Student Rules: Setting Goals

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Student:Craft - Student Rules 2

Lets Get Real!

Okay, so I just got serious! I'm going into my last year at university come Oct 2011, and I want to have a successful and wealthy life. One of the top things I came across was the IMPORTANCE of setting goals...short term, mid term and long term. If you don't know what you want...or where you want to be in 10 / 20 years time, then how do you expect to ever get there without a plan?!

On Internship this summer I learnt that to be successful in a job you love, you're going to have to work hard to get there. Based at Head Office, the majority of managers I met worked 10 hour days...sometimes more. I guess the simple principle is:

As a graduate next year (fingers crossed), I want to have a distinctive advantage against my peers...especially as I plan to enter an extremely competitive career in Art and Design.

From what I've read, researched and observed, the first step is defining WHAT you want from your life. Is it Money?, Is it Power?, Is it to become CEO?, Own your own Company? Whatever it is, get it written down as a solid goal so you have something to work towards.

Lets take a closer look at one suggested method of goal setting, referred to as S.M.A.R.T Goals:

Specific

You need to make your goals specific! When you write them down I don't want to see 'Get fit in 2012' or 'Attain high grades at high-school'. These are all still to general. Think about, when, where, how, who's involved and why you want it so bad.

Measurable

You need to make sure that you can measure the success and more importantly the progress of your new goal. How and when will you know if you have achieved it and to what degree? 

Attainable

Once you have identified some goals that are important to you, you need to ensure they are attainable in the time frame you set. The goal 'To save £10,000 by 25th Dec 2012' is probably very slim for the majority of the student population...however 'To save £10,000 by 25th Dec 2020' is a lot more realistic(written july 2011). Now, by no means am I telling you not to aim high, YES AIM HIGH, but all i'm suggesting is to be realistic about it so to avoid disappointment.

No doubt you are going to have to work very hard to achieve your most prestigious goals, so you've got to be sure you can push yourself hard enough to get there. 

I've just read this all back, and it's very hard hitting, however if you want something BAD enough, you have got to be prepared to work for it. =)

Relevant

A goal needs to be relevant and realistic. It should suit your current lifestyle...and if it does not, you should change your lifestyle to suit your goal. This all depends on how serious you are about achieving your goals and how badly you want them. Burning desire is what separates the ACHIEVERS from the 'UN-ACHIEVERS'.

Timely

A goal should be time-bound. It sets it in stone and now you have something to work towards. As mentioned earlier, 'get fit in 2012' is pointless. That's 365 days where you 'could' be getting fit as opposed to 'Be capable of running 5 miles nonstop by June 22nd 2012'.

Now you have a deadline, and you've got to get in in on time. 

Okay so lets have a look at some steps you can take right now to start defining your future and constructing your life:

1) Decide what you want

This is the most important step. We are young and we now have YEARS to manifest whatever we want. Whatever situation you're in now, you can change it if you have enough desire and drive. 

Personally, one of my 1 year goals is to graduate with a 1:1, and that's exactly what I will do.

2) Ask yourself questions. 

Is this REALLY what you want? How badly are you prepared to work to get it? Many people say; "you need to work hard now, so you don't have to later."

3) Write down your goals (S.M.A.R.T) so you have something to work towards. Get a small notebook or type them online. Goals written down become meaningful and worthy. Goals in your head are just ideas.

4) Break larger goals down into smaller more manageable tasks. 

If you want to save £1,000,000 by the age of 40, make your first goal to save £1000. (A lot less daunting than the former)

If you are after money, it is important to understand how to save, and the miracle of compound interest. Check out my first RULES Article: Student Rules: Delayed Gratification for a little more information. 

(I'm planning another article on savings and investments soon after this)

So I hope this was helpful...and not too hard hitting. Best of luck guys! =)