What makes a good goal?

There is a lot of talk going on about goal-setting and being successful, but do you have the right goals? If not, you’re wasting your time so we better define what a goal is or at least what a good goal is!

What makes a good goal for YOU?

I think there’s a big difference between a desire and the right goal for you. You might have a desire to do something just because a friend did, or is planning to. You could have a desire to do something because it sounds exciting, but does that make it a good goal for you? It’s up to you to decide.

Here’s some of the criteria I use.

YOU could achieve it in your lifetime

A goal that is longer than your lifetime lacks the inherent motivation required to really get you going.

While a dream may outlast your lifetime, a good goal should be achievable during your lifetime. A dream that outlasts you requires a team that outlasts you. Your goal becomes building the team not fulfilling the dream.

It ignites passion and/or strong feelings within YOU

If you can’t get excited about your goals, you will have a hard time achieving them.

Alister Cameron ties passion together with productivity but I think it also applies to goals. Are you excited about completing your goal? Does pursuing your goal really jazz you? What do YOU sound like when you are telling someone else about your plans? What do YOU feel like when you are telling?

Completing it would give YOU a great sense of satisfaction

If a goal leaves you with “buyers remorse”, it wasn’t a good goal for you. But how do you know?

Imagine yourself after your goal has been accomplished. What does it feel like? Do you feel satisfied? Do you feel an internal sense of well-being?

How about those completely altruistic goals? You know, the ones where you do not recieve a direct benefit from them. It might be giving to a good cause or maybe helping out someone less fortunate than you. In the final analysis it will still leave YOU with a genuine sense of satisfaction.

Think about the types of things that leave you feeling satisfied.

YOUR strengths would be fully employed pursuing it

Does your goal use your strengths? Have you even thought about that? What could be more frustrating than pursuing something that just isn’t you.

What are you strengths? You might want to check out the StengthFinders website. A little bit of introspection could be very valuable here.

Let’s talk!

How did you come up with your goals? What made you realize they were really yours?