Goal Setting Success

Lunch was a ball we were all buzzing and joking about different goals we each had it was a real bonding time as they say nowadays.
 
As I think back I begin to realise the timing of every part of the course was perfection, real poetry in motion.
 
In less than 4 hours on that morning we had become very tight knit as a class.
What I didn’t tell you was we were all adults from 30 up to 50 years of age from diverse cultures.
 
So it definitely was a major coup for them, but even more so for us, I thank them for that as I believe we all became more tolerant and better people for it!
When we got back to class our guru was waiting we did our chant and began our trip down a new pathway for us.
 
So as I mentioned we were given thirty minutes to read what we had written and then comment on every one else’s goals.

Let The Fun Begin!

In actual fact it was an eye opener to realise that in general everyone had similar and only slightly different goals.
 
Not one person made fun of anyone’s goals in fact that had nothing but positive input and some great ideas.
 
Everyone was hurriedly taking notes.

What Are Smart Goals

Our guru told us he felt that over the last three years we were the most responsive group and he traveled all over the world.
 
He then asked us “What are smart goals?”
We all looked at one another with curious gazes on our faces.
“Well” he continued.
No one said anything! Not a sound!
“I thought you were a wise group of people”
 
When we heard that w all started making comment and shared our ideas.
 
He continued with “Well you are very close and from a certain point of view you could be correct, but I will tell you what a smart goal is ok!”

Goals vs Objectives

“Who knows what an objective is?”
 
The average comment was “something you want to achieve” which he agreed to then asked us how it could be related to goal setting.
 
Being Kiwis goal setting was brand new to us and honestly we were a little out of our depth in the 70’s.
 
Our guru then became very interactive, “We covered goal setting and writing a statement about why we wanted that goal, so what next?” he retorted.
He continued “You people need to answer this for it to be effective ok?”
Still we looked at him blankly!
 
“Come on! Think!”
Then the youngest person said “I suppose we need to set a date?”
“Very Good! He replied.
 
“Ok let’s get on with it” he said quietly.
“Firstly a goal is really in a broadened sense no specific, yes it is what you want, but and a big but, when and how, and therein lies the need for your goals to become objectives which are specific and measurable, that’s the difference, a radical difference which it is imperative for you to retain and enforce.
 
I am sure you all understand now the difference, YES!”
We all chanted together “Yes Sir! We were so all excited and enlightened.
 
His next comment was that the more you write down goals and objectives the easier it will become.
 
Finally he finished by telling us that once you have set your goals and objectives put then to one side for al least seven days then come back to them, you will be surprised.
 
I still do it today more than 30 years later!
 
So that was my first and only lesson on goal setting and objectives, all those years ago and are still used today.

Set a GOAL then Your OBJECTIVES and Live Your Dream and come back soon…

Paul Mara aka PAPY PAUL MARA

© Copyright 2011, Paul Mara All Rights Reserved