Writer Annie Dillard said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” For most of us, a large portion of our days is spent at work; in fact, the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime. To ensure that my office space at Planet Beach & HOTWORX Headquarters provides a sense of motivation and productivity, I have it decorated with inspirational quotes and messages throughout. The quote “Dream Big” is positioned directly in my line of sight and it serves as a constant reminder that if you establish goals and dream big, then anything is possible. In life and in business, setting goals creates a sense of purpose and direction for the future. With hard work, tenacity and strategic planning, any dream can become reality. Don’t ever underestimate your capabilities. Remember to dream big and shoot for the stars. If you are going to dream, it might as well be big right.

Below are 5 solid steps to accomplishing any goal:

1. Define the Goal: To go after it, you need to decide what you want. You must firmly believe that you can accomplish it and then fiercely pursue it. Whether you want to start a new business, retire early, take a vacation or simply loose five pounds, you must clearly define the goal. Secondly, the goal should be “SMART”. The SMART acronym first appeared in the November 1981 issue of Management Review. When it was first introduced, it was an acronym which stood for the following:

S- Specific

M- Measurable

A– Assignable

R- Realistic

T– Time based

In other words, when you set a goal you had to ensure it was specific, measurable, assignable, realistic and time based.

2. Establish a Deadline: I could probably write an entire blog on this subject alone. A goal is nothing without a deadline. Deadlines make things real! It helps bring clarity to a project and motivates us to get it done within a strict timeline. Tony Robbins stated, “setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”

3. Strategic Planning: Once the goal is defined and a definitive deadline has been established, then the strategic planning can begin. The strategy is the method used to accomplish the overall goal. To carry out the strategy, break the large goal into smaller tasks with mini deadlines. Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Be patient and take it one day and one accomplishment at a time.

4. Offer Incentives: Offering an incentive when establishing a goal generates excitement, motivation, and team camaraderie.   Often employees are likely to increase their commitment and overall performance to ensure goal accomplishment when they are offered a reward that motivates them. Whether it’s cash, a vacation or simply a paid day off, find out what motivates and reward based on goal accomplishment.

5. Celebrate: I’ve often heard in business, that you are only as good as what you did yesterday. Meaning, every day should be a new start with the goal of accomplishing new things. Although this is true, always take the time to celebrate life’s successes. When a goal is accomplished, no matter how large or small, take the time needed to recognize and celebrate.

Source: http://www.gettysburg.edu/news_events/press_release_detail.dot?id=79db7b34-630c-4f49-ad32-4ab9ea48e72b

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Written By: Jodie Mateu, VP of Special Events & Productivity