If so, perhaps you should consider whether or not your resolutions are MASTER goals.
What are MASTERED objectives?
MASTER goal setting is my variation on a technique I learned while attending a time management seminar. This technique is deceptively simple, yet profoundly effective. I encourage you to try it as soon as possible.
To create MASTERed goals, you must create goals that are:
Measurable: establish an amount and a term.
Responsible: Make sure that you are personally responsible for the result.
Specific: make it a specific action.
Timely: Give yourself enough time, but not too much.
Exciting: make it positive; make it something you really want. Goals should never feel like punishments.
Realistic: Don’t wonder about superhuman strength.
Every time you set goals that are not MASTERED, you set yourself up for failure.
It always amazes me how often people set goals like “I want to lose weight”, “I want to be healthy”, “I need to find a job”, “I need to be more responsible”, “I want to be a better parent”, “I want my boss respects me” or “I want to get rich”.
Sound familiar to you?
These goals are immeasurable, inexplicable, vague, rushed, boring, and unrealistic. So is it any wonder they don’t help people achieve anything? If you want goal setting to work for you, you must learn the art of MASTER goal setting.
Let’s take the goal, “I’m going to throw out all my trash,” as an example. That’s a typical goal for a lot of people. Well, throwing out all your garbage is not something you can achieve. No matter how hard you try, the garbage will always come back. Throwing away all your garbage is a goal, not a goal. To achieve that goal, you must set a MASTERED goal. Something like, “I’m going to throw out ten things every day, until I finally have the clean drawers I want.” Throwing out ten items every day is easily accomplished. It is measurable, accountable, specific, timely, exciting and realistic. Also, doing this MASTER goal on a daily basis should help you achieve your goal, which was to clean out your trash.
How about another typical goal; lose thirty pounds? Have you ever gone on a diet with the goal of losing thirty pounds, did everything right and lost three pounds the first week, only to find that the next week, even though you still did everything right, you hit a plateau and lost nothing? ? If so, you know the frustration of doing everything right and still being disappointed. Considering your disappointment with yourself, is it any wonder you drown your sorrows in ice cream?
I’m here to tell you that your problem is not you. Your problem is how you define your goals. You have absolutely no control over how you metabolize calories. Your body will metabolize everything that it metabolizes. The only thing you can control is what you put in your mouth and how you spend your time.
In other words, you can’t force your body to lose pounds; however, you can learn to make healthier choices. That being the case, perhaps learning to make healthier choices is the goal you need to MASTER. So instead of setting an overwhelming goal like “lose thirty pounds,” your MASTER goals could be “drink a quart of water every day, walk every day, and eat five ounces of fresh produce every day.” I mean, let’s face it, if you drank a liter of water, went for a walk, and ate five servings of fresh produce every day, you’d be healthier. Also, your success would not depend on your ability to metabolize calories.
The point I am trying to make is that unless you create goals that you can actually achieve every time, eventually you will only disappoint yourself. MASTERED goals are always possible. MASTERed goals allow you to progressively achieve your goals. For each target you have, you must create a corresponding MASTERed target.
Here is a list of common goals followed by their corresponding MASTERED goals. It should help demonstrate what I mean:
I need a new job… I will contact five prospective employers every weekday until I find the right employer for me.
I should do more exercise… Tonight I will dedicate twenty minutes to yoga, to feel in top shape.
I need to save money… I will invest 10% of each salary, so tomorrow I can have more.
I want to meet someone… I will research a new organization every week, so I can meet new people who share my interests.
I want to travel more… I will visit Europe in two years and set aside a hundred dollars a month to pay for the trip.
I’ll control my temper… The next time I catch myself getting angry, I’ll excuse myself from the situation and go for a walk.
As you look at the list, keep in mind that MASTERED goals are attainable. They may not achieve their goal every time, but at least you can keep the goal. At least you can keep the promise you made to yourself.
If your strategy doesn’t work, you can always change your strategy. But unless you develop the habit of setting MASTER goals, you will never achieve your goals. So learn to keep your goals measurable, accountable, specific, timely, exciting, and realistic; or not setting goals at all. Nothing destroys your self-esteem faster than breaking a promise to yourself, and that’s exactly what you do every time you fall short of a goal.
