So in this week’s episode of Unstoppable we were asked to set our goals for the next one, two or however many years we could see our goals stretching. This was modeled after the podcast for Goal Setting for Beginners. After watching this podcast and reviewing some of the other resources presented I started writing my goals down. Quickly knocking out the first dozen I moved on to the next and then the next and then it hit me, when was the last time I wrote out some goals?!? Sure I have done goal setting on annual reviews for jobs I have had where management wants you to set your own goal. Even then, though, I would just write things I knew were coming in the next year. I actually couldn’t remember I time I have really written down any goals for myself and followed that as a plan. The funnier part is I have had goal setting conversations with my wife, kids and other family and friends and yet I don’t do this…

Now saying I don’t do this doesn’t mean I haven’t gone after goals and achieved desired results. I can think of a few times I have envisioned a goal, had the drive to pursue it and ultimately did achieve the goal. I can remember doing this even in grade school. I just never wrote anything down or tried to hold myself accountable for the goals. Instead I viewed the goals as something that would happen if they were meant to be and now something to strive to achieve.

Goal setting should be about the excitement of: What am I going to do next? What means enough to you that you want to devote time, energy and pursue it until you have achieved it? What direction do you want to take with your life or even just an aspect of your life and how are you going to feel a sense of accomplishment when you get there?

Having finally written my own goals I see I have nearly 40 already. Now I am not pursuing all of these today but now I can prioritize and plan for achieving great things in the next year, two years or even throughout the rest of my life. I have set goals that will bring a sense of achievement but also joy to my life. This is something I can’t encourage enough young people to do (I can’t believe I just said young people, when did I get that old?). Goal setting should be a part of life not an exercise done for a class.

Now for my goals, I am going to keep most to myself as they are my goals. To give an idea of some of them I have provided some generalization for those looking for ideas:

• I want to follow up on promises to complete certain projects
• I want to travel and see a few sights
• I want to continue to improve my running speed and stamina
• I want to continue to improve my skill in baseball
• I want to contribute to the communities both professionally and personally.

Within each of these categories are several goals that fulfill these desires. For someone looking to set their own goals I advise you to listen to the linked podcast and find what SMARTER goals are in store for you. Write them down, prioritize and begin achieving goals with a purpose and direction in mind.