Setting Intentions to Set Goals

As a new year begins, many people list their goals. Small businesses set profitability goals; sales people live by sales goals. We have goals to lose weight, get organized, save more money, take a vacation.

Here are some quick tips for achieving your goals this year:

• Set your intentions, not just your goals. Intentions actually precede goal setting. Ask yourself what do I intend to do this year and then create goals and actions to achieve them. Your intentions are the thoughts behind your actions and will keep you motivated.

• Write it down. Goals that are written down, especially in your own handwriting, are a powerful influence on our subconscious. Lee Iaccoca said The discipline of writing something down is the first step toward making it happen.

• Pick the right partner. Sometimes we want to share our goals with everyone, thinking that that will make us more accountable. But be careful who you tell. Negative attitudes can put you off course. Choose supportive people who will react positively. Pick partners of integrity who will help you accomplish your goals.

The staff at Quality Printing wants to help you achieve your goals. Please contact us at 951-784-4100 if you need support in marketing, sales, lead generation and organization. We are happy to help! 

The Importance of Planning
by Lisa Marie Platske, author, motivational speaker and president of Upside Thinking, Inc.

There are three planning keys that open the door to achievement: Goal Setting, Personal Assessments, and a Written Leadership Development Plan.

Goal setting is a process that involves several important steps. First, you need to identify the goals that are most important to you by answering the question, “What do I want to accomplish most?” I recommend listing your top 25 values – those things that mean to most to you like integrity, honesty, fun, family time – before your write down what you want to achieve. Once you have both lists, check to make sure that they are in alignment. Adjust them if need be and then write them on a new sheet of paper with a specific timeline. Always be able to answer how you will measure your progress. Remember, anything and everything is possible…so reach for the stars!

The second key is personal assessments. To reach your goals, you need to honestly be able to answer the question, “Where am I right now?” Only then can you map out the best course to your dreams. And the best way to do this is by assessing your skills, strengths, and developmental needs with tools like self-assessments and feedback from trusted advisors.

Lastly, the question, “How am I going to get there?” must be answered, and this is where the written leadership development plan is vital. Clear goals and a broader perspective of your current abilities and areas of development will help you to see where you need to focus your energy to develop your ability to reach your goals.

Once those three keys are turned, the door to achievement will open. However, this isn’t a one-time process. Since I’m a “foodie” and love dessert, it helps for me to remember it this way – P.I.E. (Plan ~ Implement ~ Evaluate). After you’ve planned, you need to take action. Actions, not goals, produce results. After you’ve achieved your goals, you’ll need to evaluate the results, celebrate, and start all over again. Remember, life is change, but growth is optional. Choose wisely!

To learn more about Lisa Marie Platske and Upside Thinking, visit UpsideThinking.com

The very first step in all projects: business, home, or education, is to define goals and objectives. This step defines the projects outcome and the steps required to achieve that outcome. People, including project managers, do not spend sufficient time on this step or complete it incorrectly thereby insuring an unsuccessful project completion.

Poorly defined goals and objectives, or goals without objectives, pushes a project into overruns, territory battles, personality clashes, missed milestones, and unhappy clients.

Goals and objectives must be clear statements of purpose. Each with its own purpose that drives the end result of the project. Goals and objectives MUST be measurable.

Goals are the "WHAT"

Goals are broad statements applied to a project. Goals are the "what" of the process. In other words, "what" will the project accomplish? Projects may have more than one goal, but many objectives per goal. Do not confuse goals with objectives.

Examples:

1. Website development goal: Visitors will be convinced that global warming exists.
2. Insurance company: The Medical Insurance department will increase provider options by 10%.Physici
3. Physicians office: Patients will not wait longer than 1 hour to see a physician.

Objectives are the "HOW"

Objectives are specific statements that support the goal. Every goal will have one or more objectives tied to it. In essence, the objective is the "how" of the process.

Always start an objective with an action verb. This insures that the objective is measurable and that the projects end-result is addressed through the action of the objective. Each objective becomes a measurable milestone as well.

Example:

1. Goal: Visitors will be convinced that global warming exists.

• Create a table comparing the costs of addressing global warming today vs. 100 years from now.
• Illustrate the effects of global warming in a photo gallery.
• Identify and address the "myths" of global warming.

2. Goal: The Medical Insurance department will increase provider options by 10%.

• Identify provider options and costs.
• Survey the customer to find out each options value.
• Compare options to competitors.

3. Goal: Patients will wait less than 1 hour to see a physician.

• Evaluate personnel requirements.
• Purchase new appointment scheduling software.
• Setup appointment confirmation schedule.

Keeping goals and objectives in the forefront of every project insures that the project and the team are on the same page throughout the project's life cycle.

Whether in education, business or are running a household, clearly defined goals and objectives will support the project's successful result.

For more productivity tips or harassment prevention articles, visit Rhonda Says