We are now past the middle of the year, how much progress have you made toward your goals? If you are not where you wanted to be, don’t worry, you can always get back on track and achieve goals. The first thing you need to do is evaluate the goals you set at the beginning of the year. Has anything changed in the first 6 months of the year, to cause you to, delay or change your goals? If so, eliminate any goals on your list that are no longer relevant to the current direction you are moving in or you have decided to delay. For the goals currently on your radar, map out your plan using the Goal Setting Worksheet I have created for you.
1. Write down your goal. Make sure your goal is S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely). For example, I want to pay off my $1,000 credit card in 20 months by paying $50 a month.
2. What is the due date? Write your exact due date.
3. Write down your why? Your "Why" will keep you going on the days you want to give up, so when you are feeling discouraged, read your why.
4. List all the steps you need to take to complete your goal. You may need to do some research to find out all the steps required to achieve your goal, but do it ahead of time so you are not derailed by unknown steps. It will also give you a better idea of how much time it will take you to achieve your goal.
5. Set deadlines for each of the steps. Antoine de Saint-Exupery said "A goal without a deadline is a wish." Setting deadlines will keep you on track and even if you get off track, they will help you get back in line, so you don’t skip steps rushing to catch up.
6. What is your reward? You should always reward yourself, it helps keep you motivated.
7. Post the goal sheet. In a place where you can see it for daily motivation.
Happy goal digging!
