2010 HOW TO SET A GOAL

Many people never accomplish their goals because they do not know how to set them.
A acronym that has been successful in helping me reach my goals is the word
S.M.A.R.T:

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely

Specific: Be very, very, very specific and as accurate as possible.
For instance, don't simply say, "I'm going on a diet"; say
"I want to lose 10 pounds in the next 3 months.

Measurable: Goals that are hard to measure are goals that are hard to meet. Before you commit to a goal, decide how you will monitor your progress. For goals that involve exercise or weight loss, you can keep track of how many pounds you can lift or how many miles you can walk or run. What ever your goals are, find ways to measure them, whether that includes a journal, a checklist a chart, a graph, a spreadsheet, or some other creative way to see how you are doing.

Attainable: Make sure the goal itself is reachable. Don't have a goal of losing thirty pounds in one week. Choose goals that lie just beyond your reach-not so easy that they don't challenge you, but not so difficult that they stretch you to the breaking point.

Realistic: I believe in dreaming big dreams and aiming high, but don't set yourself up for disappointment by trying to reach an urealistic goal. Assess all the factors that will affect your ability to reach your goals and work within those parameters. Make sure it is realistic, given your health and physical condition, finances, schedule, personal capacity, and other priotities.

Timely: People who set goals without target completion dates rarely accomplish their objectives. Give yourself deadlines by which to accomplish your goals. If you are working toward a goal over a long period of time, consider setting intermediate goals each week or month, to keep you on track.

Stay S.M.A.R.T

Are you an EAGLE OR a chicken...

"By perseverance the snail reached the ark"



A farmer once took an egg from an eagle's nest. He took it home and placed it under one of his hens and it hatched with a little brood of chickens. The farmer raised the bird with great patience and attempted to tame him. The eagle never really seemed to fit in with the chickens. It always walked alone; it could not seem to relate to or interact with the chickens.

As the eagle grew, he realized something seemed to be wrong deep inside of him. Even though he realized something seemed to be wrong deep inside of him. Even though he had never known any other existence but life in the chicken yard, it just did not feel like home to him. He wanted to leave the chicken yard and take to the skies. He even tried to do so, and the farmer finally had to clip the eagle's wings to keep him from flying away.



Since the eagle could not fly, he just sat in the chicken yard looking up at the sky. One day a storm began to brew, the sky grew dark, and all the barnyard animals scurried around for cover; the chickens were terribly frightened, as chicken are prone to be. The eagle sat watching the scene in front of him, realizing the storm did not frighten him in the least. At the moment, he could not help but stretch out his wings, and as he did, he noticed that the farmer had failed to keep them clipped.



Suddenly, his eye caught sight of a great eagle riding the wind above him, his wings outstretched in majestic form. The eagle that was raised as a chicken looked again at the chickens scurrying around frantically, then returned his gaze to the eagle soaring peacefully above him, then looked back at the chicken yard! A mighty gust of wind swept beneath his outstretched wings and lifted him into the air. with a shrill scream of victory and freedom, he left the barnyard foreever.

Are you an EAGLE or a chicken?