Review, Reflect, Reset

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As we begin the second half of the year, it is time to evaluate our goals and refocus so that we achieve them in the second half of the year. The aim is to ensure that we are not running too far from what we ought to achieve.

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Now irrespective of how we fared in the first half we can increase the chances of success by including some of the below key strategies. 

1. Choose the best goal for you.  Look at all things we need to achieve and choose the best for you as an individual before settling for any. 

• A simple, but effective exercise is to list 5-10 possible goals that you believe would improve your life. Then ask yourself, "Which of these goals would benefit my life the most right now?"
• A more meaningful goal has a better chance of being achieved.

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2. A goal statement must have a deadline. Without a deadline, your goal will lack any sense of time urgency. It is generally more effective to limit the timeframe to 12 weeks or less. If a goal will require a greater period of time, break the goal down into smaller, multiple goals. The larger goals can kick you off track but once you break them down the success in the small tasks propels you to better heights.


3. Leave the results open ended when appropriate. Just as you allowed the goal to be accomplished sooner than the specified date in the above example, where appropriate, also allow your results to surpass your goal.

• Here are some examples of goals that can usually be left open ended:

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i) Money-based goals: Would anyone ever want to limit themselves here?


ii) Weight-loss goals: Depending on the amount of weight that needs to be lost, losing a couple more pounds would usually be received as good news.

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4. Include your responsibilities. Always include specific actions in your goal statement. 

‍Engineers frequently state that something is "necessary, but not sufficient." For example, an egg is necessary to bake a cake but it's not sufficient; other ingredients are also required. By including specific actions in your statement, you're claiming responsibility for doing everything that needs to be done to accomplish the goal.

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5. Prioritize your goal. Your brain is inundated with countless things every day. It needs to know that this goal is more important than all the other tasks it faces each day.

‍One way to accomplish this is by utilizing repetition. After first setting your goal, write it down 25 times. Now notice how you feel about the goal. If you feel anything less than motivated and excited, there is some question in your mind about it; try to figure out what's holding back your enthusiasm so you can move forward with confidence.

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• Strong, positive emotions can also be used as a prioritization tool. Imagine what it would feel like to achieve your goal. Imagine the ideal scene. What would you see, smell, think, and feel? The better the vision, the better the odds of success.

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