Millie Grenough and the Grenough Process Successfully Setting and Achieving Goals Many of us set goals to achieve more, but end up with less because we become overwhelmed by everything on our plate. There never seems to be enough time and resources to do it all. All too often our goals get swept under the rug while most of our attention gets consumed by trivial matters.   The good news is you can learn how to effectively establish goals to get the results you want. Here are four simple steps you can take to pave your path to success: 1. Determine your real goals. The first step to setting goals is to identify what your true goals are. How do you know what a “true” goal is? It’s something that you very strongly desire and want really, really badly — so badly that you can almost taste it. Thinking of your true goal should make you feel energized and excited. If you don’t know what your real goals are, it’s impossible to reach them. Goals that go unachieved often do so for three main reasons.   Someone else told you to do it. Many people allow experts and business associates to set their goals. But this person may not really understand what you want to accomplish. You have to do what you want and NOT what others expect of you. You lack real passion. People generally pursue goals because they want the end result. But they’re not committed to doing what it takes for ultimate success. That’s why so many New Year’s resolutions get broken. And that’s why it’s important to have the passion and inner drive to complete the process.     You suffer from limiting beliefs. Don’t let the “little voices of doubt” in your head hold you back from achieving your goals. What you focus on becomes reality. Here’s a simple strategy to deal with negative thoughts: When you notice a self-defeating thought – “Oh, I’ll never be able to do this…” “I always take so much time to get started…” – use it as a cue to take action. Choose to ditch the negative groove. Replace it with a positive affirmation – “I can…”  “I will…” and immediately DO something useful. 2. Identify your strengths and weaknesses. Think about what you’re really good at doing. If you’re like most people, you have an arsenal of talent and ability you could better use to your advantage. Right now, pick up a pencil. Stop reading so that you can list five of your strengths/abilities.   Now that you have noted five strengths, identify two areas that can use some improvement. It’s better to tackle your weaknesses head on. Don’t wait until they cause you to miss out on important opportunities like landing a new client or job promotion.  Once you have identified both your strong points and your shortcomings, you can see yourself more realistically. You are now in a better position to actively manage your “handicaps” and your abilities as you go after your goals. 3.  Develop an action plan. Creating a game plan actually begins with envisioning the desired result or the end. In other words, always think about the desired end result and what it will mean to achieve it. This will increase your drive and persistence as you work toward your goal. The great baseball player and philosopher Yogi Berra says it flat out: “You’ve got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going ‘cause you might not get there.” You need to plan how to get from where you are now to where you want to be. This not only will ensure that you get there, but it will also make the trip a whole lot faster and easier. Create a list of small action steps so your plan won’t seem so overwhelming. Focusing on just one step at a time makes large goals seem easier and more obtainable.  It’s also important to set and meet deadlines to create a sense of accomplishment. You may occasionally miss a deadline here or there, but at least you’ll keep moving forward consistently. Plus, you’ll be able to track your progress along the way, which can motivate you to move from one step to the next. Here’s a trick I use with myself: instead of using the word deadline, I call it lifeline. I avoid the sense of franticness and impending doom that deadline connotes. When I think lifeline, I have the feeling of juice, vitality, connection, forward motion. 4. Evaluate your results and enjoy the journey. It’s essential to track your actions and the time you spend on them. This not only can help you to manage your time, but it will help you get the best return from your efforts. Consider what is and isn’t working. If something is working well for you, find out why. It’s probably because you’re on the right track. And if you capitalize on this, you can achieve even better results. As for the things that aren’t working for you – before you drop them, find out why. Could it be your technique, your commitment or drive? There’s always room for improvement in areas where you’re underperforming. Here’s another trick: energize your attitude. If you don’t complete a goal, or you don’t finish it in the time frame you designated, don’t consider yourself a failure. Instead, look at the experience as grist for the mill. Ask yourself: What happened that I didn’t achieve what I was going for? – Was I really serious about it? passionate about it? – or was I kidding myself? Did I do the necessary prep to make it happen? Was I consistent in taking the action steps? the follow-through? Did something else come up that I consciously decided to give priority to? or was I plain old lazy? When you’re honest with yourself about what went on, you can move ahead with increased confidence and sharper focus. That’s it. Four simple steps. Appreciate your process. Recognize how much you grow when you clarify and go after your goals. Enjoy the journey.  When to begin? Why not start the action now? As the ancient Chinese proverb says, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” And as Yogi Berra comments, “It’s not too far. It just seems like it.” Copyright 2005, Millie Grenough, Grenough LLC http://www.grenough.com millie@grenough.com For more information about successfully setting and achieving your goals, contact millie@grenough.com

Photo by M. J. Fiedler, Connecticut Post.