Growth Guide - Goals

Bet on Yourself and Reach Your Potential
Growth Guide: Goals
2012 The John Maxwell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout written permission. Commercial use of this product is not permitted without prior written permission from The John Maxwell Company.
Growth At-a-Glance
Resources: Goals Self-Assessment Optional Goals Inner-Circle Assessment Watch: Goals: Video 1 Goals: Video 2 Goals: Video 3 Goals: Video 4 Read: Introduction to Goals by John C. Maxwell Everyone Needs to Find a Starting Place The Value of a Goal What Should a Goal Look Like? Listen: How You Think is Everything My First Big Breakthrough Why Some Dreams are Never Realized React: Four sets of weekly questions Reflect: Four weekly journal prompts Results: Four weekly action items Reference: List of books and/or additional resources Reminders: Daily exercises to make goal-setting a way of life
The Maxwell Plan for Personal Growth 2012 The John Maxwell Company, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Week 1
People with goals succeed because they know where they're going. - Earl Nightingale
Week 1 Checklist
Day 1
Resource: Introduction by John C. Maxwell. Resource: Goals Self-Assessment. Optional Resource: Goals Inner-Circle Assessment.
Day 2
React: Answer questions on the assessment results. Reference: Consider these optional books on goals.
Day 3
Resource: Watch Goals: Video 1 from John C. Maxwell.
Day 4
Reflect: Journal about your response to the Goals Self-Assessment.
Day 5
Results: Take action, and apply what youve learned.
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Day 1
Resource: Introduction by John C. Maxwell
When was the last time you went for a Sunday drive? Thats not a really popular activity these days, but it sure was when I was growing up. And it was the favorite activity of the Raimeys, some wonderful neighbors I had as a kid. It was pretty common for Mr. Raimey to say, Come on everybody. Lets pack up the car and go for a ride, as he rounded up the family, and occasionally a neighbor kid like me who was playing over at their house. And off wed go. We lived in Circleville, Ohio, and our Sunday drive would take us to exotic places such as Lancaster, Chillicothe, or even Columbus. It seemed like a great adventure. Mr. Raimey would just drive the dirt roads and highways that wound through the farms and fields of central Ohio. We never knew for sure what we might see. Those Sunday drives were a lot of fun. And if we were lucky, as we drove around wed come across a little country store on the highway. Mr. Raimey would stop the car, and wed all pile out so that he and Mrs. Raimey could buy each of us a Coke or an ice cream. It was a great way to spend an afternoon. But to tell you the truth, over the years, Ive met a lot of people who treat life a lot like a Sunday drive. They seem to be saying, Lets just go, and well see where we end up. Theyre willing to let life take them anywhere it wants to. Im no scientist, but Ive noticed that gravity tends to pull everything down. And without some planning and direction, a persons life can do the same thing. Think about what is involved in taking a long trip by car. Lets say, for example, you decide to go to Chicago from Dallas. If youve never taken that trip before, you wouldnt simply hop in the car and say, I know Chicago is north of Dallas, so Ill take the first road I can find that goes north and start driving. That wouldnt make any sense at all. No, first youd look at a map, GPS, or your smartphone; consider the different routes you could take; and decide on the best one, based on what kinds of roads you wanted to travel and what youd like to see along the way. A journey doesnt just take care of itself. You have to plan it. If you just start driving, theres no telling where youll end up. But when you plan ahead and know where youre going, you can not only successfully make the journey you can do it in good time and enjoy the trip along the way. Every trip needs to be broken down into smaller segments to be more manageable. Goals are like points on a map. Each one leads to the next and takes you farther in the right direction. Together, they set you on a course that leads toward your destination. And if you take a wrong turn along the way, you know it, and can easily make adjustments to get back on track.
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Resource: Assessments
Before we can take a journey, we need to know our starting point. We learned the value of assessment in The Law of Awareness. To increase the role goal-setting plays in your life, you have to understand the role it plays right now. In this section, youll find two assessments. Complete the Goals Self-Assessment today. Also, consider choosing three to five members of your inner circle (trusted friends, family members, colleagues, etc. who will answer honestly) to complete the Goals Inner-Circle Assessment. You can send it to them electronically by clicking here.
