I want to share with you one of the most uncomfortable but most unbelievable personal growth exercises that I have ever done!

I realized through some personal/business coaching that I am doing, that I need to understand how other people perceive me. In order to do this, I had to go WAY out of my comfort zone!

Here’s what I did. I had to interview a number of people in different areas: 2 personal, 2 business and 2 relational. I ended up having so much fun with this that I called 14 people!

I asked them questions like:
• Are we able to connect on a deeper level? Do you feel that I include you in my life? Do I let you in? If I don’t let you in, what makes you feel that way?
• What are the things that work about me in business? What doesn’t work about me?
• How do I make you feel in our interactions?
• What are the things that would keep you from asking me out or being in a relationship with me?

The feedback I received was tremendous and most people were happy to share openly with me. And it’s extremely important for you to remember not to become defensive or upset when someone tell you something that you don’t like! Generally, we need to take note of these things and go to work on ourselves!

I highly recommend that everyone do this! This is one of the best things you can do for yourself and will help you move forward with your life.

Wow, what I learned was amazing! I would encourage you to go for it and do the same.

Did you know that where you are today is a reflection of your daily habits? Every move you make either moves you closer to your life’s ultimate design or it moves you away from your life’s ultimate design.

This is where setting goals comes into play.

It’s funny because for a number of years, I thought I was creating awesome goals but after going through Life Coach training, I realized that all I was creating was a “to do” list. And the more I “accomplished”, the more I thought I was progressing in the direction of my goals. I couldn’t have been more wrong!

In this post I want to provide you with the basics of setting clearly defined goals that move you toward the life you have designed for yourself.

Your Goals Should Be SMART
Specific – determine exactly what you want
Measurable – they move you forward
Attainable – achievable but make you stretch
Realistic – don’t set yourself up for failure
Timely – date specific

You Should Set
Short-term goals(daily and weekly)
Mid-term goals(monthly and quarterly)
Long-term goals(1, 2, 5 years)

How to Set Goals
Ultimately, you want to set a total of 3 big goals each week. And each of these goals will have at least 3 actions steps. When you do this consistently week after week, you will move yourself forward in ways you can’t imagine.
Goal: What is the ultimate outcome

Obstacle: What is stopping you

Date: Set the date you want to achieve this goal

Action Step 1: What 1st step can you take to overcome the obstacle and achieve your goal.
Action Step 2: What 2nd step can you take to overcome the obstacle and achieve your goal.
Action Step 3: What 3rd step can you take to overcome the obstacle and achieve your goal.

When you evaluate your goals each week, you should ask yourself the following questions:
1) Is there anything I’d like to improve or do better?
2) Is there anything I learned that can help me reach any of my goals?
3) What went well this past week?
4) What made me happiest?
5) Did anything during the week make me unhappy or didn’t go as well for me as I had hoped?

Some final tips on goal setting:

• Be clear on goals
• Organize into an action plan.
• Take action.
• Resolve to do something every day to move your business forward.
• Plan every day.
• Apply 80/20 rule to everything.

And remember that at the heart of all this is a dream – the WHY that will keep you going. Are you willing to pay the price for success? Nothing great comes for free. Desire, discipline and drive has to come from within.

You need to determine what you want, decide what you are willing to sacrifice/reschedule, associate with people that will help you get what you want , have a plan of action and WORK the plan.

Remember that small goals achieved repeatedly add up to big dreams fulfilled. Take the time to clearly define where you are going in your journey. Where will YOU be this time next year?
Remember to leave your comments and share with others!

Ellen