What is a goal? A goal is something you are aiming to achieve. It can be a short-term goal which is something you want to accomplish within the near future, or it could be a longer term goal. One example of a short-term goal would be to complete an assignment on time, or to keep to your study schedule for a week (this would be a weekly renewable short-term goal!), or even to submit your homework on time each week.
Longer term goals require more commitment and can be such things as completely a large report on time, or even further into the future and either being accepted into a prestigious college, or graduating from a program that will give you the opportunity of being able to quickly find employment in your chosen career path.
The first stage to setting goals is to define exactly what the goal is. Most people have multiple goals, but the important thing is that each goal must be very specific about what it is you want to achieve and by when. It's not imperative that the "when" is specific because this could change depending on your life circumstances, but giving some kind of date means that you are setting up some kind of boundary as to how long you expect this goal to take to accomplish. In short, what you must do for each goal you set is to state what you want to accomplish, and when you will do it - I will complete the book report before the January 30th deadline.
It's imperative when setting goals that you do not have a goal that is dependent upon something that someone else will or won't do. Your goals must be 100% dependent only on your own efforts. The reason for this is that other people may not succeed in doing what you need them to do and this means your goal is doomed for failure.
For example, don't have a goal that says you are going to be part of the winning team at the state final. First of all your team may not get to the state final, and secondly even if it did, you may not be part of it for a number of reasons of which injury would only be one. What you can say is that your goal is to attend every football practice (injured or not) and play to the best of your ability for the entire season.
This goal only focuses on what you will do and it's completely dependent upon your own actions to achieve. Goals may be imposed upon you from time to time by teachers (assignment deadlines), parents (curfew after social activities) etc. Accept these goals as being set by people who are only interested in you achieving the very best from life. The teacher doesn't get any real reward from you passing the assignment, but you get a higher grade that may count towards an academic goal of your own.
Setting goals as a student will help you focus your thoughts on the future, both immediate and in the longer term, which will help towards you succeeding in what you hope to achieve in life. It will also help you learn a skill that will benefit you greatly once you leave the school environment and enter a workplace one.
Latest Goal Setting Articles
Goal Setting For Personal Development
By: Stephen Campbell | 25/07/2008
The benefits of growing as a person and making constant upgrade of personality is an innate part of us as human persons. Everybody wants to grow more and more and one's definition of personal development along with a list of personal skills, goal planning for use in your personal development is of great significance.
Setting Goals
By: CD Mohatta | 25/07/2008
Imagine a boat on the high seas. The boat is equipped with the latest instruments and gadgets. All the officers and the sailors are fully trained. The fuel tanks are full. The machinery is in order. Everything is fit and fine. Except that the boat has started sailing, but the captain does not know the destination.
Remove the Worry in Life
By: Justin Lukasavige | 23/07/2008
There are many situations in life where we feel compelled to worry. Whether your money is tight this month or your job is on the verge of laying you off, there is little cause to worry.
Promotions Can be Bad News
By: Justin Lukasavige | 23/07/2008
Many people have goals of moving up in life and especially in their work. While having goals is a great thing, have you ever stopped and thought about where you really want to end up? What is the ultimate goal in your work? Do you want to be a CEO or are your passions more aligned with being a department manager and working one-on-one with your employees?
Why Goal Setting Has Not Worked For You
By: Koz Huseyin | 22/07/2008
Setting goals is a great way to achieving them! We find only a few percentage of people ever goal set. I am going to make a bold statement that everyone sets goals. However, there are many reasons why goal setting just is not working for you.
Is Faith Important To Successfully Achieve A Set Goal?
By: Koz Huseyin | 22/07/2008
When setting goals, is faith a part of successfully achieving the goal? Does anyone succeed without the need for faith? What is faith exactly, and if it is a part of success, then why do some people still fail, and so few succeed.
Success Secrets - How To Goal Set
By: Koz Huseyin | 22/07/2008
What is one of the biggest success secrets? Learning effectively how to goal set is a process which has made almost all successes to become successful. In fact even Solomon said that without a vision people perish. In this article, we will look at one of the greatest success secrets - how to goal set.
3 Fantastic Strategies to Stop Procrastination in Pursuing Your Goals
By: Shawn Lim | 17/07/2008
For those who wanted to be successful in their life, they will set goals. However, most people who set their goals, they will still procrastinate and not taking the necessary action to make their goals come true. If you are having this situation right now, don’t worry, I have 3 fantastic strategies that can help you to stop your procrastination in pursuing your goals.
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