This is going to be a greater year than 2007. I can feel it.
Going through the posts of many bloggers, I’ve read several promises and plans that are good. But we can write them better so they’ll pack an even more powerful punch.
First of all, I believe that resolutions which have been written have a far greater chance of being done or reached than one which is just kept in the head. Having said that, I have learned (and taught) that the way you write your goals bears weight. Poorly written ones do not motivate you to act while finely crafted ones inspire, compel and give you that extra push you need to commit your self to the things you’ve written down.
On often recommended way is to use SMART which stands for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound. Taking a common resolutions like “lose weight” and use SMART, it may become:
I will lose 15 pounds by December 2008.
Easy enough right? Many already use this.
FROM THE SUCCESS PRINCIPLES
For me, the suggestions found in the book The success Principles by Jack Canfield adds the extra punch in goal-setting:
Start with “I am”
Use the present tense
State it in the positive
Keep it brief
Make it specific
Include an action word ending in -ing
Include a word that is dynamic, good feeling or emotion
Make affirmations for yourself
Add the words “or something better”
So taking it from “I will lose 15 lbs by December 2009“, we can write it as:
I am happily weighing 130 lbs in our New Year’s eve party in my new two-sizes smaller Armani suit or something better.
This variation evokes a stronger emotion and a more vivid look into what you are becoming. It also opens the possibility of achieving something over your target. While the former version appears ordinary, the second version feels like it is pumped up for prime time.
Try this on your goals. Maybe you can link up to me or leave a comment if you want some help constructing your goals in this format.
