When Goal Setting Fails

We all have dreams and wishes. However, when you learn to only hold yourself accountable for MASTERed goals, you will become less distressed by the actions of others and more likely to achieve your objectives. I have been teaching goal setting for over ten years. Some of my students "get it" right away, and immediately begin to see their goals transform their lives. However, too often my students think they "get it," but still fail to MASTER their goals.

I developed MASTERed goals while teaching the concept of SMART goals. SMART stood for: Specific, Measurable, Accountable, Realistic, and Timely. You can find "SMART" goal articles all across the Internet, but I found that something was missing and decided to teach what I call MASTERed goals instead. MASTER stands for:

Measurable - you need a measurable amount, which you can check off when done

Accountable - nothing but you should affect your ability to accomplish your goal

Specific - make it a specific action that you can realistically accomplish

Timely - give yourself enough time, but not too much time

Exciting - you should feel excited and empowered when you read your goals

Realistic - you should know that you can actually accomplish your goal

Do you notice the difference between SMART and MASTERed? It's the letter E, and the word is exciting.

Your goals should excite you and not feel like punishments. When you MASTER a goal, you start with a dream and work backwards. Once you have identified your dream, you identify the specific and measurable actions that you can realistically take, and over which you have total control, by which you can achieve your dream.

Telling yourself to "find a better job," is not something you control, and therefore you are not accountable. Telling yourself to "apply to five jobs on my next day off," is something you can control, and therefore you are accountable. Next ask yourself, is that realistic? Can you apply to five jobs in one day, or perhaps one job application is enough?

Telling yourself to "lose ten pounds," is not something you control, and therefore you are not accountable. Telling yourself to "eat eight helpings of produce daily and take a daily walk," is something you can control, and therefore you are accountable.

MASTERed goals are not wishes or objectives, they are the specific and measured actions that you can realistically take, and over which you have total control, by which you will achieve your exciting objective. They should make you feel empowered, not overwhelmed.

"Be Happy," becomes "I will do one thing today that makes me happy."

Did you do something today that made you happy? If not, you have not MASTERed happiness as a goal.


Copright: Lynn Marie Sager 2007

You can find much more about designing a worthwhile life on the Navigating Life website. Simply go to http://www.navigatinglife.org, and visit Boarding for links to our free weekly lessons.