Ahhh, goal setting. If there is one thing that I’d like to attribute my accomplishments and success to, I’d have to say it is goal setting.

Goal setting is important so I will say it again. Goal setting is very important. Goal setting in its simplest form involves, but it is not limited to, a deadline and an action to be taken. When you write down your goals you are 10 times more likely to accomplish it then a goal not written down. It is also okay to have multiple goals.

Start by asking yourself what your goals are, and write them down in your Goal Setting Forms. You may create your own Goal Setting Forms in Microsoft Word or Excel, or write them down on a piece of paper, make multiple copies and keep it with you or stick it in places where you can be constantly reminded of. Your Goal Setting Forms will be your road map to achieving whatever it is that you want to accomplish, no matter how big or how small. Your Goal Setting Forms need not be complicated. You may also purchase Goal Setting Forms but I’d prefer to create them myself as I may customize it anyway I want it.

Most of the time people do not have goals in mind and that is why they have not created Goal Setting Forms. I remember back in high school we did this exercise of writing down on a blank piece of paper what it is that we wanted, be it material, personal accomplishments, or what not. To no one’s surprise, what most of the students wrote down are materialistic, such as a nice car, money, stereo system, CD players, nice clothes, and whatever people would desire of back in high school. And yes, many people also wanted good grades, admission to good colleges. That was a good exercise and it should be done more often, as it really stops you from your routine that you do daily, and really think to yourself just what the heck that it is that you want in your life.

It is sad that goal setting wasn’t taught at our public school system. But now for the sake of the discussion I want to you take a piece of paper and pen, and make your own Goal Setting Forms. Step 1 of goal setting is ask yourself what you want, what you would like to accomplish in the short term and in the long term.

Is it a new car? A new job? A new girlfriend? A new business? A new you? What do you want? Would you want to buy a house by the end of this year? Would you want to lose some pounds of you? Would you like to lower your handicap in golf? Would you like to publish your own book? Would you want to make a certain amount of money next year? Would you want to grow your organization by 20%? Would you want to start your own business? Would you like to quit your work by next year? What is it that you want? Write it down in your Goal Setting Forms. Make sure that your goal is quantifiable; make sure your goal is measurable. Do not put something like “I want to be healthier by year 2006.” If your goal is to be healthier, what does it mean? Lose 20lbs? Get a 32″ waist? Reduce your cholestrol by certain measurements?

Also write down precisely when you would like to accomplish your goals. Here are some well-defined goals:

“I will to lose 10lbs one month from today”
“I will purchase a new Mercede in August”
“I will recruit 10 people this month”
“I will make $20k a month by 2006″
“I will call my wife everyday at work to say ‘I love you’”

Now, in the last example there isn’t really a deadline in the near future. A goal like that is more of a habit formation. Statistics has it that it generally takes 21 days to form a new habit.

Now ask yourself how and what steps you must take to accomplish your goals. If you want to lose 50lbs in 3 months, what does it mean to you on a daily basis? Define daily/weekly/monthly/year goals if you have to, depending on your deadline and grand scheme of things. In the example of losing 50lbs in 3 months, how many pounds do you want to lose in month 1, in month 2, and in month 3? If it is 20lbs that you want to lose in month 1, how many exercises will you do in a week? How many times will you hit the gym in a week? Have a specific action plan written down in your Goal Setting Forms.

If you want to build your organization or company by 20 more people this year, what are actions you make take this month, how about the next? How many ads will you run per week? How many people will you interview per month?

The examples discussed here may be over simplistic in your cases, but it should outline what should be included in your Goal Setting Forms. Remember to keep your Goal Setting Forms most visible to you, because when it is out of sight, it is out of mind.

Here is my simple Goal Setting Forms: