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

Must Have's and Meditation

I've recently added a new weekly feature to my Arbonne newsletter. I call it "Makeup-Your Mind Monday." Each Monday I send my subscribers a couple helpful tips in the makeup and mindset arenas. I thought I'd share one here too. If you'd like to have these and other health, wellness and makeup tips delivered right to your inbox, just fill out the subscription form for my Arbonne newsletter on the right.

To Your Wellbeing!

Daneene
*************************************************************************************

Must Have's and Meditation
April 6, 2009


DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM
Well, it has officially been spring for a while now, yet here in northeast Ohio, we're experiencing pretty significant snow showers. Go figure! The weather here is predictably unpredictable... which got me thinking about how grateful I am for the few things in life that I can rely on consistently. So, today's Makeup portion is a nod to my favorite makeup products that never let me down. Once again, I'll share celebrity makeup artist Krista Embry's take on the subject, especially because her fav's are very similar to mine, but here's my top 5 quicklist for good measure.


Virtual Illusion^TM Makeup Primer
I love the way it feels....velvety, soft and fabulous.
Everything a primer should be. Whether I'm wearing makeup or going "au natual", it's definitely a must for me

About Face Line Defiance Liquid Foundation
Great coverage without the "heavy" feeling. Leaves a soft, dewy appearance for
a soft glow all day long. Color stays true too!







Virtual Illusion^TM Dual Volume Mascara
Love, love, love this mascara. Really volumizes the lashes without clumping,smudging or flaking. Dual applicator with two zany looking but very effective patented brushes for the ultimate lashes. Step one adds volume and length. Step two adds a conditioning shine that lifts and curls (without archaic torture devices...whoo hoo!)















About Face Mineral Powder Foundation
I was skeptical of it's ability to cover at first, but boy was I mistaken. I love how quick and easy the application is.






No Sun Intended Bronzing Powder
Perfect for the sun-kissed look without too much sparkle or that scary orange hue. Great for contouring too!

So, there's my top 5. Trust me I could go on...and on...but I'll let Krista Embry's
articles do the rest. Enjoy her take on Arbonne's "don't go without it" products in a two part article.

Part 1 Part 2

....and now for Your Mind...

PEACE OF MIND

A quick trip to Wikipedia after searching the word "meditation" will reveal an interesting and diverse history. Meditation, which basically means "awareness" has been around for at least 5,000 years. What I find most interesting, is that meditation, or some form of it, exists in a multitude of religions and has a secular presence as well.
Meditation is a way to calm the mind and center the "self." It can be clarifying, relaxing and rejuvenating. I, myself, have much to learn and am far from being an expert, but I can speak to it's benefits from personal experience.
When first beginning to practice meditation it's important to patient. If you're like most people, you'll find scattered thoughts and ideas sneaking into your "quiet mind" moments. I read somewhere this is often referred to as "monkey mind." (I don't know why, but that term makes me chuckle.) Just remember to keep in mind that like any new "skill" it takes time to develop and that each individual's learning curve is different and unique to them.
In the beginning I found it easier to meditate with the assistance of a tool or by following a script or outline. Below are a few resources I've recently come across that I hope are a benefit to you.
www.learn-meditation.org

View the Gift of Inner Peace Movie (5 minutes)


Free Online Meditation Scripts and Methods


Zen Habits: Meditation for Beginners

To Your Awareness!

~Daneene

Procrastination: Don't Put Off Until Tomorrow....But How?

When it comes to suffering from procrastination, I'm not exaggerating when I say I could have written the book on it. I used to be a consistently chronic "last-minute Lucy" and delayed, delayed, delayed to the very last minute.

Aside: To be truthful, there are benefits to this kind of
"affliction," in certain scenarios....but that's another article
for another time

Did you notice I said "used to be"? Thankfully, by a series of co-inky-dinks (if you believe in chance) or because I attracted it (if you believe in the powers of manifesting ), I was able to learn how to eliminate the tendency to procrastinate .I still have room for improvement, but have definitely made major progress in the right direction. Here are a few quick tips that have helped me so far.

1. Face it
   In order to get where you want to go, you need to know what your
   starting point is. What is the end result you desire and is your
   current activity level going to get you there? Be honest but
   compassionate. Progress suffers when we beat ourselves up. Here's
   a quote to remember: "What you resist, persists. What you embrace,
   dissolves with grace" I thank business coach, Sonia Stringer, for that one.
2. Things that make you go...hmmmm...???
   Ask yourself "What's the smallest step I could take to move me closer
   to my goal?" One thing I've learned how to do is to "live in the question." People too often "should" themselves into inactivity. By asking without attachment and releasing the pressure that goes with it, you'll be surprised at what bubbles up.
3. It's worth repeating
   Once you've identified a "teeny-tiny-itty-bitty action" (TTIBA), do it every day. If you find it too hard to repeat consistently, then find a smaller action (see Step 2).

For example, if your goal is to reduce clutter in your home
or office, your TTIBA could be to properly file/dispose of
one piece of paper each morning. If you really want to
ramp up the success rate, attach a silly action, word or
activity to your TTIBA. This will associate your activity
with fun and "good vibes" and make it even easier to repeat.

4. CCCCeeeelll-a-brate good times...come on!
   Everybody loves a winner...and so does your brain. Behavior rewarded, is behavior repeated. Each time you complete your TTIBA, be sure to celebrate it...pat yourself on the back, let out a big WhoooooHoooo! or anything else that feels good. This also reinforces your good vibrations.
5. Steady wins the race
   Simply put, consistency is key! In fact, consistency trumps the size of the action about 100 fold....maybe even 1000! So steady as she goes, and you're sure to see progress.

Well, there you have it! These 5 quick tips are really just the tip of the iceberg, but effective none the less. For more detailed (and powerful) information on how to pummel procrastination for good, go to www.procrastination-cure.com and tell Wendy that Daneene sent you!

Happy Forward Motion!

~Daneene