Welcome to GOAL setting 2.0 & Say Hello to SWOT planning

Welcome to my second series of Goal setting techniques & strategies. These are a bit more advanced than my previous Series Goal Setting 101.
The first in my new series is SWOT Planning, which is a method you apply BEFORE you start setting goals!!!!! 

SWOT stands for Strengths, weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Basically SWOT is to help you map out (a group) or your own strengths; weaknesses, identify threats and figure out how everything all relates to opportunities.  I will show you 3 different ways SWOT can be applied - each one slightly more complicated as we go along. 

 This is an example of how to do a very simple SWOT analysis. See Strengths and weaknesses can be internal (both you as a person or within a group) where as opportunities and threats are external (outside of your control.)

1. What I want you to do is to identify some of your Strengths and some of your weaknesses.
2.  The first part in the External columns are opportunities. These can be defined as the current opportunity you have, or the opportunities that can come from this project; they can also be future things that can happen, all in all they are any advantages you may see from doing this.  
3. Lastly identify any threats that you or the project may face. These can include environmental threats, opposing mentality threats, or even inner threats you may face (Such as in your own head.) 

Now that you have your SWOT analysis you can use it to help you set your current goals & hopefully by taking a good look at yourself & fully assessing the situation you can set much more realistic goals. 

 This is a slightly more complicated SWOT Analysis. See how it creates a grid pattern where your strengths (internal) and opportunities (external) are Helpful & positive things where as the Weaknesses (Internal) & Threats (external) fall under the Harmful & negative category.

Take some time to dwell on this new SWOT analysis as you  name your strengths, identify the opportunities that are to your advantage and take a hard look at your weaknesses and identify the threats you may face that might put you at a disadvantage.

Lastly we have the most complex SWOT analysis chart. Where you have a 9x9 column. This is a bit more tricky. 

1. So why don't you fill out the top row first & identify your Strengths as well as your weaknesses. 
2. Secondly shift your attention to the far Left columns and figure out the opportunities you could benefit from & identify threats you might face. 

This is where it gets tricky

•  Next head to the middle column and fill Center Box. You will see opportunities --> Strengths strategies. Use the strengths you identified to create a plan that would allow you to take the most advantage of your opportunities!! 
• Next look at the bottom middle box where it says Threat --> Strength strategies. Use the strengths you identified to AVOID the THREATS (if you can!) 
• Lastly we will look at the far right box column, center down. 
• Opportunity --> Weaknesses strategies. This is going to become the guide to OVERCOME your weaknesses by taking advantage of your opportunities. 
• Take a look at the bottom Right Box now. 
• Threat --> Weakness Strategies. This will become your guide to how you can minimize your weaknesses to avoid threats! 

 There now you are SWOT certifed PRE- GOAL planning strategy planners :) I hope this makes sense, if not try to google the method or attempt the easiest method first before you try the more difficult ones :)

GID Goal Planning

Get It Done 

Welcome to the last part of Goal Setting 101 - aka the forgotten chapter since I apparently forgot to add this to my goal setting 101 series even though I made a reference to it. 

Once you have your goals set and sorted into primary or secondary & have created an ideal timeline for when you want to achieve these goals, it comes time for the Post GOAL setting planning stage. 

Basically once you have the goals laid out, it's time to prioritize them & GET IT DONE - It's GI(ddy) up time ya'll. So go forth and set some goals my young pad-wan learners and find your inner yoda and achieve the goals. There is not try only do or do not ;) 

ALSO keep your eyes peeled for GOAL Setting for the more advanced which should be coming at yo faces later today :D 

Household Inventory Quick tips

Household inventory Woes 

Creating a Household inventory especially one that is meticulously over detailed and totally thorough and organized to a perfect T. It's a boring dull job that no one really wants to or ever thinks of doing. 

