Alan W. Goff
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Setting Goals for Success the ‘A’ Type Way
(Part 1)
I have a good friend who I would definitely classify as one of those ‘A’ or ‘anal’ type personalities. You know the type… extremely cautious takes copious notes on everything and has lists a mile long. I also have some of those tendencies and can vouch for it’s effectiveness in many areas… even achieving one’s goals. Let me explain.
It’s not just good enough to set a goal, write it down and expect it to happen. Even if you actually take actions towards your goals, are you taking the right actions to get you where you want to be when you want to be? Are you spinning your wheels or wasting time? How do you know? Do you actually make detailed plans, set benchmarks and chart your progress?
Everyone has bad days. If you've been having a string of bad days (or weeks), however, it may be time to step back and assess the situation. Does it seem like the days just slip away and you have little to show for your efforts? You may wonder if it's even possible to bring order to the chaos that destroys your best intentions to stay on schedule.
Before you start in on another task, hoping against hope that this one will pull you out of the hole you're in, step away and spend some time writing down your short-term and long-term objectives. By committing some concrete goals to paper, you will avoid two things: being overwhelmed by the tasks ahead of you, and feeling frustrated and stuck by your lack of progress.
I have found that one of the best ways to achieve your goals is to first identify what they are and then come up with an action plan:
1. Clarify your goals. First, look at the big picture and then break things down into shorter time segments. What do you want to accomplish in the next 6 months? Sketch these goals out broadly, as they are likely to change over time. Now write down your objectives for the next 3 months, and then fine-tune these for the month ahead. Look at your list and ask yourself two things: Are my goals measurable? How will I know when I've achieved them?
2. Write down possible strategies. Write down one or two different strategies or approaches that will help you achieve your goal(s). (Do this for each goal.) For example, if you need to learn a specific skill or technique in order to complete an objective, how will you go about doing this to achieve your goal? Only you can decide what is best for you. Once you have decided on an approach, write down a list of actionable points that will help you to execute it.
‘Continued in Part 2
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