Setting Goals and Objectives – A list of guidelines that will help you develop a meaningful process to create achievable goals and objectives. 


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The following provides a check-to-do list of how to set goals and objectives:

  1. Create a time sheet.
  2. Acknowledge why you haven’t started or completed what ever task you plan on pursuing in exhibition.
  3. Brainstorm and research what you want or need to do. Also see Brainstorm tools.
  4. Find a subject matter expert (sme) or mentor.
  5. Write a specific goal or a set of goals/sub goals that you want or need to achieve.
  6. Identify the characteristics of success for the goals and objectives you specified.
  7. Record a baseline (how long is it going to take?)
  8. Analyze how you are going to achieve your goals.
  9. Choose your reinforcers (what is the reward for meeting your daily goals?)
  10. Reassess your goals.
  11. Revisit your time sheet to check your overall progress.
  12. Analyze your progress, get outside feedback, and make improvements.
  13. Reward your successes and be realistic about falling short.
  14. Once you've reached a goal - set a new one.
  15. Review the merits and flaws of the outcome(s).

Setting goals and objectives are among of the most important ongoing tasks we face in life.

Goals tend to be a general idea of what you would like to accomplish within a longer time frame. Goals can be tangible or intangible: I would like to improve my grade point average, easy to measure, or I would like to learn how to be more focused in class, harder to measure.

Objectives differ from goals in that they are specific, tangible, measurable, and achievable within a shorter time frame.

  • I would like to improve my semester grade point average in English from a C to a B within the next two months.

Depending on the number of assignments and the reason your grade is a C, this could be very achievable. Your objective may have multiple parts.

  • I am going to do research on the web and talk with friends, parents, and teachers to learn focusing techniques so I can raise my grade point average in English from a C to a B within the next two months.

This could be very possible, but depending on how unfocused you are or the reason for your lack of focus, you may need to extend your time frame. It could also be the case that you simply needed to identify that you were not paying attention and that was enough.

Life is weird that way.
    
Setting realistic goals and objectives that serve a purpose with realistic deadlines usually results in, dare I say it, a form of success. Be warned, construct your goals and objectives carefully. Sloppy goals and objectives usually end with sloppy results. From time to time, we set really great goals and go through the steps that lead to their accomplishment, only to find out that "what we wished for was not what we wanted or needed," and sometimes those outcomes are much better than we expected.

Not all who wander are lost, but then again, Columbus did discover the Americas, not the East Indies, lucky for Spain and now us, not so much for the indigenous Indians.


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The following are explanations of each element in the goal and objective setting process. This can be time consuming, don’t let it scare you.

  1. Create a time sheet. Use what ever tool works best for you, cell phone, computer, paper, etc. The key is that you consistently fill in the times you work.
    1. Keep a time sheet in 15-minute increments. As much as it seems ridiculous to track your time, the question is, how badly do you want to achieve your goal? It will take you time to establish a baseline of how long certain project components will take. When tracking time, also track focus or mistakes. If you are distracted and not working at full potential discount [subtract] your time. Conversely, if you are working very efficiently or the work is more complex, charge a premium [add] for your time.

      Date

      Job Description

      Time Started

      Time Ended

      Time Subtotal

      10/11/12

      Read Mother Night

      6:00*

      7:15*

      1.25

      *Track in 15 minute increments and round up or down as appropriate
       11:53 to 12:07 = 12:00, 12:08-12:22 = 12:15


  2. Acknowledge why you haven’t started or completed what ever task you plan on pursuing in exhibition. Understand, verbalize, and write what you will continue to do or do differently from previous endeavors. This is more of a behavior management issue.
  3. Brainstorm and research what you want or need to do. Recognizing that you have a need or want is the first step to finding a solution. The first steps establish a foundation. Every step is a choice. You will make some poor choices, the goal is to keep asking the questions, “What if” and “Is there a better way to do this”. Write down, take notes, draw thumbnail sketches, keep the information you’ve collected in one place that is easily accessible. Once you have done enough research and have a clear direction, start to formulate your goals [big ideas] and objectives [specific steps].
  4. Find a subject matter expert (sme) or mentor. We all need outside assistance whether it is for specific information, coaching, feedback, devil’s advocate, muse, gentle push, support, or cheer leading. The person or people you get to help begins with your ability to recognize your interests, abilities, and willingness to grow. Share your dreams with your parents. They have the greatest investment in you and know you the best. I know it may sound lame, but your parents are the greatest marketers you will ever have. Extend your networking to your family, your friends, your teachers, your neighbors, or experts who you don’t know yet. The sketch below shows the networking ripple effect.

