Self help – tips for achieving a goal

Top 5 tips for achieving a goal

This tips section is about how to achieve a particular goal. I try to explain the techniques I use and I hope you find them useful too, but I would welcome any input;

• 5. Write down everything
• 4. Condense and clear out
• 3. Expand
• 2. Split and research
• 1. Don't jump ahead

 

5.Write down everything

Brainstorm it. Write down anything that comes to mind. Use as much paper or screen space as you need. List everything you want to achieve and any thoughts associated with it - like 'taxidermy - will need to learn how to stuff animals, do i need a license, are there schools for it' etc.

4. Condense and clear out.

Once you're happy that you've got comprehensive notes on your ambitions then you can move on to this stage. If you use a computer you may find it easier to print your notes out before continuing because next you will go through what you've written and try to extract the main points and put them in a logical order of what has to be done first. This is best done on fresh paper and the goal is to have a very clear ordered list at the end.

3. Expand

Now you have a provisional list you can expand on the points. With almost all goals you will find that there are steps to take in between now and achieving it. Identify the mini goals on your list - like going to college or meeting new people - and take a new piece of paper and write out the steps to achieving that goal.

E.g. College may be your primary goal or it could just be a stepping stone to what you want to achieve so write out a separate list of things you need to do for that - like how to get in, finding the right place, getting loans etc. - try to think of everything you need to do for that first step.

2. Split and research

Next you may want to split these lists even further. Sticking with the college example you may find it best to have each list item on a separate sheet. That way, you're ticking off one thing and moving to a new page with only one more thing to do. If you have a massive list of everything you need to do then it looks impossible, if your page says 'find out how to get in to college' then that's a lot easier to achieve.

1. Don't jump ahead

Well, it's hard not too sometimes. In the example I'm using you might think to research student loans whilst your researching colleges but if you want an uncluttered mind, it's a good idea to finish doing one thing before moving to the next. Remember to take notes of the information you find and distil them to an answer or short list of possibilities . Try to stay uncluttered.