Annual Goal-Setting as a Means of Getting Positive Results
Author: William G. Covington, Jr. PhD

copyright William G. Covington, Jr. PhD

Goal-setting is on the minds of a lot of people as a new year begins. What separates achievers from the crowd is their ability to turn dreams into reality. Goal-setting is the first step in the process of success. The plan comes before implementation. It is a blueprint for discovering what one hopes to achieve and a sequential path of action to get you there.

A common theme in all the literature on goal-setting is to establish speicific, clear-cut objectives. In other words, know what your target is. Annual goal-setting enables one to see from one year to the next a broad pattern of what is being accomplished in life.

Seven steps can lead a person along the right path to seeing measurable, doable, positive results before the year is over. These steps are simple, perhaps that's why some people overlook them. In fact, the first step in the process is pretty obvious, it is to have a precise understanding of exactly what your goal is.

1. Clearly define your goal.
From here the annual goal can be broken down into manageable units. That is, the annual goal can be divided into smaller units such as monthly, quarterly, or weekly goals. In fact, one system would be to include all of these units. Success feeds off itself. It builds confidence as one achieves an objective and a certain momentum is established as a result. Goal reaching becomes a healthy, fun-filled addiction.

2. Divide your annual goal into manageable units.
A reward system sustains this ongoing momentum. Therefore, the logical third step is to reward yourself along the way as small term goals are reached. Satisfaction from a job well-done releases endorphins in the body. Feeling that you have made a positive difference is a reward in itself, but in this case we are talking about adding a tangible reward. Match the reward with the amount of effort. Smaller goals would be rewarded with compatible rewards, while larger rewards would call for a more meaningful celebration.

3. Build a reward system into the process.
Maintain a written record of your goals and accomplishments. Keep track of how you have achieved the various steps along the journey. This will serve as a source of encouragement as your encounter challenges calling for persistence. Viewing past accomplishments will reinforce the winning mentality and help you to persevere when the going is difficult.

4. Keep written records.
Don't forget the value of friendships. Achievers see life holistically, not just the accomplishment of one task after another. Only tasks that meet human needs are worthwhile. To stay in touch with reality, the human touch cannot be neglected. Friends and family help one to remain relevant, otherwise there might be an "ivory tower" syndrome, i.e., a loss of touch with the way things really are.

5. Dont' neglect relationships.
A person is spirit, mind, and body. The spirit must be fed consistently if one is to function as a healthy contributor. Prayer to God through Jesus and meditation on the Scriptures enable you to stay sharp, refreshed, and focused. Times for reflection are common among leaders from a wide varity of fields.

6. Remember to include the spiritual nourishment you need.
A driven person might fail to realize that play is not a waste of time. Play is an essential part of the life of a creative person. Play enables you to see things in a different light. Creativity and play are linked. Creativity applies to any context, therefore, play is relevant to enjoying the process as one accomplishes goals in any field of endeavor.

7. Include playtime in your process of achieving your goals.
These seven steps on annual goal-setting help you to define what you want to do, make it feasible, and help you to take the necessary steps to avoid burnout and frustration. Fulfillment comes from seeing a need and doing something to resolve it in a positive way.






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Dr. Covington has taught motivation and goal-setting seminars in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the United States.

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