and the The 4-Hour Workweek
, I have developed a system that seems to be working. 
This personal goal setting system works well for me. It’s not guaranteed to work for you. However, there are many principles such as setting smart goals and reviewing your goals that are required if you want to achieve your goals.
Before I get into the system, if you’re reading this post and it doesn’t happen to be the end of the year, the end of the month, or even the end of the week, don’t wait to take action until the new year, new month, or weekend. Start today!
Step # 1 – Selecting Categories
Open up a blank word document and create a list of the following categories.
- Fun
- Relationships
- Career
- Financial
- Health
- Education
- Contribution
You can delete or change any of the above categories. Just don’t go above 7.
Step # 2 – Exciting and Challenging?
Next, write next to each category “What excites me? What challenges me?”
For example, the health category will look like this:
Health – What excites me? What challenges me?
Step # 3 – Creating SMART Goals
If you have never heard of SMART goals before, it’s a mnemonic device that assist you in creating effective goals. It stands for:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Relevant
- Timed
What isn’t a SMART goal? An example of a goal that is not specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timed would be “I want to get in better shape” or “I want to get in touch with old friends”.
A smart goal would be “I will complete 3 cardio and one weight training session 50 out of 52 weeks in 2010″ or “I will write a handwritten letter, an email, or call an old friend at least once a week in 2010.”
Now, underneath each category brainstorm 10 goals. Therefore, if you have 7 categories, you will have 70 total goals. Remember, each goal must excite and challenge you.
For example,
Health – What excites me? What challenges me?
- Run a half marathon
- Swim 1 mile
- Join a basketball league
- Become a vegetarian for 30 days
- Take a multivitamin everyday
- Bench press my weight 12 X
- Squat 2 X my weight 12 X
- Go to 25 Yoga classes
- Go on 12, 5 mile hikes
- Drink 2 glasses of water every morning
Step # 4 – Elimination
At the bottom of the page start a new category called Someday.
Now, eliminate 5 personal goals from each category. Inserting each eliminated goal onto the bottom of the page in the someday list.
Therefore, you will have 5 goals left in each category or 25 total.
Continuing with the health example:
Health – What excites me? What challenges me?
- Run a half marathon
- Swim 1 mile
- Become a vegetarian for 30 days
- Bench press my weight
- Go on 12, 5 mile hikes
Someday (list on the bottom of the page)
- Drink 2 glasses of water every morning
- Go to 25 Yoga classes
- Join a basketball league
- Take a multivitamin everyday
- Squat 2 X my weight
Step # 5 – Elimination Part 2
Next, eliminate three goals from each category so you have only two remaining.
Again, place the eliminated goals in the someday list.
Continuing with the health example:
Health – What excites me? What challenges me?
- Run a half marathon
- Become a vegetarian for 30 days
Someday (list on the bottom of the page)
- Drink 2 glasses of water every morning
- Go to 25 Yoga classes
- Join a basketball league
- Take a multivitamin everyday
- Squat 2 X my weight
- Bench press my weight
- Swim 1 mile
- Go on 12, 5 mile hikes
Step # 6 – Elimination Part 3
Create another list on the bottom of the page titled “Likely”
Eliminate the goal from each category that doesn’t excite or challenge you the most. Place the eliminated goal in the likely list.
Continuing with the health example:
Health – What excites me? What challenges me?
- Run a half marathon
Likely (list on the bottom of page)
- Become a vegetarian for 30 days
Someday (list on the bottom of the page)
- Drink 2 glasses of water every morning
- Go to 25 Yoga classes
- Join a basketball league
- Take a multivitamin everyday
- Squat 2 X my weight
- Bench press my weight
- Swim 1 mile
- Go on 12, 5 mile hikes
Step # 7 – Plan of Action
You should now have only one goal in each category.
Directly underneath each goal write:
- This week
- This month
- July 1st
Continuing with the health example, it should look like this:
Health – Run a half marathon
- This Week
- This Month
- July 1st
Step # 8 – Action
Come up with a goal that needs to be completed for this week, this month, and July 1st.
Continuing with the health example,
Health – Run a half marathon
- This Week – Sign up for a marathon in the month of May
- This Month – Map out and training schedule from now until May, with a start date of January 11th.
- July 1st – Complete half marathon
Step # 9 – Review
You should review your goals every day in the morning. I find it helpful to have my goals right next to my to-do list.
When planning your day, make sure to give your goals the highest priority over all other tasks.
The Effective Personal Goal Setting System
This is the system I use to set my personal goals. Which effective ways do you have to achieve your personal goals?
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{ 4 comments }
Awesome! I love 4HWW too and posted it!
Goal setting is super important and having a system helps a lot!
.-= George´s last blog ..The 4-Hour Workweek is Back =-.
I try to break up goals but don’t go in depth like you do, although I should be more prepared. Very difficult to balance several different goals. I don’t buy into the whole new years resolution thing, if you want to do something, just do it.
.-= Craig´s last blog ..10 Ways to Prepare Financially If You Suspect You’ll Be Laid Off =-.
I write down my SMART goals in a 2010 goals booklet. It is always in my wallet and I review it regularly. It keeps me focused on what really matters to me.
Enjoy and share,
Ronny
I like the specificity here. I think that’s why people bail on their goals — they come up with some really nebulous goals on New Year’s Eve after a few glasses of Champagne, and they’re usually pretty grandiose and not very well-conceived. “I resolve to be a better person, work out more, and get my act together!”
For a few days (after the hangover wears off), the goal-setter truly tries to live up to his goals. Maybe he gets up early, goes for a short jog or two, and organizes his sock drawer. But because there’s nothing concrete in front of him, he slowly sinks back to his former ways — while also burdened with the guilt of not living up to his vague goals.
I think making these goals more specific will definitely help people stick to them. Kudos on a solid list.
.-= Joel´s last blog ..Should You Drive to Work, Even If It Costs You More? =-.
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