Time to Live
Module 5: Creating Goals

Welcome back to Time to Live!

You’ve come a long way and, if you have used all the tools on offer, you are now more organised and in control of your time.

It’s now time to look to your future and begin to create goals that inspire and motivate you. So, what are we waiting for, lets go for it!

Part One

Why have goals?

What are they for?

Well, goals let you know where you have been and how far you have come. The whole point of goals is that you plot your own course in your own game. If you don’t, you are playing someone else’s game and be assured that if you don’t have your own goals and outcomes, that’s exactly what will happen.

What happens if you don’t have any goals?

Nothing happens!

Because there was nothing and nowhere to ‘grow to’. Goals give you a chance to acknowledge yourself and to give your life meaning.

Part Two

How to set your goals

Your goals may come to you quickly or you may need some inspiration. Think of how you rated areas of your life in Part 3 because this will give you information about areas of focus that might benefit you.

The first step to creating your goals is to plan them. There are 3 things you need to define clearly when setting a goal:

  • What you want – the specific outcome you want to achieve
  • Why you want it – what achieving this outcome would give you
  • What specific actions must be taken to make it happen.

A Goal needs to have a specific measurable result, so it is written in a certain way. It always has an Action, a specific Measure and it is Time Dated. For example:

  • Increase income by 30% by December 2002
  • Earn promotion by December 2002
  • Buy a house in Florida by July 2003

Test your goals

Before committing to a goal, ask yourself, ‘Is this goal in alignment with my personal values?’ If it is, great! If not, dump it!

Any goal, which is not built on a foundation of your own values, is not achievable. Your goals must reflect what you must have in your life, be it success, achievement, peace, security or adventure.

These are the keys to goal making. This formula must become your mantra each time you set a goal.

You are in total control of your goals for the future. You already have the qualities it takes to succeed. Self-responsibility brought you to this programme and self-responsibility will lead you to achieve your goals.

Whatever you do today will take you towards those goals for tomorrow.

Part Three

Make your goals achievable

It’s important to remember when working with goals that the goal itself is just a bus stop or landmark to use as you move forward in life. Goals are a way of measuring progress and evaluating the effectiveness of your actions.

Think of moving towards your goal as a jouney. There is where you are now, where you want to be and the gap in-between. The gap has three bus stops.

  • The first stop is called Immediate. It’s what you can do on a daily basis to take you closer to the next stop.
  • By the Intermediate stop, you are at least half-way, if not more, towards your goal.
  • By the last stop, called Long term, you have arrived at your destination and can celebrate your achievements.

If you do not reach your goal by the time limit you’ve set yourself, or seem to be stuck at a stop along the way, it’s an opportunity to look and see:

  • If you are truly committed to that goal
    It’s fine if you’re not. It was your goal in the first place!
  • If the actions that you have been taking are appropriate
    There’s no point driving south to Bournemouth if you are in London and trying to get to Birmingham!

It is also important to set goals that are compelling and will help you stretch and grow.

Think big!

Your goals need to be more than just a glorified ‘to do list’. Why not set exciting, challenging goals and welcome the occasional failure that inevitably accompanies this kind of courageous striving.

Part Four

Part Five

Action!

Actions of the Week

Set at least one long term goal for yourself this week. Remember, think big!

1. Work out the time scale for your goal

‘Long term’ can be anything from 1-5 years or even longer. You decide.

2. Plan the journey

Once you decide on your ultimate goal, work out where you will need to be and what you will need to achieve by the ‘intermediate’ – half way stop.

3. Plan immediate action

Decide what actions need to be taken a daily basis that would take you towards your goal. Create an Action List specifically that you can begin using from tomorrow. As you plan your day, include an action from your goal list and start doing what it takes to live your dreams!

Week 6 is the finale to the programme. Join me then to discover how to maintain the momentum to make more ‘Time to Live’