However when you end up in a crazy unexpected, you literally never thought you would ever be in. You never think about how helpful a Household inventory of all your stuff (Trinkets & JUNK drawers that are secretly Narnia's of Stuff included) can be when your starting into ash trying to identify the mishmash of black goo that was once your things. Nor can you believe how helpful it would have been to have an inventory of your entire personal library of BOOKS as you sit in your flood basement adding to the wetness with your tears for your poor babies. Imagine having to deal with someone not only breaking into your house but now on top of all that you have to figure out exactly what they took (Police like details & insurance people like proof of things) and your trying to remember where you put that receipt for that TV you bought during that sale last winter... 

Household inventories are a thing that someone should do as second nature. You should want to catalog your stuff. These are your best friends for when the unexpected does happen and will save you huge amounts of potential future stress if you ever find yourself facing one of these extremely stressful situations. Plus household inventories serve as Physical proof of your things so if you ever face a situation where you have to deal with things like Insurance companies/Restoration & endless documents. This gives you credibility that you can wave in their faces... 

SO these are my FAST FACTS and helpful starting suggestions that may even make this chore FUN! 

• Go Room by Room and give yourself massive amounts of time to finish say like a month 
• Divide the room up into small projects like Storage containers (So go dresser by dresser) or divide it into Object uses so say Cleaning supplies, linens. 
• Be sure to take photos of everything in the room as it is (including ceiling & floor and even walls) 
• Be sure you have a picture of each item where it is in the room & by itself... 

Are you struggling with this task still? Well why not take the let's get rid of two birds with one stone, approach. Turn this tedious project into a part of a Bigger project.

Option A - Will Creation 

tackle two tedious projects at once and make your Household Inventory and your Will (even if it's unofficial and just a typed up word Document) in tandem. They are basically the same thing you're creating lists of everything you own. This is a good time to take note of objects that of value (and could cause problems for people if something tragic happens to you.) When there is no will it causes Drama/frusteration/anger and can cause huge family fights. It's better to have your Finacacially high valued items designated to people, or requested to be sold & money split, or given to charities/museums. 

Secondly take note of sentimental value items things that you think people would like to have to remember you by. For instance I got a small mickey mouse Pin from my Great Aunt (She was like my grandma and I saw her every weekend kind of idea) when her daughter went through and gave someone something from her Non Valuable jewelry. I treasure it because it was hers & I got a piece of that. 

OR YOU could go WITH OPTION B  

 Make it part of your spring cleaning plan. 

1. Clean everything in the room & the room itself
2. Use those pintrest skills to do some Prime Organization creation projects. In each room is the room being used to it's best potential? If not how can you make that a reality? Figure out if there's anything You can either put aside to donate or sell and make some money (Everyone loves that right?) 
3. And well you're doing all of that or even afterwards then do your inventory (it will be the easy project after doing all the other stuff. 

SAFE GOALS

SAFE GOALS 

These are my favorite goals to do because I love creative writing and just using my imagination! These goals are all about using visualization and affirmations to help you succeed in achieving the goal! 

See End Result - Picture the end result in your head. See yourself taking and following through with all of your plans and finally visualize yourself successfully completing this goal. 

Accept End Result - Open yourself to believing that you will achieve this goal with absolute conviction and true faith within yourself and your capabilities. You are going to make this happen - You WILL achieve this goal! Use positive affirmations to deepen your belief in yourself & your success! 

Feel End Result - As you visualize yourself going through the steps and successfully achieving your goal allow yourself to truly feel any emotions you believe you would feel upon completing this goal! The stronger the attraction to the goal the more real it can become. 

Express End result - Taking action in your firm belief is the final step. Meditate and visualize yourself going through the entire process and successfully achieving your goal. Verbally and vividly describe it to yourself being sure to include all of the senses in your visualization. Make this come to life in your head and that will help deepen your beliefs in yourself. 

SMART goal setting

SMART Goal Setting 

Specific - What is your specific goal? Cover the details of How/when/who/why/what/where. Break down the big picture into small chunks. Identify the first steps to achieving your goal! 

Measurable - How will you measure your success? Be creative, detailed, honest and specific. What is it you really want - why do you want it now - and what will happen if you don't achieve it? 

Actions - Write out every single tiny little ACTION step you will need to take to achieve your goal. Go crazy specific and over board with tiny details! 

