Goal Setting...

Goal setting is an important way in attaining success in life. It gives the motivation you need to become successful at the same time; goal setting can provide the right driving force you need to improve your self-esteem and confidence every time you accomplish something.

Stephen Covey once said, “Goal setting is obviously a powerful process… the manifestation of creative imagination and independent will. It’s the practicality of… translating vision into achievable, actionable doing.” “Visualizing something organizes one’s ability to accomplish it.”

Think about what you want to accomplish as a Toastmaster and record your goals. In setting goals, make them specific, measurable and achievable. Keep this with your TM materials and use it as a reminder to reach your goals. By sharing your goals with other members, they can encourage you on your achievements.

SMART Goals:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable / Attainable
• Realistic
• Time Specific / Sensitive Deadline

My long-term objectives as a Toastmaster are:

i) Accomplish my CC by September, 2007
ii) Speak to at least 500 people in 2007
iii) Accomplish my CL by January 2008

Some of my intermediate goals are:

i) Give a manual speech once a month
ii) Sign-up for at least 4 roles in next 2 months

One of the reasons you set goals is to be successful in life. You also think about the benefits that goals will bring when you achieve them. Once you have achieved a short-term goal in your list, treat yourself because you have done something significant in your life. Use the goal setting skills you have gained and apply them to the next goals on your list. Absorb the consequences of the goal achievement, and observe the progress you have made towards other goals.

Don't get discouraged if you are unable to achieve a goal that you set in a given time. Just make it a challenge for you in the next goal and learn the mistakes that you have done. Failure to meet goals does not matter as long as you learn from it. Don't give up all your goals just because you have made a mistake. To avoid these disappointments, review all your goals setting skills and remember that you still have a bigger lifetime goal that needs to be achieved.

If you feel down because of failure, go back to your plans and goals to make sure they are realistic and that you can attain them.

Decide that you'll never give up, even when times get tough, until your most important goal is reached.

Contributed b by: Kumar Kolaganti (VPE), Art Of Speaking