At a very young age, my Grandmother gave me some sage advice. “Don’t ever be jealous of what another person has or their accomplishments. If you want something, set a goal, work at it, and achieve it.” So I went on a mission to learn what goal setting was all about and found this formula quite helpful:
Goal Setting + Performance = Success + Happiness + Fulfillment
Along the way, I also learned that people only want to do business with people that have credibility. Being credible demonstrates to others that:
- I trust myself
- I can be relied on
- I have a proven track record
- I am action-oriented
Building and protecting your personal brand requires that you continually prepare for the future by setting goals. You need to set specific goals, otherwise your reputation will become stagnate and lose credibility.
Professor Edwin A Locke, an American psychologist and a pioneer in goal-setting theory, provides us with a great understanding of work motivation and job satisfaction. His research demonstrates that goals are cognitive and willful. In other words, our needs and goals are a conscience choice driven by our values. If individuals or teams find that their current performance is not achieving desired goals, they inevitably become motivated to increase effort or change their strategy.
The two most important findings of Dr. Locke’s theory were:
- Setting a specific goal generates higher levels of performance. For example, I want to earn $2,000 more per month.
- Setting a general goal is more difficult to achieve. For example, I want to earn more money.
Goals lead to higher performance which ultimately leads to success, happiness, and fulfillment. The harder the goal, the more a person will work to reach it.
So why are goals worth having?
- Dreams: How will you attain your dreams if you do not set a course of action?
- Take charge of your life. Setting goals and making a plan to reach them gives you the power to decide what you want to do with your life, not others. Do not let others choose what is best for you.
- Credibility: When you set a goal and reach it, you develop credibility. Credibility proves to others that you have a track record and can be trusted.
- Making a difference. Do you want to make a difference in the world? Do you want to inspire the lives of others? Goal setting is the compass for guiding you in achieving whatever you set out to do.
- Momentum: Goals give you the energy to be positive.
- Risks: Setting goals involves risk-taking and pushing you past your comfort zone. Are you willing to grow?
- Satisfaction: Studies have shown that people who set and reach goals perform at higher levels. In addition, goal setters are more satisfied with themselves and achieve more.
Thanks Gram for your excellent advice!
Michele Wierzgac, MSEd, speaker and author, promises that you will leave her solution-driven keynotes and workshops with at least one passionate, life transforming, leadership tool – something that will change the way you seek out a solution and practically apply it without getting stuck.
Email Michele at michele@micheleandco.com or give her a call at (708) 710-7055!
