Tip 1.

Firstly decide EXACTLY what you want. We are talking specifics and tangible things. A goal of ” I want to be happy” is not a goal – you can decide to be happy now! So an example of a simple goal is that you perhaps, want a new car. What car is it? What colour is it? What engine does it have? What extras does it have? Is it new or used? How much will it be? You see how specific you have to be.

It has to be stated in the positive so, remove any negatives. In other words you do NOT write a goal about what you don’t want – you write a goal about what you DO want. So, have a think about exactly what you want and write it down and throughout the remaining 11 tips in this article, you can build on it until you have your goal in a very specific way, and remember be bold with your thoughts, be bold with your ambitions and make that goal BIG!!

Tip 2.

Having decided what you want in Tip 1, you can now start to formulate your goal. Think about what you wrote down yesterday (what specifically do you want). Now write a couple of paragraphs about what you will see, hear and feel when you have your goal. This is about transporting yourself to the time when you have your goal and describing in compelling language everything going on around you at that time. Make it exciting! Describe EVERYTHING that you will see, hear and feel when you have achieved your goal AND, THIS IS IMPORTANT; write it in the PRESENT tense. (i.e. as if it was happening right now).Then keep your goal work carefully because in tip number 3, we will develop it!

Tip 3.

So to recap on Tip numbers 1 & 2 – you should now have decided exactly and specifically what you want and written down what you will see, hear and feel when you have it (in the present tense). This tip is all about evidence. How will you know when you have got your goal! Now that might sound like a simple question but it is one that needs some thought. For example, if your goal was to own your own business which had a turnover of £1 million pounds and a profit after tax of £200,000 with no liabilities (note how specific I have been), then the moment you know you have achieved the goal might be the moment your accountant hands you the audited accounts and you see those figures.

You have to decide what is the tangible evidence that you will need to know you have got your goal. Please note the word tangible!! Any goal you write must have a tangible evidence procedure – in other words writing something like “I know I have achieved my goal when I feel happy” is NOT tangible! So write down now what evidence you are going to need to convince you that you have absolutely and 100% achieved your goal. Then put it all together and move onto tip number 4.

Tip 4.

In tip number 4, I would like you to read through your notes from the previous couple of days and then ask yourself the following question. “What will this goal get for you or allow you to do?” Give this question careful consideration and write down all the things that come to mind. Are these things what you really want? Is this goal aligned to you? Are there any negative side effects from you working towards your goal and achieving it?

Whatever comes to mind write it down on a piece of paper and headline it with the question. This will complete tip number 4 of putting your goal together in the right format. Remember this process is different from the traditional SMART goals process! That process relies on two things that can limit your goals. The two problem areas with SMART goals are in the ‘achievable’ and “realistic” department. Are you going to take on other people’s beliefs about what is realistic or achievable? If you do then you may well limit yourself.