Goals Self-Assessment
Self-awareness is one of the most important factors in a persons ability to grow personally. As in any journey in life, you must know your starting place if you hope to plan a route to a desired destination. To help you in the process, take the following self-assessment. Read each statement and respond by assigning a numerical value based on the stated criteria below. Please respond honestly according to your current situationnot based on how you desire to act or how others expect you to behave. 0 = Rarely or Never 1 = Occasionally 2 = Usually 3 = Almost Always 1. Your life has a strong sense of purpose and direction. 2. You regularly set long-term goals for yourself. 3. You evaluate the progress of your life on a regular basis. 4. You have an overarching dream that guides your choices on a daily basis. 5. You take ownership of your dream, and accomplishing it would satisfy you deep down more than it would please anyone else in your life. 6. Your goals do not depend on people or factors outside of your control in order to be accomplished. 7. You have a sense of contentment that comes from the work you do.
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8. You know how to break down a larger goal or task into its component steps, and doing this is a regular practice. 9. You know your personal strengths, and your major life objectives are built on those strengths. 10. You set annual goals for yourself personally and professionally. 11. You have a sense on a monthly or weekly basis that you are accomplishing your annual goals. 12. You have a sense that each year you are moving closer to the realization of your dreams. 13. You are making sacrifices to achieve goals that are important to you. 14. You have a long-term strategy for your life. 15. Your sense of purpose and direction in life is driven by an inner passion. 16. You include other people in your goals for your and their benefit. 17. You take initiative for accomplishing tasks related to your dreams. 18. You have communicated your dreams to the important people in your life. 19. Your goals and dreams have been affirmed by people whose opinions matter to you. 20. You have confidence that you will achieve many of your goals and dreams.
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Scoring Please add up the numbers of your responses to the assessment. Then review the information below corresponding to your score. 51-60 You possess a very strong sense of direction in life that sets your direction and drives your decision-making. These are great assets. Confirm and finetune your goals as you work through the material. Additionally, if you havent already, make an effort to include others in the process for their benefit as well as yours. You possess a sense of direction. Take it to the next level by sharpening it. Make sure you have clearly defined your life purpose and the goals that will help you accomplish it. People with a strong sense of purpose and clear goals go far and accomplish much in their lifetime. You may sometimes have a sense of frustration that your efforts are not targeted on whats really important to you. Use the study to explore the possibilities that your life holds. Identify whats important to you. Work to identify your life purpose. Start consistently setting goals.
41-50
31-40
Under 31 You do not have a strong sense of direction or purpose in life. You may be spending the majority of your time focused on the day-to-day activities of your life instead of dreams or goals. Use the study to develop a vision, path and clear direction that will bring you closer to living a fulfilled life. And continue building on that desire for fulfillment going forward after youve finished the study.
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Goals Inner-Circle Assessment for __________________

(Name)
This person is currently working through Goals in The Maxwell Plan for Personal Growth and requests your assistance. Please take the following assessment regarding them and return it to them by _____________. (date) Read each statement and respond by assigning a numerical value based on the stated criteria below. Please respond honestly according to your current experience with and observations about this persons goals not what you think he/she wants to hear, how he/she portrays him/herself, or how others might perceive him/her. 0 = Rarely or Never 1 = Occasionally 2 = Usually 3 = Almost Always 1. This person has a strong sense of purpose and direction. 2. This person regularly sets long-term goals for him/herself. 3. This person evaluates the progress of his/her life on a regular basis. 4. This person has an overarching dream that guides his/her choices on a daily basis. 5. This person takes ownership of his/her dream, and demonstrates that accomplishing it would satisfy him/her deep down more than it would please anyone else in his/her life. 6. This persons goals for him/herself do not depend on people or factors outside of his/her control in order to be accomplished. 7. This person demonstrates a sense of contentment that comes from the work he/she does. 8. This person knows how to break down a larger goal or task into its component steps, and doing it is a regular practice. 9. This person knows his/her personal strengths, and his/her major life objectives are built on those strengths. 10. This person sets annual goals for him/herself personally and professionally.
