If you want to succeed, setting goals is crucial! To create effective goals, remember the SPIRIT acronym and ensure your goals embody each element.

SPIRIT Acronym

  • Specific
    Clearly define what you want to achieve. The goal should be tangible and measurable. For example, instead of saying “Look gorgeous,” specify “Lose 20 pounds.”
  • Prizes
    Reward yourself at various milestones, especially for long-term goals. If your goal is to set up a home office, treat yourself to a new desk once the room is cleared and ready.
  • Individual
    Ensure the goal is something you genuinely want to pursue. If you’re aiming to lose 20 pounds because your spouse thinks you should, but you feel fine, your motivation may falter.
  • Review
    Periodically assess your progress. Ask yourself: Does the goal still make sense? Are you facing obstacles? Do you need to make adjustments?
  • Inspiring
    Frame the goal in a positive light. Make it enjoyable to achieve. Consider creating a poster of your desired outcome, framing it, and displaying it prominently.
  • Time-Bound
    Set a deadline for accomplishing your goal. Breaking it down into smaller parts with individual deadlines can enhance your focus and motivation.

By incorporating SPIRIT into your goal-setting process, you enhance your chances of success!

Writing Tips

Use action verbs in your goals, like:

o   Add

o   Arrange

o   Assemble

o   Build

o   Carry

o   Choose

o   Collect

o   Compute

o   Count

o   Demonstrate

o   Describe

o   Distribute

o   Draft

o   Explain

o   Identify

o   Initiate

o   Label

o   List

o   Plan

o   Rewrite

o   Select

o   Supervise

o   Train

o   Transform

Watch out for vague phrases like:

  • Be familiar with
  • Know how to
  • Understand
  • Be familiar with