Ambition Mission

In talking with hundreds of Partners in the last few weeks both in the Ambition Mission Community and around the country at events, goal setting seems to either be a lost practice or a “I should have one but keep it to myself” activity.

Successful people are different from unsuccessful people in the fact that successful people actually set goals.  Sometimes the process of setting goals and the resulting actions they dictate are more powerful than even achieving the goal itself.   It is for this reason that I promote a 3 tiered goal setting approach which is called Must Do, Should Do, Could Do.

The Could Do is the real stretch goal - you know the one you’re afraid to tell people because they may laugh at you.  (which means it is set appropriately)

The Should Do goal is based upon YOUR past performance and capabilities with one added ingredient - consistency!

The Must Do is like a contingency plan when striving for the Could Do.  Sometimes life happens.

Finally, goals should be S.M.A.R.T.

Specific (more specific goals are more likely to have daily actionable tasks and therefore more likely to be accomplished.)

Measurable (you and others must be able to KNOW when the goal is achieved)

Actionable (without action, the goal is merely an empty dream)

Realistic (think of hours in the day, not merely what has been done before)

Timely (depends upon the lenght of the goal)

So a Happy New Year to all, and to all those setting goals for 2008 - “Think Big.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 3rd, 2008 at 9:56 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.