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11. This person demonstrates a sense on a monthly or weekly basis that he/she is making progress on annual goals. 12. This person demonstrates a sense that each year he/she is moving closer to the realization of his/her dreams. 13. This person is making sacrifices to achieve goals that are important to him/her. 14. This person has a long-term strategy for his/her life. 15. This persons sense of purpose and direction in life is driven by an inner passion. 16. This person includes other people in goals for his/her and their benefit. 17. This person takes initiative for accomplishing tasks related to his/her dreams. 18. This person has communicated his/her dreams to the important people in his/her life. 19. This persons goals and dreams have been affirmed by people whose opinions matter to him/her. 20. This person demonstrates confidence that he/she will achieve many of his/her goals and dreams. TOTAL
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Day 2
React
Review your assessment scores. How did you score yourself? My score: __________ 1. Based on your score, are goals and dreams a clear area of strength, a clear area of weakness, or something in between?
2. If your results indicate that this is an area of strength for you, what do you think has contributed to that? If its a weakness, why do you think it is weak?
3. Regardless of your score, in what ways do you think your personal goal-setting strategies might be holding you back personally, professionally, relationally, and spiritually?
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Optional Inner-Circle Assessment: What is the average of the scores given to you by the members of your inner circle? Score from your self-assessment Average score from your inner circle Compare your assessment of yourself to those completed by members of your inner circle. Do they line up? Or do they differ? If they differ, is it by a lot or a little? If you gave yourself a lower score than they did, it probably indicates that you are organized and purposeful in your day-to-day living, but you may not have a strong sense of or your big picture dreams and goals. Place much of your focus there as you proceed through the study. If you gave yourself a significantly higher score than they did, it could mean that you arent very open about your dreams and goals. Or it could mean that your sense of direction isnt really as strong as you think it is. Use the study to strengthen that sense of direction, and then be more intentional about sharing your dreams and goals with members of your inner circle. You will benefit from their advice and accountability.
Reference
Optional Reading Many people benefit from the discipline of reading books every month. If you want to dive deeper into the topic of Goals, here are some books that may help you: Put Your Dream to the Test (John C. Maxwell) Goals! How to Get Everything You Want -- Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible (Brian Tracy) Goal! Your 30-Day Game Plan for Business and Career Success (Gladys Stone & Fred Whelan) We encourage you to incorporate them into your growth process while working through Goals.
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Day 3
Resource
The Law of Awareness says you have to know yourself to grow yourself. Over the past two days, you have taken the time to know where you are strong and not so strong in the area of goal setting. The rest of this month, you will grow yourself in the area of goals. Watch this video lesson from John C. Maxwell as he discusses the connected between reaching your goals and having a growth mindset.
Day 4
Reflect
Set aside a time and a location to write in your journal. Use the following as a guide for exploring your thoughts and wishes regarding improving your approach to goal-setting. What is natural for you when it comes to life goals: setting a long course and sticking to it? Or finding your way as you go along, based on the obstacles and opportunities that present themselves? It seems that everyone leans one way or the other, and both have value. Explore the pros and cons of your natural bent and how it may impact the achievement of your dreams. How can the growth mindset John Maxwell discussed in this weeks video lesson support your natural bent?
Day 5
Results
Complete the following action item before beginning next weeks session. What do you believe is your purpose in life? Write a short purpose statement for yourself. Remember that purpose statements rarely come fully formed, and they may also change many times over the course of your life. Write down what you believe is your long-term purpose based on where you are right now. If youve written one previously, review it and make changes based on where you are today.
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Week 2
If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else. - Lawrence J. Peter
Week 2 Checklist
Day 1
Resource: Watch Goals: Video 2 from John C. Maxwell. Reminder: Do this discipline every day this week.
Day 2
Resource: Listen to the audio lesson from John C. Maxwell. Reminder: Do this discipline every day this week.
Day 3
Resource: Read The Value of a Goal. React: Answer questions in response to the article. Reminder: Do this discipline every day this week.
Day 4
Reflect: Journal about your response to the article. Reminder: Do this discipline every day this week.
Day 5
Results: Take action, and apply what youve learned. Reminder: Do this discipline every day this week.
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Day 1
Resource
When you step on the road to achieving your dreams, there is no true way to anticipate how long it will take or what obstacles will emerge. What you can determine before you step on the road are the reasons why your dream needs to be achieved. Watch this video, as John C. Maxwell explains the importance of having solid and numerous reasons to fuel your journey to achieving your dreams.