    Networking Soloman

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  5. Write a specific goal or a set of goals/sub goals that you want or need to achieve. The more invested you are in the goal, the more likely the success.
    1. Start with a general goal stated in the positive:
      1. I want to raise my grade in English.
    2. Focus the general goal to a more specific objective. Use the four components to help structure your thoughts:
      1. What needs to get done before you start? What actions do you need to take or resources you need to collect before you can start working on the goal or objective.
      2. Who is completing the goal or objective? Relevant if someone else is involved in the project, otherwise it is assumed that you are doing the work.
      3. What is getting done?
      4. When will you have accomplished the goal, what’s  the deadline?
        1. Example: After looking at my EdLine progress report, I will schedule time to meet with my English teacher to discuss strategies to improve my grade within the next two days.
    3. You may have a more complex goal that requires multiple objectives. Write each objective in the same manner.
      1. Example: After reading and annotating Mother Night, by Kurt Vonnegut, listening to class discussions, and taking notes, I will organize my thoughts into a web, write a draft, get feedback from two other students and my teacher, revise, edit, edit, revise, and finalize my paper by the due date, 10/11/12.
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  6. Identify the characteristics of success for the goals and objectives you specified. Objectives, separate dreams from reality. That said, if you don’t dream, reality will never change. Actually it will change, that is a constant, but dreams may help it change in your favor. The markers for success must be measure able, within your control, and your ability.
    1. Using the example above:
      1. Read the book. Not just letting your eyes kiss the ink, but read for meaning and immerse yourself in the story.
      2. Come to class ready to discuss.
      3. Pay attention.
      4. Take notes when more information evolves out of the discussion.
      5. Review and organize your notes.
      6. Organize your thoughts:
        1. Do background research on Vonnegut from three different sources.
        2. Go online and see what has been written about
          Mother Night. [This is not to say just copy, this is research.]
        3. Develop several options for a thesis statement
        4. Find ten quotes that dance around your thesis options.
      7. Complete your web and check for breadth and depth.
      8. Synthesize, take the juice out, of all of your work to date.
      9.  Write the draft.
      10. Self proof and get feed back from parent, another student, or teacher.
      11. Revise, edit, edit, revise, edit, edit, edit until you have a clear well written draft.
      12. Proof and get more feedback.
      13. Revise, edit…this is a lot of work! Yes, but the feeling of success justifies the effort. Learn to enjoy the process. Bettering yourself and your work should be enjoyable.
      14. Finalize the piece. Every correction is one step closer to perfection.
    Keep in mind, life is a series of baby steps, one small step, one small choice at a time. Eventually, you have travelled to places you never considered possible. 
  7. Record a baseline (how long is it going to take?)


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  8. Analyze how you are going to achieve your goals.
    1. What do you need to do?
      What resources do you need to use?
      1. Get the book
      2. Set aside time to read. Make sure you do not have anything else planned for that period. It doesn’t mean you don’t have other things to do, it means you can focus on the task at hand without any distractions.
      3. If you are hungry or thirsty, have food or drink ready.
      4. If you have to go to the bathroom, do it. [I know this sounds a little too personal, but you are trying to optimize your time and maximize the meaningfulness. Being distracted in any way means you are not working efficiently.]
      5. Find a comfortable, but not too comfortable, space to read.
      6. Have something available to annotate your book and or take notes.
      7. Write down the time you start.
      8. Read
      9. Ask yourself questions as you read.
      10. Take a break if you need one.
      11. Summarize what you have read – take notes while they are fresh.
      12. Write down the time you finish.

    15 minutes is the most important time you will use or lose.
    In 15 minutes you can get organized to do a task, you can do a part of a task, you can finish a task. It doesn’t take too many 15 minute increments to add up to a significant amount of time. You do not have to sit down from start to finish on a project. It seldom yields rich results.



