Goals Essay, Research Paper

GOALS:

Too many of us treat goal setting the same way. We dream about what we want to do, but

we don’t have a plan to carry out that dream. A mapped out goal is superior to a dream. You must have a plan. Dreams are merely thoughts or ideas, but, we need more than to simply scribble down some ideas on a piece of paper. Our goals need to be concise and focused. Set long-term and short-term goals, so for each short-term goal accomplished the long-term goals will seem easier to attain.

As an example a short-term goal as student of the University of Phoenix could be to accomplish each weekly assignment on time to achieve significant working relationships with our other classmates. Short-term goals can easily be forgotten with hectic lives and tasks delayed because we obtain the “I’ll do it tomorrow” attitude. Stay focused on the issues at hand, and completing assignments will become second nature. Daily to-do lists is a productive way to accomplish short term goals, but complete the list prior to any recreational activities, eventually, find recreation in our studies.

Long-term goals should be harder, yet still focused and precise. More than likely, it will be based around attaining a Bachelors Degree or some type of higher education. These goals should present a picture to where you see yourself in the future. Either climbing up the ladder in your present occupation or moving onto something you have dreamed about all of your life. It has always been said, “If you are doing something you love, it’s not work.”

There are several key elements to goal setting.

1. Make sure you are working for something you really want to achieve, and your goals should be consistent with your values.

2. A goal should not contradict any of your other goals.

3. To help focus energy toward attaining goals make sure they are written down.

a. Make an A-list: Tasks that will get done before going to bed.

b. Make a B-list: Menial tasks that you would like to get finished, but can be put off until later.

c. Make a C-list: When these tasks get done, pigs will fly. Just to keep things fun, make a list that will be impossible to accomplish. Or you can make it a challenge list, which would amaze yourself, if you actually found the time to get it done.

4. Write your goals out in complete detail and visualize meeting this goal.

5. Make sure your goal is set high. You may start out small and build up more challenging goals to get comfortable with the process. Remember, short-term to long-term goals require baby steps.

Review these goals daily, check off each accomplishment and celebrate each

accomplishment in your mind. Be proud of all those check marks at the

end of the day and most importantly, improve your list each day.

As a student of the University of Phoenix, you have many responsibilities, such as careers, families, and civic duties. With the proper planning you can balance school and other duties. Maintaining a calendar that includes assignments, scheduled meetings, and goal deadlines will help balance the time invested in each activity. A calendar can also be used to reflect upon other accomplishments in order to evaluate how far you have to go to attain your long-term goals.

Donahue, Gene. Goal Setting-7 Powerful Written Goals in 7 Easy Steps! Top Achievement [Online] Available: www.topachievement.com/goalsetting