If you set goals, and you want to be successful, you should consider creating a written plan that will break each goal down to the smallest steps required to reach it. This begins by clearly defining what the goal is, but the next two steps are equally important. Along with the defined goal statement, you should include a synopsis of how you will reach your goal, and clearly state what you perceive the reward of accomplishing your goal will be.
The Goal Statement
The goal statement is simply a one-sentence statement regarding your goal, but it should be a very defined sentence. It should include the goal, the time period in which you hope to attain the goal, and any other information that makes your goal specific, such as the number of pounds you want to lose, or the amount of money you want to save or debt you want to pay off. Be as specific as you possibly can. Also, use a declarative sentence. For example, your goal statement may say “I will pay off $25,000 of credit card debt in two years” as opposed to “I will try to pay off all my debt.”
The Goal Synopsis
Once you have clearly stated and defined your goal, the next step is to give a brief synopsis of how you plan to achieve your goal. For example, following the statement, you might write, “I will accomplish this by paying two extra payments each month on each card. This money will come from overtime pay, garage sales, babysitting, and reducing the grocery bill.” The synopsis can be as long as you want it to be, but it does not have to go into deep detail. That comes later when you are actually breaking the big goal into small steps. The synopsis is just the basic plan.
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The Perceived Reward Statement
Most people surprisingly leave this out of their goal plan although the perceived reward is usually why we set a goal in the first place. If the goal is to lose weight, the reward is to be healthier, feel better, and look better. If the goal is to pay off debt, the reward is to be debt free. If the goal is to save a certain amount of money, the reward is either what you plan to purchase with that money, or the peace of mind you have just by knowing that money is there. There is always a reward, and the reward is not only the motivation for setting the goal, but also the motivation to keep working towards the goal. With a goal statement, a goal synopsis, and a perceived reward statement, you will be better equipped and motivated to create a detailed, step-by-step plan that will help you to attain your goals and make your dreams come true.