'd like to end up, you're more likely to get there - it's like a road map for your life.

I like that - the road map analogy - let's use that one.

When someone gives you directions, what's the first thing you normally do? Write them down, right? Why should your goals be any different.

If you don't write down the directions, you're likely to get lost along the way and find yourself late, frustrated, and feeling stupid.

Writing down your goals is like writing down which route you plan to take on your journey. That means your goals will most likely need some details.

But try not to be too specific. Flexibility is important because there is more than one way to get somewhere.

Promise not to beat yourself up if you don't accomplish every goal in the allotted time frame.

There's no use, you can not go back in time and change it, and beating yourself up will probably decrease your chances of achieving your future goals.

Goals are learning opportunities in disguise.

Maybe the bridge is out on the route you originally plotted, or you made a wrong turn somewhere - don't fret, take a detour. Kick back, take some notes, and enjoy it.

You may end up learning there are a couple different ways to arrive at your destination, or you may find someplace better.

And when it comes time to set some new goals, do a review of your previous goals. But instead of reviewing all the things that you missed or didn't accomplish - review everything that you did accomplish, learn, or improve.

When you focus on your accomplishments and all the joy you received, your setting yourself up for more of the same. You will naturally want to experience more happy accidents and learning opportunities.

You may even find that you're better able to deal with unexpected circumstances cropping up.

[Linda Buquet]

Great article Teli! I need to be MUCH better about goal setting. I know the importance but still don't do as well as I should. (I know - don't should on yourself!)

What about you guys? Do you set yearly goals? If so - for what??? # of new sites, revenue goals? What about monthly, weekly or daily goals?

What about rewards??? Do any of you reward yourselves for reaching your goals? It can be a good self-incentive. Example:

I will reach 5,000 a month in affiliate revenue by June and ONCE I do (not IF I do), I will reward myself with that new flat screen monitor, a vacation or whatever.

So what types of goals do you guys set and what tips do you have for staying on track???

[Teli]

Thanks for the compliments Linda,
I'm glad I could give you a nice reminder .

Hopefully others will be reminded to set their own goals and get them down on paper.

As for me personally, I set goals in degrees - daily goals (i.e the to-do list), weekly goals, monthly goals, yearly goals, five year goals, and ten year goals.

Some of my goals (the monthly goals - as it pertains to my business and livelihood), I've started posting my website under the Goals section.

Since it started with my February goals, there really isn't a lot to see yet - but I'm hoping to change that as time progresses.

I'm interested to see how others set their goals as well.

[MikeDammann]

I have never set goals for myself until recently.

[Teli]

What took you so long Mike??

[Linda Buquet]

Teli, I think you helped whip him into shape.

[MikeDammann]

My friends tell me I listen to women too much, I'm trying not to, but sometimes my subconscious still listens when my mind tunes them out

Anyways ... no, I was a genius in my own mind whose instinct made goal settings obsolete. But then I got lost with too many clients I think. Clients can really sidetrack you, especially the ones who don't really know what they want. It's important to build a strong foundation for your own business before helping another one grow IMO. But like I've said, I'm still too new to the goalsetting part to act like a know it all. Gimme a couple of weeks, and I'll act like a pro

[Affiliate Classroom]

Im still no good at setting goals - but at least I recognize that now! I like Linda's idea and I think it's important that you not only MAKE goals but then have things you will reward yourself with after that goal is finished.

Right now, my short-term goal published on the Affiliate Classroom forum is to get up and running a website on the Crohn's Disease niche.

It should be up soon - just waiting on my designers to get it up!

Anyways, I don't have a reward in mind for it. I think I will figure something out soon.

Just to add to the list, I think it is JUST as important to ANNOUNCE your goals to the world - that way you instantly become accountable and people will ask you about them (so if you dont do them, you feel stupid :P

Anik

[MikeDammann]

My goals are really low right now with affiliate stuff, the only thing I'm very serious about is that it keeps on rising until I come up with some realistic and solid goals. Working on my sites as we speak