Reminder
Every day this week, do the following daily discipline, and record it in your journal. Today, list one reason why your dream is worth fighting for, regardless of the obstacles or price that you have to pay.
Day 2
Resource
In between a dream's passionate inspiration and its manifestation, there is a lot of perspiration. During this time of sowing, criticism, circumstance, and negative thinking can take the wind out of your sails. In order to fan the flame of passion, you must engage in regular activity that boosts your self-approval. Listen to this audio lesson from John C. Maxwell as he offers some practical activities for rekindling your inspiration.
Reminder
Today, list one reason why your dream is worth fighting for, regardless of the obstacles or price that you have to pay.
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Day 3
Resource
Every person who every accomplished something holds one thing in common: each person started somewhere. Read the following on the first step everyone needs to take in the journey of success. Everyone Needs to Find a Starting Place When you commit yourself to your dream and begin to express it in achievable goals, you provide yourself with a visual reminder of where youre going and how you hope to get there. Its part of the success process: Your dream determines your goals. Your goals map out your actions. Your actions create results. And those results bring you success. Everything starts with your dream. Its an expression of your life purpose and determines what it means for you to reach your potential. If you can articulate your dream clearly, then you can create a map for your journey. If you cant, the trip will be nearly impossible. As President Woodrow Wilson said, We grow by dreams. Its true that you cant begin moving toward your dream until you know where you want to go. But you also cant be successful if you dont know where youre starting. Both pieces of information are necessary for you to make the trip. As Eric Hoffer, known as the longshoreman philosopher, said, To become different from what we are, we must have some awareness of what we are. Start by examining yourself as honestly as you can. Look at your strengths, weaknesses, experiences, education, and resources. Once you have a sense of where you are, ask yourself the following questions: 1. How Great a Distance Will I Have to Travel? If your dream is to retire in ten years, then you need to calculate exactly how much money you will need to earn to be able to achieve your goal. If your goal is to become a nurse or an engineer, then you need to begin contacting universities to get information on programs of study, tuition costs, admission policies, etc. No matter what you want to do, you will have to travel some distance in order to make it happen. Its important that you know how much ground youll have to cover.
2. What Do I Have Working for Me?

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No matter where youre starting from on your journey, you have some things going for you. If your dream is to own your own business, skills like common sense and a knack for handling money will be great assets. If success to you means raising your children well, and you love kids and have the ability to teach, youre ahead of the game. Look for the things that are going to give you a head start. And dont just look at inherent abilities. Look at your circumstances, resources, contacts, etc. 3. What Must I Overcome? You will also have some things working against you. If your dream requires you to get a college degree but you have trouble reading, thats an obstacle youre going to have to overcome. If your desire is to play professional football, but youre only five feet three inches tall and weigh 130 pounds, that is definitely going to work against you. No matter what your goal is, wishing and hoping that your shortcomings will go away isnt going to help. Youve got to take an honest look at where youre starting and be prepared to overcome some obstacles, or rethink your dream. 4. What Will It Cost to Make the Trip? Finally, remember that every journey you take has a cost associated with it. These costs may be in terms of time, energy, finances, choices, sacrifices, or some combination of factors. One of the things you will have to decide is if youre willing to pay that price. As you spend time thinking about your dreams and measuring them against your starting place, you will be able to define them more precisely. You will begin to get a clearer picture of whats important to you and what youre willing to give and give up to be successful. And, you will be in a better position to identify specific goals.
React
1. Think about your purpose statement. How far are you currently from achieving it? How long do you anticipate this taking? One year? Five years? Twenty? Fifty? Think it through. Its important for you to set appropriate expectations. Note: if your greater purpose or the dream for your life can be achieved in fewer than ten years, then what youve identified may be only an intermediate goal. You may need to think bigger.
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2. List all the obstacles that you can think of that are likely to stand between you and your dream.
3. Every journey has a cost. What will this trip cost you in terms of time, financial resources, relinquished opportunities, strained relationships, etc?
Reminder
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Day 4
Reflect
Set aside a time and a location to write in your journal. Use the following as a guide for exploring your thoughts and wishes regarding identifying and achieving your goals. Take another look at the price tag on your dream. Are you willing to pay it? Think through what youll have to do and/or give up to make your dream a reality. Explore how willing you are to do what it takes.
