The first principle for goal setting is you have to know what your destination is.  When you go on a trip you know where you want to end up, it is exactly the same with goal setting.  If you don’t know what you want, how are you going to achieve it.

NOTE: If you are looking for get rich quick, or name it and claim it tactics this is not the post for you.  If you want solid goal setting teaching then this is for you.

When you choose to set your goals, you are taking control of your life. You know what direction to go in and while the future is not completely clear, you know where ultimate destination is.

If you are a Christian reading this I want to say up front your biggest goal should be a deeper relationship with Christ.  That is the greatest goal for all professing Christians.  Through that relationship all goals should be set.

Most people do not set goals and they give several reasons:

• they are scared of what might happen
• they are afraid of the sacrifice
• they don’t know what to do once they are set
• they don’t want to do the work
• they don’t believe in themselves
• they don’t want invest the time
• they have been told Christians don’t set goals

The list really can go on and on.  You have to decide where you are willing to draw the line and start using self-control and discipline in your life.

Let’s Set Goals

Step 1 – Be absolutely honest about what you want.  Get a notebook if you don’t have a notebook get a sheet of paper for now and write down everything you want to be in life, everything you want to do in life, and everything you want to have in life.  This is the time when you need to get really honest with yourself and with God.  Ten years ago when I started setting goals my list was a lot different from what it is today.  I wanted a huge house, a new truck, and to be world-famous.  What that did was put me face to face with things I really didn’t want, but I thought I wanted.  God knows your heart before you even write it, so nothing you can put on this will be a surprise to Him.  Remember this, it is not usually the goal that we really want, but the feeling of how we believe the goal will make us feel.

This exercise should take about 30 minutes, so really go after it and write down everything you can think of.  If you are on the computer on of the apps I like to use to manage my time is Focus Booster it is a free app that times you for 25 minutes so you can take breaks and clear your head.

Step 2 – Put your goals into categories. This should take no more than 20 minutes to start.  Putting your goals into categories will help you see where you are focusing your life.  You can use Job, Business, Relationships, Family , Travel, Finances, Self, Personal, Volunteering, Vacation, Retirement, Spiritual, Education… the list really is endless, and some things will overlap.  Don’t make this harder than it is.  Job, Family, Spiritual, Kids, And Self can encompass a lot of things.  Just like the first step this can be modified later.  On of the great things about this process is, when you start thinking about it, you will think about it a lot and when you are laying in bed just about to go to sleep, the really big idea will pop into your head and the categories will get very specific.

Step 3 – Give your goals a time frame.  Decide how long each goal will take to achieve.  Use increments to decide.  I use 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, 10 years, and over 10 years.  Everything that is easy, goes in 1 year, everything that seems really hard right now goes into the over 10 years category.  Again this is not rocket science, you can make the categories into whatever you want, just don’t make them every year or every six months.  You don’t need that mush structure for this because it will drive you crazy.

Step 4 – Prioritize your goals. By prioritize I mean which 1 year goal is most important, and which is least.  Which 5 year goal is most important and which is least, and so on for all time increments. This may seem redundant but look at it this way.  If you have a five year goal that is a very high priority for you, you are more apt to work on that goal now, than a relatively minor year three goal.  Since most of my goals now involve travel, I have to decide if the new android tablet is a must now or should I put the money in to the travel savings account. Priorities keep you honest.

Step 5 – Are these goals morally right and fair to everyone involved? This question comes from Zig Ziglar and may be the most important question you can ask.  If your goals involve others, you need to discuss them and their outcome with everyone involved.

Finish up with these questions

• Are your goals clear?
• Are they balanced?
• Do they inspire you?