We understand the value of goal-setting.

We know studies show that people who set goals outperform those who don't -- even when the non-goal setters are trying to do their best.

We are aware of the Harvard University study which revealed that the 3% of the graduating class who had clear written goals were worth more financially twenty years later than the other 97% combined!

We know that our goals should be SMART:

• Specific;

• Measurable,

• Attainable,

• Relevant, and

• Time-bound.

If we know so much about goal-setting and its value, why don't more people set goals? And, why do so many who do, abandon them?

One reason is that the path to goal achievement is not always Enjoyable. How motivated are you to do something you don't enjoy doing? How long are you likely to continue doing it? Not very long. Suppose your goal is to increase sales by a specific amount and your plan is to uncover new opportunities by making cold calls. However, you don't enjoy making cold calls. (Actually, you don't like making them at all. But, you consider them a "necessary evil.") How long will you keep up the activity? Not long.

What happens to the goal when your cold calling activity begins to slide? It eventually slips from your grasp. Not because you abandoned it: you still want to increase sales and earn more money. But, you abandon the activity that would have enabled you to achieve the goal. Unless you find a more enjoyable way of uncovering new opportunities, the goal will be lost. So, make sure your plan of action for goal achievement is enjoyable. Or, at the very least, includes some enjoyable activities. Perhaps investing some additional time with existing clients and asking them for referrals is a better strategy. You'll still have to make phone calls, but they won't be "cold" calls.

Another reason people give up on a goal is there is no outright or immediate Reward for achieving it. We've heard "achievement is its own reward." That may be true, but unless you celebrate your achievement, motivation wanes. Suppose your goal for the year is to increase your income and you set monthly target amounts to aim for - interim goals to keep yourself on track. Each month that you hit the targeted number, you can sit at home, stare at the bottom line on your bank statement, and pat yourself on the back. Or, you can reward yourself - take your spouse or significant other out to dinner at a special restaurant, for instance, and celebrate your accomplishment. You can make it a ritual. Which would you look forward to?

When you set goals, make sure the path to achievement includes something you Enjoy doing. If it's all drudgery, it's unlikely the goal will be completed. And, plan to Reward yourself for your accomplishments. When you make your SMART goals SMARTER, your success is imminent.

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