Reminder
Day 5
Results
Complete the following action item before beginning next weeks session. For best results, make this a discipline that you act on every day for the rest of the month. Share your purpose statement with a trusted friend, family member, or colleague. Ask this person whether they think it fully expresses who you are and what he/she believes you were made to do.
Reminder
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Week 3
The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Week 3 Checklist
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Resource: Read Everyone Needs to Find a Starting Place. React: Answer questions about the article. Reminder: Do this discipline every day this week.
Day 4
Day 5
Results: Take action, and apply what youve learned by meeting with a mentor. Reminder: Do this discipline every day this week.
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Day 1
Resource
In week one, you developed a life purpose. Last week, you began to share it with trusted advisors. This week, we are going to begin matching our goals with that purpose. Watch this video lesson as John C. Maxwell discusses his life list and the impact this list has on his goals and daily life.
Reminder
Every day this week, do the following daily discipline, and record it in your journal. Read or recite your purpose statement at the beginning of the day. At the end of the day, think about and record in your journal one decision you made that aligns with your purpose statement.
Day 2
Resource
The journey towards a dream often comes in stages. John Maxwell's dream of adding tremendous value to people on a national platform was anything but small. His road was marked by a number of breakthroughs, which expanded, shifted and dramatically impacted his dream. Listen to this audio lesson from John C. Maxwell as he shares his first big breakthrough.
Reminder
Read or recite your purpose statement at the beginning of the day. Think about the day ahead of you; write down one decision you can make today that aligns with your purpose statement.
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Day 3
Resource
Goals keep you focused in the direction of your dreams. Read the following on the benefits of goals. The Value of a Goal When you have a plan and know where youre going, you can avoid the situation that Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes found himself in, according to a story John Maxwell once heard. Apparently Holmes had misplaced his ticket while traveling on a train one day. Irritated, he searched for it as the conductor stood by waiting. Finally, the train official told Holmes, Your Honor, if you do not find your ticket, you can simply mail it to the railroad. We know and trust you. Holmes replied, I am not so concerned about your getting my ticket. I just want to know where I am going. Goals take care of that kind of a problem because they make it possible for you to always know where youre going. With them, you will be able to fulfill your purpose in life and live your dream. Here are some of the ways they do that: Goals Draw Out Our Sense of Purpose Goals give you something concrete to focus on, and that has a positive impact on your actions. As James Allen said, You will become as small as your controlling desire, as great as your dominant aspiration. Goals help us focus our attention on our purpose and make it our dominant aspiration. They help us know where were going. Goals Give Us Motivation Millionaire industrialist Andrew Carnegie said, You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless he is willing to climb himself. The same is true of a person who needs to grow: He/she simply wont go forward unless motivated to do so. Goals can help provide that motivation. Think about it. What is one of the greatest motivators in the world? Success. When you take a large activity (such as your dream) and break it down into smaller, more manageable parts (goals), you set yourself up for success, because you make what you want to accomplish attainable. And each time you accomplish a small goal, you experience success. Thats motivating! Accomplish enough of those small goals, and youll be taking a major step toward accomplishing your purpose and developing your potential.
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Goals Show Us What to Do All the motivation in the world is useless if its wasted on things that dont matter. But thats another great thing about having goals: They also help us to determine our priorities, directing us to stick with whats important. How many successful people have you ever met who were unable to prioritize, who gave equal emphasis and energy to the trivial as well as the critical? Id be willing to guess your answer is none. No one fulfills his purpose, develops his potential, or consistently helps others without goals. Goals help keep our attention on the present. As English writer, poet, and politician Hilaire Belloc said, While you are dreaming of the future or regretting the past, the present, which is all you have, slips from you and is gone. To be successful in achieving our purpose, we must live and work towards our goals in the present. The present is where we have the power to actually get things done. Goals Focus Us on Improvement, Not Activity Many people think of goals as a glorified to-do list. But activity alone cannot make you successful. The real key to success and to reaching your potential lies in your ability to continually improve. Activity alone does nothing for you. In fact, it can actually distract you from reaching your potential if it becomes a substitute for improvement. But when you set the right goals and work to reach them instead of simply staying busy, improvement is not only obtainable its inevitable. Goals Create Mile Markers of Progress As mentioned before, when we have goals, we are able to know quickly when weve gotten off track. But goals also help us see how were doing while were on track. Each time we reach a goal, not only can we tell that were making progress, but we can also see how far weve traveled. Goals are like mileage markers on the success journey. Setting goals takes time and effort, but it yields significant rewards. Planning your journey of life will make the difference between living with purpose and wandering aimlessly. The benefits make it worth the effort.
