| Would you take a vacation with no itinerary or road | | | | What would it take to get to that point? You might |
| map to guide your journey? Would you try to build a | | | | need to take some extra classes, perhaps in |
| doghouse, an entertainment center, or any piece of | | | | leadership training. You might want to get a master's |
| furniture without looking at the instructions? | | | | in business administration, if you don't already have |
| Hopefully, the answer is no. Yet, many people | | | | one. These are just a few examples. |
| behave in a similar manner by not putting together | | | | For each step along the path, you need to have |
| goals for their future. | | | | smart goals set that will build you towards that |
| To improve your chances of being successful, | | | | ultimate goal. Think of them as steps along your path. |
| particularly in this tough economy, you need to set | | | | Always Stay Realistic |
| smart goals for yourself. Here are some tips to get | | | | The best way to get discouraged as you're planning |
| you started. | | | | your goals is to start thinking they are impossible. |
| Think Long Term | | | | The best way to avoid that mindset is to set realistic |
| What do you hope to achieve as your major life goal | | | | goals; things you can see yourself achieving. Start |
| or goals? What would you need to accomplish in life | | | | small. For example, if you're terrified of giving |
| to consider yourself successful? Think carefully about | | | | presentations but you know that fear must be |
| these questions and be realistic. The idea of setting | | | | overcome to achieve your larger goal then make |
| goals for yourself is not to have a pie-in-the-sky | | | | that one of your smaller goals. Then work towards |
| fantasy that could never amount to anything. The | | | | achieving it. |
| idea is to find ways to accomplish a practical but | | | | That's also important when you making plans: have |
| ultimately satisfying major goal in your life. | | | | an idea of how the goal can be achieved. If you |
| You might want to have different types of major | | | | have a dream but no concrete method of turning it |
| goals. For example, you don't necessarily want your | | | | into a reality, chances are good those smart goals |
| only big life goal to be achieving financial success. You | | | | are going to stay unfulfilled. |
| might also want a family or to be good as some | | | | Moving Forward |
| type of talent like playing the harp or doing | | | | After you've established your goals, you need to |
| woodcarving. | | | | begin working on achieving them so you can keep |
| Consider the Steps | | | | moving towards your ultimate smart goals. Each time |
| Once you've thought about your long term goals, | | | | you are successful, think of some great way to |
| you've got to start thinking about what smaller | | | | reward yourself for a job well done. That motivation |
| achievements you'll need to reach on your path to | | | | is going to keep pushing you forward in the right |
| that long-term goal. For example, let's say you want | | | | direction. |
| to become a CEO. | | | | |