Goals on Purpose

Have you ever . . . .

set goals . . . .

made a plan to reach those goals

and then somehow found yourself no closer to those goals?  

It is easy to get so engrossed in the plan (and side-tracked) that it can become the be-all-and-end-all, even if it is not leading to the desired goal.

1) Reconnect With Your Goal by Asking WHY

First, re-assess why you’re doing what you do.
What is your biggest, most compelling reason for wanting or needing to reach your goals? 

2) Be Efficient

• The purpose of the activity is to lead you to your goals.
• Track your activities.
• Make use of statistics to help gage your timeline. 
• Check your progress against the stats and tweak your activities as necessary.
• Change frequency of activities or goal date as needed.
• Consider working with a mentor and/or attend training DIRECTLY related to improving your actions. 

3) Make Sure Your Activities Lead to Your Goals

Actions need to purposefully lead to goals. My company uses a very straightforward "7 Critical Business Building Activities" list. This is an invaluable tool for people in my company. It absolutely keeps everyone on track . . . . they just have to use it as their guide!  LOL

Make sure your Actions are Measurable & Leading You Towards Your Goals. 

Your Goal Should Be Attached to a Date.
 

EXAMPLES:
When people that I work with spend lots of hours designing business cards or brochures and basically"re-writing the book"  instead of doing critical business building activities, they’re not working on purpose. They are off-track. 

When job hunters spend a month writing a resume instead of making contact with a thousand people in their desired field, they’re not working on purpose. They are off-track.
When teachers spend an inordinate amount of time decorating the classroom, picking out cute stamps and stickers and redesigning behavior charts instead of lesson planning, active teaching and grading, they are not working on purpose. They are off-track.

5) Find Where YOU are Not Working on Purpose

Where are you not working on purpose?
In my company it is as easy as looking at each activity I do and asking. "Is this a critical Business Building Activity"?
If you are not on track ask yourself “How can I change these activities”.  Find where you’re out of alignment, and then revamp your goals or your actions until everything you do is supporting your goals.