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React
1. A person without passion or inner motivation has a hard time achieving his/her goals. What are the things youre most passionate about in life? What do you dream of doing?
2. What are your talents? List the skills and gifts that you believe you possess.
3. What are your opportunities? What doors are open to you because of your unique place in life and time in history? List the areas where you could apply your talents in your current situation.
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4. Make a list of three short-term goals and three-long-term goals that draw you closer to your life purpose. Each goal should incorporate the passions, talents and opportunities you identified in the previous questions.
5. Are there any passions, talents and opportunities that you identified that are not connected to your life purpose? Why do you think there is a disconnect?
Reminder
Review your purpose statement. List three decisions that youve made recently, and evaluate how they did or did not align with your purpose statement.
Day 4
Reflect
Set aside a time and a location to write in your journal. Use the following as a guide for exploring your thoughts and wishes regarding identifying your goals. Does your dream or sense of purpose really come from within, or is it something someone else has put on you with their expectations? This is an important question that needs your exploration. You will have extreme difficulties trying to accomplish someone elses dream for your life.
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Reminder
Read or recite your purpose statement at the beginning of the day. Record one decision you made today that aligns with your purpose statement.
Day 5
Results: Meet with a Mentor
As you have worked through this study on goal-setting, you may have hit some roadblocks or experienced some breakthroughs. Or you may simply need some assistance in clearly defining your life purpose and the goals needed to move towards it. If you have questions about goals that you are having a difficult time answering on your own, then make an appointment this week to meet with a mentor. We learned in The Law of Modeling that its hard to improve when you have no one but yourself to follow. Prior to the meeting, think through your questions carefully and write them down so that you can be sure to ask them succinctly. A good rule of thumb is to spend an hour or two in preparation for every hour you will spend with your mentor.
Reminder
Read or recite your purpose statement at the beginning and the end of the day. Look at one decision you made this week in each of the following areas that align with your purpose statement: at work, in your social life, in your finances, and with your family.
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Week 4
Goals are dreams with deadlines. - Diana Scharf Hunt
Week 4 Checklist
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Resource: Read What Should a Goal Look Like? React: Answer questions about the article. Reminder: Do this discipline every day this week.
Day 4
Day 5
Results: Take action, and apply what youve learned. Resolve: Set goals to continue growth.
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Day 1
Resource
You will reach your goals through daily commitment, focus, and perseverance. Just as important, your goals hinge on your ability and capacity to achieve it. Watch this video lesson from John C. Maxwell as he discusses the importance of basing your goals in reality.
Reminder
Every day this week, do the following daily discipline, and record it in your journal. Examine todays to-do list. Make note of how many of your tasks are directly related to achieving the goals connected to your life purpose. Add at least one task that moves you closer to your purpose.
Day 2
Resource
Dreams can be fragile. There are five reasons why some dreamers never see their dream fulfilled. Listen to this audio lesson from John C. Maxwell as he explores the differences between a successful and unsuccessful dreamer.
Reminder
Examine todays to-do list. Make note of how many of your tasks are directly related to achieving the goals connected to your life purpose. Add at least one task that moves you closer to your purpose.
