Goal Getting

Here are six questions you need to ask yourself, before your goal can be set in motion, that will ensure success.

1. What?
   
   That is, what do you really want to achieve? Not just a whim, or a vague idea but a clear statement of exactly the outcome you want to achieve.
   
   In a famous scene in Alice in Wonderland, the Cheshire cat says to Alice "If you don't know where you are going any road will get you there". The importance of being clear on what you want in life cannot be over stated. Let's give you an example.
   
   What if we were to tell you that one word in this article was worth a million dollars and all you need do is tell us what the word is and where you found it and we'll send you the money. Be worth looking for, wouldn't it? There's one catch though; you don't know what the word is!
   
   A silly illustration? Not really. It's the same for you. The thing (whatever it might be) that will make you really happy is out there, but first you must identify what it is. The ‘word' you are looking for is the ‘what', and is probably worth a great deal more to you than a ‘million dollars'!
   
   
2. When?
   
   Once you have some clarity about what you want, the next question is: when are you going to achieve it by? Have you ever had someone say to you, "I'm going to travel overseas one day"; or, "Some day I'm going to have a great yacht"; or, "One day I'm going to learn to play the piano"? Most people have. Here's a good response - "When?"
   
   In our experience, and supported by our research, if people can't answer this question, then the chances of it actually happening are markedly reduced. Time-lining your goals is critical. Without a time-frame you don't have a goal, you have a dream.
   
   Don't get us wrong, we think dreams are wonderful, but to turn them into reality you must turn them into goals, and giving your dream a deadline is part of the process of actualising that dream. Setting a time-frame for a goal gives it a sense of urgency and a reason to take action now.
   
   We set time-frames for most other things we do, why not for goals? The more specific and precise you are in your goal setting, the more you increase your chances of success.
   
   
3. Who?
   
   Nobody does it alone. Researching the annals of successful people reveals that effective goal setting requires the support of many people. The great metaphysical poet, John Donne, wrote over 400 years ago "No man is an island". Anything worth accomplishing needs the enlistment of other people to help you get there.
   
   The people you associate with have a huge influence and bearing on the outcomes in your life. The good news is that no matter what your goal, there is someone who has done something similar and can help you achieve it.
   
   Identify who these people are. They may be in another country, but with today's technology, you can contact and stay in touch with these people. They may live not so far from you and you can meet them face-to-face. Even the dead can be your mentors and give you inspiration and ideas. Search the libraries or surf the net and learn from their stories and make these people your ‘virtual board' of advisors.
   
   
4. Where?
   
   The where refers to creating an environment for yourself that is comfortable, creative, inspiring and above all supportive. It might be one area at home or work, an office or study or a little space in your home that overlooks the garden or is near your music.
   
   This space is where you go to regenerate and be transformed. Creating this environment will assist you to visualise success in your mind.
   
   
5. How?
   
   The "How's" are the nuts and bolts needed to achieve your aims. You know what you want, and when you want it. Now take the steps you need to take to arrive. What is it that you have to do to achieve your goals? There might be three important steps, or 33 or maybe even 333 for a very big goal. The more steps you can think of and make specific the better.
   
   When we set goals we often don't think about how and as a result relegate it to our subconscious. Yet how is really about planning. What plan or strategies are you going to use to get there? Logic tells us the more we plan the more likely we are to get to where we want to. So why leave it to chance?
   
   
6. Why?
   
   We've saved the most important to last. It is our contention that if there is a big enough ‘why' then any ‘how' or ‘what' is possible. It is the why that provides the real motivation, the why, that fans the fire in the belly, the why that drives your goals. Answering this question makes all the effort worthwhile.

Terry Power and Steve Wells. Terry Power is an author, consultant and presenter in the area of Service and Leadership with degrees in Communication and Education. For further information Phone: +61 8 9537 3889; Email: terry@execedge.com.au or visit the web site: www.terrypower.com.au. Steve Wells is a psychologist, professional speaker and peak performance consultant who specialises in helping people to achieve better results - with less stress. For further information, Phone: +61 8 9271 9271; Email: steve@execedge.com.au or visit the web site: www.execedge.com.au. Remacue is a community of personal and organizational best practice experts who individually and in project teams provide unique services to good and great performance partners who want to be even better. Visit the Remacue web site at: www.remacue.com
First published: 17 June 2008.
Last updated: 17 June 2008.