Setting Goals

by Chas Bonner

From the time we were little kids, our parents, teachers, and mentors reminded us of the importance of goals. Even one of our schoolyard games used goals---goalposts to score and win the game. But now that we are adults, how many of us truly set goals, track movement, and determine why we did or did not meet our goals?

There are many long-standing rules (subject to argument) about goal setting and achieving those goals, among them:

1. Write down your goals to make them more tangible and finite.
2. Make them detailed, specific, and time-bound.
3. Review and measure on a quarterly basis.
4. Analyze reasons for success or failure.
5. Define the obstacles impeding progress.
6. Make adjustments to remedy failure or to accentuate success.
7. Review and revise again…….and again, and again.

Do I practice what I preach?   Ooops!

We all know the rules, but few of us follow. Just remember, not setting goals and measuring performance is our loss and our competitor’s gain.