Achievable - After writing down the actions you will need to take to succeed do you really truly believe that you can successfully achieve this goal? 

Is it time to readjust your previous steps in order to best succeed? 

Reasonable: What do you reasonably need to successfully achieve this goal (time/money/support etc) Keeping this in mind is your goal still doable? 

Realistic - Is your goal realistic for you to achieve? Do any of the previous steps need to be revised with reality in mind? 

Timeline - When do you want to or need to achieve this goal by? If you don't need to will you still give yourself a deadline? 

So that my friend is how to do some smart goal planning - only 2 more acronyms left! 

Goal Planning Phase 2

Goal Planning - Phase 2

First Acronym = SMART

Specific 

Measurable 

Actions/achievable

Reasonable/Realistic 

Time Line 

second Acronym = SAFE 

SEE end result 

Affirm/Accept end result 

Feel End Result 

Express End results 

Third Acronym (top corner) = GID

Get 

It 

Done 

ESPER Goals

ESPER 

So welcome to the last set of goal methods in Part 1 of goal planning and the next of many more Acronyms! Everybody meet Esper - she's pretty crisp and to the point in execution of method application. When you say ESPER out loud it kind of makes me imagine she's a no nonsense kind of person. 

Establish - Set the vision and the goal in place

Strategy - Devise strategies to succeed in achieving goal

Planning - Identify plan elements based on strategies 

Execution Bring the plan and goal to Life. Answer 5W's 

Review -  Assess the different possible outcomes and figure out your next steps based on that (Risk of failure/Success Rates etc) 

Goal Timeline

When ...What time...How old... 

Frankly these questions freak me out more than BHAGS do. When do you want to accomplish things, how old do you want to be... Ugh the big adult topics. 

So how about we break it down a bit. I know with the BHAG's I asked you about the future and what goals you want to set. Now it's time to back it up a bit & think more near foggy future. 

What is one goal you absolutely want to accomplish this year? What is one thing you want to do to improve your life (or the lives of others) that would fill your heart with total pride at the end of the year when your thinking back over everything you did and you get to say "yeah that's right, I did that." 

What are some goals that you think would be swell to achieve this upcoming year but wouldn't be heart broken next new year's eve when they didn't get done? 

The goals that you absolutely feel you must achieve those are your Primary & concrete goals. That means that they are going to be stuck to you like glue this year and most of your attention & time will be spent working towards achieving them. 

The second goals I asked you to name - the ones that wouldn't tear you apart inside if they got left on the 2015 to do list come 2016. They are what I like to call your Floating secondary goals. They just laze around - chilling - waiting for you to either go after them or for you to shove them further out to sea and just let them go. 

Now what you can do here is either move on to plan monthly goals or take a few minutes and think about some goals you want to achieve both primary & secondary six month from now or how about a goal set for each season? 

Now the fun part! Each month what I do is  I pretty much do all of these steps in order every single month at the start of the month! Even the big life question type ones (purpose in life/primary goal/motivators) because I feel that the longer you remain on this kind of path (goal setting; following through; being disciplined and determined to get things down followed by eventual goal achievement) you truly go on this incredible life journey that slowly changes you (In a good way!) 

So each month set 1 concrete goal for yourself (Doesn't have to be huge - it could be very small/doable such as organizing things to donate to charity versus Big ones like say Buy a Puppy.) 

Now think about several small floating goals you think it would be swell to get done or ones that tie in with that primary goal. 

Now what I would recommend you do and only because this method worked really well for me - is grab a blank calender and just fill in those dates with goals at random (don't pay attention to time frame) just CIRCLE those dates & Saw I CHOOSE you... use bright colored pens go circle/line crazy, make it so you can't read it. 

Now once you've done that rapid fire style. Look at how the weeks divide up (how many full weeks are there this month.) 

In your head divide the weeks up however you want. 

On the back of that practice calender flip it over and start writing out weekly goals. Now I tend to put the most emphasis on my floating goals & when possible try to make my floating goals the stepping stones to achieving my big Primary hundred ton weigh me down concrete goal. 

