Goal Setting Tips and Resources for 2011

FOCUS ON YOUR GOALS

Happy New Year everyone! It's officially 2011 which means the time for resolutions, breaking old habits and turning over new leaves is upon us. Many folks find goal setting an important part of these traditions, so I thought I'd share a few resources to help get things going for you in the new year. For those of you who shudder at the thought of goal setting, stay tuned for a future post where I'll share resources and tools that work for you. Until then, you can read my previous post that gives a few quick and easy tips on how to beat procrastination...and, yes....I do consider myself part of that group.....

That said, I'm fully aware that most humans respond well to goal setting and they may just need a little bit of direction or assistance to help them find the right system or tools. Below are a few resources designed to help you get started....or take it to the next level....depending on where you are in your goal setting process.




So let's get started:

For those of you who are pretty much on auto-pilot and are just looking for a few easy tools to use, here are a few sites/resources with some free forms, sheets, etc. to help you with your goal setting/tracking.

Goal Setting Forms (from goal-setting-for-success.com):  Free and it doesn't require an opt-in (your email addy). I also like that it takes you through the process step by step and has an overall "holistic" approach to goal setting. Incorporates the concept of SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). 

Goal Setting Worksheets:  compliments the Goal setting form above, from the same site.

Self-Improvement-Mentor.com: free pdf for goal setting available. Works well for yearly/quarterly goals. Might be a good fit for business oriented goals.

Freedom Personal Development: opt-in required but is a great free tool. Helps you write down your goals in the "proper" format and addresses the importance/significance and planning of your goal. Also includes 2 articles on how to set goals and achieve them faster.

Now, for those that may require a little bit more support, accountability and/or direction. Below are a few resources with a little more "meat" to them. These are also good for the tech-junkies :)

Goal Setting College:  free subscription via email or RSS feed, includes goal setting forms/questionnaires, a goal action plan template and a free online goal tracking tool!

The Daily Goal Machine:  cool software at a reasonable price. Uses the concept of "time-boxing" for goal achievement. Includes 4 bonus ebooks and a 60-day money back guarantee. Here's a screenshot from the software (too cool not to share)

GoalsOnTrack: goal setting web 2.0 style, membership program offering goal setting/tracking and time management tools. Includes a vision board, action plans, journal and tips on setting, tracking and measuring goals. Reasonable yearly fee. Signing up for their newsletter gets you a few great tools/e-books for free :) Check out the video for a quick overview.





Goal Achievement Formula: created by Gary Vurnum, author of Smart Goal Setting: 92 Tips For Using Short Term Goals To Create A Great Life, sign up for the free special report "6 Essential Steps to Achieve ANY Goal"...which is an easy read with great advice. You'll also receive a "limited-time" coupon you can use should you decide to join his step-by-step weekly goal training program. 




100 Day Challenge:   This is the "grand-daddy" of them all....admittedly, I'm a wee bit biased because it was developed by the friend of a friend :).....but with the multitude of resources and tools, including coaching videos, an exclusive goal setting system, audio recordings, conference calls, and smartphone apps (to name a few) it's hard not to toot its horn. A bit more of an investment, but it's about as close to private coaching as you can get....for much less $$$$.


So there you have it. Hopefully you've found this information valuable and you're well on your way to bigger and better things for the new year. If you haven't found what you're looking for or if this has gotten you hungry for more, here are a few books that you might find helpful as well....some of them allow you to get a "sneak peek" and view some of the text. Enjoy!!!



  


























...and by the way, do me a favor and let me know which of these tools, etc, did (or did not) work for you. You're comments are welcome and strongly encouraged :)


All the best,
Daneene