Prof KRG

A practical resource for all writers.

5 Steps to Accomplishing Your Goals

by Kenna Griffin

My husband looked at me like I had grown a second head when I asked him if he wanted some paper to document his goals.

“No way,” he said. “If I write them down, I’ll be expected to actually accomplish them.”

My point exactly! My husband was surprised to see my typed list of priorities, long-term goals and short-term tasks. He was unaware that I went to such lengths to stay on track, pointing to his head and saying his priorities were “all up here.”

Remembering priorities and goals may work for some, but most agree that a key to success is thinking on paper. I subscribe to this method. I need to see my goals written down and be reminded to keep my priorities straight. It’s also rewarding to cross a goal off of the list.

Here’s how my process works:

1. List your life priorities

This means being really honest with yourself. What are the things most important to you?

I list my life priorities as a Roman numeral outline in order of importance. I revise them annually if necessary, although my major priorities don’t really change. Mine are:

I. Faith/Life (God and my physical/mental health)

II. My “Little” Family (husband and children)

III. My “Big” Family (family and friends)

IV. Learning (research)

V. Teaching (coursework, advising and citizenship)

2. List your overall, long-term goals

Once you have your priorities, think about what success in each of these areas looks like. For example, one of my long-term goals under my “learning” priority is to complete my Ph.D. I take steps each year toward accomplishing that goal.

3. Write objectives to meet those goals

Objectives are specific things you must do to achieve your goals. I set objectives for the year, writing the success-oriented statements in objective form, making them as specific as possible.

Remember that objectives should be:

  • Written in “to verb” form,
  • Be Measurable and
  • Be time bound

Writing objectives in this manner helps make them attainable goals instead of lofty ideas that you won’t know if you’ve achieved.

For example, one of my learning objectives this year is: To complete and defend my dissertation by May 2012.

The No. 1 reason people are more productive, accomplished and happy  is that they have clear goals and objectives and they don’t deviate from them, according to Brian Tracy, author of Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time.

4. Create short-term goals or subtasks

Once you have written your objectives, you need to brainstorm each subtask that must occur to meet the objective.

I break these tasks down by month by asking, What can I do this month to fulfill my goal?

Once I segment the tasks by month, I break them down week-by-week, making sure to do something each week (if not each day) toward accomplishing the goal. This prioritized task list then guides my day-to-day activities.

 5. Revisit/refocus your goals

It’s ok to stumble. In fact, I almost guarantee that life will result in you getting off track on your priority list. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Instead, revisit your goals, updating your timeline if necessary to get you back on track. I find it most helpful to review my goals daily. By doing this, I stay more focused on what’s most important and spend less time making major adjustments.

Let’s Talk Nerdy!

What did I forget? How do you stay on track with meeting your goals? Is there a better or simpler method?

Real Nerds Read!

Here are some additional goal-related posts you may find helpful:

 

Related Posts:

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above (typically those to books) may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I promise that I only recommend products or services I use personally and think will provide you value. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Comments

    • profkrg says

      @veronicaoswald Veronica,

      It’s totally fine to reorganize them. Step 5! Best of luck with accomplishing all of your goals!

      Kenna

      Reply

  2. shawmu says

    Kenna,

    I have my goals glued at the front of my 2012 Journal. It’s where I write my daily to dos. I also have my personal values next to my goals. And for the first time in a long time, I have resolutions. I like at them daily. I use them to help me chose what I take on or let go.

    Love the nerd talk.

    Shawn

    Reply

    • profkrg says

      @shawmu Shawn,

      This is a great idea! I think I’ll “borrow” it. I’ve debated going back to a paper planner and to do list. I think I’m going to keep my iCal, but go back to a paper to do list. It’s so much easier to organize your ideas and it feels better to physically mark things off. I’m going to put my goals and priorities in front of it so I too can look at them daily.

      Thanks for helping keep me focused! I love it when you talk nerdy with me! BTW, loving the new blog!

      Kenna

      Reply

  4. BruceSallan says

    My only thought is to make your goals realistic. Set them low enough so you can get the satisfaction of accomplishing them. Over time, you can increase the scale of the goals. But, like with exercise, start with a couple of walks a week before you tackle an Iron Man. Same with diet. As for making money, I like to quote George Carlin, “So you want to be a millionaire…well, first get a million dollars, then…”

    Reply

    • profkrg says

      @BruceSallan Bruce,

      This is an excellent point that I glossed over. Your objectives must be worthy of achieving, but realistic too. You don’t want to set yourself up for failure, but you also don’t want to make it so easy that it’s not worth doing.

      For example, last year one of my goals was to resume my tithe to the church. That’s not a goal. It’s a “to do” list item. All I had to do was set it up again. It took five minutes to log onto the church’s website and set up the auto pay. That is not a goal.

      I also tell students that you wouldn’t set an objective of losing 40 pounds in a month. You would need to lose an appendage or two to make that happen. You’re just setting yourself up for failure. At the same time, two pounds in a month could happen on accident. Losing 10 pounds in a month is a worthy goal. You’re going to have to work at it, but it can be done.

      I think good objective setting takes some practice, don’t you?

      Thanks, as always, for the comment. You’re a great supporter of this site and a wonderful friend. I hope you’re having a super new year! By the way, I really enjoyed last night’s #Dadchat! Thanks for inviting me.

      Kenna

      Reply

  6. MZazeela says

    Thanks for sharing your perspective, Kenna.

    How do you address that your goals and priorities are likely to change over time? As I have gotten older, mine definitely have.

    I think it is important to be mindful that things, thoughts, and ideals can change. I also think it is important that we are not so fixated on a goal that may have become outdated, that we don’t notice the changes taking place around us.

    Cheers,Marc

    Reply

    • profkrg says

      @MZazeela Marc,

      My priorities are pretty basic fundamentals of life focus, so they haven’t changed much. However, my goals change every year. I review them and adjust them regularly. I review them heavily at the new year. I consider what I want to accomplish in the next year and then break it down month-by-month.

      Does this make sense? Do you do it this way?

      Thanks for reading and commenting. I appreciate your support.

      Kenna

      Reply

      • MZazeela says

        @profkrg Kenna,

        I’m a pretty basic and simple person. I don’t want much in terms of material goods. While I have some basic business goals that don’t really change much from year to year, my personal goals are not very well defined. I have learned that focusing on some “prize” caused me to miss so much along the way. Now I am more about enjoying the ride than I am about the destination.

        Cheers,Marc

        Reply

        • profkrg says

          @MZazeela Marc,

          I think this shows that different things certainly work for different people.

          Thanks again for reading!

          Kenna

          Reply

  7. AprilLynneScott says

    Thanks for sharing – a great read! Being specific and realistic are very important to goal-setting – I keep long-term (monthly/yearly) separately from my pinpointed list of short-term specific goals to assist me in obtaining the long-term goals. Keeping values AND goals somewhere I can visibly be reminded on a daily basis is a huge help in reaching them.

    Reply

    • profkrg says

      @AprilLynneScott April,

      I agree. I find that I need to review my life priorities more frequently than anything other than my daily to do list. It is so easy to get your priorities out of wack. For example, I have a tendency to put everything before my mental and physical health. I think this might be a “mom thing.” I also am bad about putting work before my family, sadly. Reviewing my priorities helps me remember what’s really important in life. I think it keeps me grounded a bit.

      Thanks so much for reading. I appreciate your insight.

      Kenna

      Reply

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