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Day 3
Resource
Goals are accomplished through a series of actions and activities. Your ability to accomplish your goals rests in identifying the right activities needed to reach them. Read the following on how to define an effective goal. What Should a Goal Look Like? Once youve narrowed down your dream, youre ready to begin identifying your goals. They will be activities or accomplishments that you plan to complete to fulfill your purpose, develop your potential, and help others. Use the following guidelines to keep your goals on target. Goals must be: 1. Written. A goal properly set is halfway reached, and a goal written is set. You cannot commit yourself to a goal that isnt committed to paper. The process of writing down goals helps you to clarify what you intend to do, understand the importance of your goals, and commit yourself to making them happen. Having your goals written also makes you more accountable. 2. Personal. A common mistake that people often make is to identify something outside of their control as a goal. For instance, many people say their goal is to win the lottery. Or they say they want their spouse to treat them better. But those are things they have no control over. To be legitimate, a goal must be within your power to achieve or accomplish personally. As you write each goal, make sure it passes that test. 3. Specific. The key to making a goal obtainable is to make it specific. Think about what would happen if you went into a restaurant and told your waiter, Id like food, please, when he took your order. Theres no telling what you would get. The same is true when you set a goal. Youve got to spell out what it is you intend to do. And if a goal is big, break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. You cant do what you cant express specifically. 4. Achievable. Successful people set goals just out of reach, but not out of sight. As you identify your goals, youll want to identify activities that will require you to work and stretch. But never put them so far out of your reach that you cant achieve them. Few things are more discouraging than identifying a
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goal for yourself that you cant accomplish. Goals need to be motivating, not intimidating. 5. Measurable. Goals only have value if they are able to help you improve yourself and develop your potential. Thats why they must be measurable. State your goals as objectively as possible so that you will be able to answer with a simple yes or no when you ask yourself the question, Have I achieved this goal? For example, Exercise more is not a measurable goal, but Exercise every day for 30 minutes, is easy to measure. 6. Time-sensitive. A goal has been called a dream with a deadline. Thats because without some kind of deadline, most goals never go from dream to reality. As you articulate each goal, put a completion date on it. If you dont, you can get into trouble. For example, if youve ever bought a house, you can imagine what might have happened if you had not set a date for closing the sale. You might have shown up with a moving van full of furniture only to find that the previous owners hadnt even packed their first box. It would be a disaster. Setting a date for a real estate transaction helps ensure that you can take possession of your property on time. Likewise, attaching a date to each goal helps to ensure that you will be able to take possession of it. As you create your goals, evaluate them according to the above list. The better your goals, the likelier you are to meet them.
React
1. Take some time to break your dream down into major goals. List them here. Then put them in the order in which they must be achieved.
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2. Make sure each goal is specific and personal. How can you modify them so that they are not vague or outside of your control?
3. Is every goal achievable, or have you made goals that are too far outside of your reach? Modify as needed.
4. Are your goals measurable and time-sensitive? Give each goal a deadline, and make sure you have a way to determine when youve met it.
Reminder
Day 4
Reflect
Set aside a time and a location to write in your journal. Use the following as a guide for exploring your thoughts and wishes regarding achieving your goals. Examine how the process of determining your goals has affected you emotionally. Has it fired you up? Overwhelmed or discouraged you? Describe your feelings and reactions to this process so far. If youre overwhelmed (which is the reaction of a lot of people at first), remember that you dont have to get it perfect. Nor do you have to get it done now. Goal-setting takes time and is always in flux.
Goals 30
Reminder
Day 5
Results
Do the following action item before beginning next weeks session. For best results, make this a discipline that you act on every day for the rest of the month. Take the major goals that youve listed and assigned deadlines to, and enter them into your calendar. This is an important transition for taking them from concept to implementation into your daily life.
Resolve: Long-Term Goals

Congratulations! Youve reached the end of this section of the Growth Guide! How have you improved while working on your Goal-Setting? Are you satisfied with your progress? What else would you like to learn and how do you want to learn it? Of all the growth areas, this is perhaps the one that needs the most revisiting in the future. Thats because big dreams, purposes and life goals are constantly under construction. As we grow and learn, we modify them. Some things we abandon, and new goals present themselves. Whether this was a new area for you, or an exercise youve done before, its probably still something youll want to revisit in the future. Take some time to list the goal-setting practices and disciplines from the results and reminder sections that you want to continue day-to-day. Identify the goal-setting areas where you still need to grow. Choose the resources you will use to continue growing in the area of Goals after you have completed The Maxwell Plan for Personal Growth.
Goals 31

Growth Guide - Goals

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Bet on Yourself and Reach Your Potential

Growth Guide: Goals

Goals Inner-Circle Assessment for __________________

2. What Do I Have Working for Me?

Resolve: Long-Term Goals

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