How To Set Goals and Objectives

Yogi Berra once said, "If you don't know where you're going, chances are you will end up somewhere else."

Don’t make that mistake with something as important as your life, business, career and finances!

The first step to clarifying your goals and objectives is realizing that before goals and objectives become actualized they begin as an intention.

You create intention through your focus, thoughts, actions and words. Over the past few years, months and weeks, what you have thought about, the actions you have taken, the time you've invested, the habits you've implemented, and the words you have used - all created the results you are experiencing today. Whatever your results are for better or worse - they simply are. This awareness can help to remind you that if you want different results, you'll need to do some things different.

Sounds like common sense doesn't it? It is, that is the best part. But despite it being common sense how often do you actually take the time to stop and realize what you are creating in the present moment? How many times per day would you say you stop to recognize where you are, what you are really doing, and what you experiencing as a result.

Some of the best advice I have ever received from a mentor is this, "If you are not in control of your focus, thoughts and time - you are not in control - and most likely someone else is."

This realization shook me because one of my core values is freedom and it is a motivating factor in absolutely everything I do and everything I seek to accomplish. If I am not in control than who is? Not a question I took a lot of time to ponder or worry about. What I did do is get to work on figuring out what it was I wanted from my life, my business and my finances.

It is enlightening and deeply satisfying to step back often to observe where I am taking myself in this journey called life through what I invest my thoughts, time and attention in.

With this wisdom, I can reset my path at any moment if I catch myself off track. I set smarter goals and realize them far easier and often faster - one step at a time enjoying the journey every moment along the way. Everything feels brighter, lighter and more fulfilling.

What is your intention? Are you prepared to focus your time, energy and resources on creating the results you seek personally, professionally and/or financially? Do you know where you are headed and have you thought about creating a success structure to keep you on track?

The truth is whatever you choose to plant today as your intention is what you will grow through time. It’s important that you plant the right seeds today for you to grow into who you are becoming and get where you want to be.

The introductory questions you’re about to explore are designed to assist you to bring your ultimate VISION for your life and business or career into focus and lead you to establish a strong foundation.

To begin, explore the 3 key areas outlined in the How To Set Goals and Objectives graphic included with this article. Identify what you want from your personal life, your professional life and financial life.

It is important to begin with your personal goals first. They give you clues to your true purpose, core values and life philosophy. Together these things form your personal foundation. If you try to jump ahead to finance first thinking if you can fix things in this area or achieve more in this area everything else will fall into place. However that is upside down. You must first start with your personal foundation to rediscover your true purpose and core values.

Next move to the professional area of your life. Here visualize what you want from your business and/or career. Your goals in this area will give you clues to your unique ability and guide you to discover how to use your unique ability to make a positive contribution and difference for others.

Then once your personal and professional goals are clear you can discern with greater clarity and understanding what you want from your finances. You will also be clearer on what you really need to change in order to get more of what you want financially. Just remember - purpose first then prosperity.

The key to navigating your journey is knowing what you want and then taking the time to assess the ripple effects of how you are creating what you intend through your focus, thoughts, actions and words.

With a strong foundation in place, you’ll enjoy a life and business/career that will produce results reflecting what you truly want personally, professionally, and financially. With a strong foundation in place and greater awareness of how you influence your own results you'll find yourself on track to realizing your deepest vision and potential. The best part is you'll also discover that the richest and most fulfilling moments are found on the journey to catching your dreams. So keep moving forward.

Here are your next steps to setting goals and objectives that will lead you to get more of what you want from your life, business, career and finances.

Give yourself enough time to ponder these questions and provide your answers below.
The answers to these success discovery questions will be useful in clarifying your core foundation. This foundation will serve as a navigational tool to help you make the decisions and choices that will move you towards your vision and elevate you to achieve your goals.

1. Clarify your Vision:
a. What is your primary aim?
(Where do you want to see yourself in 10 to 20 years?)

2. List your personal, professional, and financial goals and objectives.
a. 3 years
b. 1 year

3. Clarify your business/career needs today.
a. Considerations: finance management, cash flow, sales, marketing, structure, systems, products, primary aim, philosophy, business management, leadership.

4. Identify what obstacles, challenges, or limitations may sabotage your efforts.

5. Describe your professional role/position today in detail.

6. Identify your expectations of yourself over the next 8 to 12 months.

7. Based on the answers to the discovery questions above, what three action steps do you need to take today to move you closer to your goals?

What three action steps do you need to take this week? This month?

Write them down and place them where you can see them every day.

For more tips, free articles, personal growth and development courses and ideas to help you get to your next level visit www.leadingedgetraining.com. Be sure to subscribe for Miranda's free enewsletter, "Keep Moving Forward". When you do, you'll receive a free copy of her Freedom, Wealth and Fulfillment success kit.

Author - Miranda Webb, Founder of Leading Edge Business Development Corp. and author of the Next Level Business Success System for Emerging Entrepreneurs. Miranda is recognized as top-level, experienced strategic business coach, sales trainer, inspirational speaker and leadership consultant to business owners, senior managers, and executives around the world. Visit http://www.leadingedgetraining.com/team.html for more information or read her biography.

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