Setting Goals
Definition of Goal –
1. In football, soccer, rugby, hockey, and some other games a pair of posts linked by a crossbar and often with a net attached behind it, forming a space into or over which the ball has to be sent in order to score.
2. The object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.
Questions were asked of the group:
How many of you have set goals for yourself before?
What type of goals did you set?
Why do we need to set goals?
What happens when we don’t set goals?
Some goals seem almost impossible to reach. How do you make a big goal achievable?
From there we discussed examples of goals and then the difference between short-term and long-term goals.
A short-term goal is something relatively basic that you plan to accomplish in 4-6 weeks, like saving money for a new CD. A long-term goal is something you want to accomplish in the distant future that may require several steps to complete, like planning for college or a trip across the ocean. This may take a year or more to finish.
Before reaching this goal there are several (achievable!) steps you must complete:
SMART Goal Example: I want to start a business.
Make it SPECIFIC:
I will sell handmade cards through Etsy.com.
Make it MEASURABLE:
I will be ready to take my first Etsy order within four weeks, and I will aim to sell a minimum of five cards per week.
Make it ATTAINABLE:
I will get set up on Etsy first. Then, I will build an inventory of 30 handmade cards to sell. Finally, I will promote my business and build customer relationships through word of mouth, referrals and local networking.
Make it REALISTIC:
Selling handmade cards will allow me to benefit financially from my favorite hobby.
Make it TIMELY:
My Etsy store will be up and running within four weeks, and I will have an inventory of 30 cards to sell within six weeks.
SMART Goal: Within a month, I am going to get set up to sell handmade cards on Etsy, which will allow me to benefit financially from my favorite hobby. Within six weeks, I will have an inventory of 30 handmade cards to sell and aim to sell a minimum of five cards per week, building customer relationships through word of mouth, referrals and local networking.
Individuals in attendance split into family groups and came up with at least one goal for the specific life category they wanted to work within (Work, Family, Exercise, Friendship, Finances, Education, Home, Spirituality). All individuals left with an index card containing at least one goal for their future and their steps on how to accomplish that goal.
For more information, please contact Colleen Gibson at cgibson@arcdc.org or 321-5699 x35.
The next Employment Services Networking Group – Interview Skills 101 will meet on Saturday, June 28, 10-11:30am, at The Arc Davidson County.