I also tend to prefer to set the concrete goal so that it can take as long as possible to achieve it. That way I'm getting a boost from having successfully ticked off however many floating goals I was able to. 

Now feel free to make these daily specific - I choose to not make set daily goals but add goals to white board that I use for my daily  calender and my to do list - that's where I add daily goals (like today I'd like to read etc.) Difference between goals & to do list is of course to do is things you have to do (Like work) versus things you would like to do (hobbies.) I started using a this white board last year and I use it more as a vision board & way to stay grounded and allow each day to be it's own (Wipe it clean daily - metaphor) 

ALRIGHT Y my goal setting champs let's continue on. 

Goal setting & why getting to know yourself is important!

All About you 

Life purpose; life goals; what in life motivates you

Take a moment to think about yourself - truly think back upon what you have successfully achieved in your life. Any kind of influential impact you have already left upon this world. These are just things to keep in mind so that when it comes to setting goals they align better with your life purpose/life goal/and what motivates you to succeed. 

What is your purpose in life? (if you have problems answering this here are some prompts for you to think a bit more) 

1. What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind you when you leave? 
2. What has been your biggest accomplishment to date? 
3. Did this accomplishment impact only your life or did it touch the lives of others too? 
4. Do you believe in Random Acts of Kindness? 
5. If you have (or when you do have) a child what trait from your personality do you want them to learn from, be inspired by, and adopt for themselves? 
6. When you leave this Earth - what would you like people to say about you? 

What is your primary goal in life? 

1. What goal do you want to accomplish as soon as you are able to? 
2. What goal would you hate to leave unfinished if you were to pass away tomorrow? 
3. What is one thing you have always wanted to do and or accomplish since you were young. 
4. What has been stopping you? 
5. Are there any goals you already accomplished but wouldn't mind expanding upon and striving to do even better at finishing? 
6. What is one goal that you wish/or already have achieved that you want to be a part of your legacy? 
7. What is one goal that you want to achieve or already have done so - that you want future generations to know about? 
8. Why? 

What motivates you? 

What motivates you to succeed? 

Is  it 

a person - 

the idea of a challenge -

 the opportunity for self growth - 

the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow - 

The Bragging rights you would get once you achieved that goal? 

Personal Gain of some sort? 

The ability to better humanity in some way? 

To continue to strive for success regardless of challenges you face so that you can finish the task knowing you truly tried your best & beat odds to do so? 

Is it the opportunity to inspire others through your actions (never giving up/continually trying etc) 

Do you feel like you are motivated for purely selfish reasons (better your life/improve your life/do something for you) 

Or are you motivated by more selfless acts like doing things for the better of humanity?

You dream of changing other people's lives? 

You see once you choose a goal & kind of lock it down - it really has to gel with your personality & attitude. This is one of the best ways to ensure your successful at achieving goals! 

ABC Planning for goal Setting

ABC PLANNING 

Acquire Knowledge 

About yourself - perform an Honest evaluation 

1. What are your Strengths and weaknesses? 
2. What are your skills? 
3. What would you have to build upon to improve yourself? (Confidence/determination/focus) 

Build a Plan 

1. What you are working towards. 
2. is this a project you are creating? 
3. Is this just for you or is this part of your career/schooling? 
4. Are you working individually/with a group of people/as a member of an organization/business? (tell me about any of the applicable - i.e have you gleaned a variety of knowledge about the task at hand?  

Create a Team 

1. Who supports you unconditionally and is always in your corner no matter what the situation? 
2. Who supports you but on a slightly lower level (perhaps when it's convenient for them.) 
3. Who is willing to be honest with you - no matter what? 
4. Who is willing to show you some tough love in order to push you to succeed? 
5. Who is always there for you whether you need a shoulder to cry on, a warm hug, a hand to hold or just an ear to listen? 
6. Who gives you rock solid, well thought out advice when you need it? 
7. Who do you really look up to? Who inspires you? 
8. Does anyone support you financially or do you need someone to do so in order to achieve these goals? 

These are the type of people who should be on your team. A combination that can support you, empower you, inspire you, challenge you and  uplift you?