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  9. Reassess your goals.
    1. Check your progress and/or lack thereof. It is easier to change your direction earlier than it is later. This is about your resources. In the beginning you have invested little. As you progress, the investment increases, and the likelihood you will change things is reduced.
    2. If you are having trouble assessing your progress, get some feedback from someone you trust.
    3. Use the time sheet to show you how much time you have spent and where that time was invested. Many times it is difficult to assess progress when a project is in transition. The elements may not have taken form. Keep moving. Remember, baby steps do lead to progress.
  10. Choose your reinforcers (what is the reward for meeting your daily goals?)
    1. It feels good to progress.
      1. Acknowledge your successes by doing something for yourself, go for a walk, take a nap, eat something wonderful, indulge yourself by reading or watching something that gives you delight, etc.
    2. It doesn’t feel so good to not progress
      1. If you did not accomplish as much as you thought, first check your time sheet. It may not have felt like you did much, but in fact you did a lot.
      2. If in fact, you didn’t do as much as you would have liked, make a plan to improve your efforts.
        My dad always said, “Plan your work, work your plan.”
  11. Revisit your time sheet to check your overall progress. This is important because it give you perspective on what you have done and what you have to do.
  12. Analyze your progress, get outside feedback, and make improvements.
  13. Reward your successes and be realistic about falling short.
  14. Once you've reached a goal, enjoy your 15 minutes of glory, then, set a new goal and get back to work.
  15. Review the merits and flaws of the outcome(s). Learn from the whole experience. Make physical or mental notes of what to do and what to do differently. Get feedback from a variety of people. Make sure that they can give you good objective comments, not, “I really like it.” Hearing I like it feels good for a moment, but it doesn’t really matter if you don’t know why some one likes your work. I would rather hear constructive feedback, even if it’s not all positive.

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There are many ways to approach goal setting and the following are links either provide the steps or insight into creating worthwhile goals. Don’t be surprised at the overlap. Learn the basics and then incorporate the differences to match your personal style and needs.


Goal-Setting for Serious Entrepreneurs – Mavis Nong  
 A list of straight forward tips to turn dreams into reality.  

8 Strategies for Achieving SMART Goals - Merlyn Sanchez
Provides eight ideas, primarily focusing on goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and within a specific time frame.

Take the Work Out of Goal Setting - SJ Paris
Provides a few techniques that should make it easier and more fun to set goals, both in your business life and your personal life, and learn a little more about yourself in the process.
Motivation And Goal Setting Worksheet
This worksheet, designed by Counseling Services at the University of Victoria, is aimed at setting life goals.
Goal vs Objective
Compares and contrasts the difference between goals and objectives.

Writing Great Specific Goals - Helping Students Move Beyond General Goals -
Melissa Kelly
Provides an outline to write more effective goals and objectives.

The Creative Process – Doug
Addresses the steps taken to achieve your goal or goals, from goal setting to finalization.


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This message was sent to me by my mother. My mother was always right and I always listened to her advice. Perhaps you would be wise to do the same.

In this world, persisting toward a goal requires either a want or a will.

“When you want something--when you act out of desire--you depend upon feelings of motivation, interest, or excitement to carry you past problems to your goal. You don't need will.

When you will something--when you act out of duty, commitment, loyalty, or integrity--you depend only upon your power to act. You don't need motivation. You persist because it is the right thing to do, or because of the consequences of not doing it, or simply because it needs doing. You call upon the sleeping giant within you, the power of your will.

Motivation is a welcome wind at your back. But winds are changeable and fickle; motivation comes and goes.

Will is a faithful friend, at your side in both sunlit days and dark nights of the soul, speaking quietly of what is important and good. You can depend upon your will, because it comes from within you.

So sail the winds of motivation when they blow, but in the calms and dry spells, rely on your will to carry you through.

So set goals that move and inspire you because there are no unmotivated people, only unchallenging goals. Make your goals believable and exciting--and make sure that they challenge you without discouraging you. Set goals for health and vitality, and for improving relationships and character.

Lackluster goals will remain on the shelf like a bad book. But powerful goals will ignite your hottest fires so that you get them done...NOW!”


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