Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Setting Goals

- by Ayesha Parveen 26 Nov 2008
Category: Lifestyle.
This story has been read 67 times.
http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=ed8677c4-5507-4d25-a9a1-0023e4f30525

To achieve something, we need to set a goal and it needs some serious thought and action. The following rules might help:

1. BE PRACTICAL: We need to set a goal in almost every aspect of life: professional, financial, personal and temporal. And, when we do so, we need to be practical. If, for example, a person earns Rs. 20, 000 a month, then his goal should not be to become a millionaire within a year! Perhaps, saving Rs.120, 000 in a year would be a better idea (at Rs. 10,000 per month saving). Similarly, if you are working 8 hours a day, do not suddenly plan to work 16 hours as it will be physically almost impossible to do so.

2. PUT IT IN WRITING: Set your goals in writing; in that way you will remember them. Every night, before going to bed, read the writing so that your subconscious mind registers it. Along with the more common financial and professional goals, remember your personal goals too. Be very specific. What is in the mind, usually, sooner or later, gets manifested in the tangible world too.

3. EVALUATE YOUR PROGRESS:
Every month evaluate how far you have progressed in nearing your goals. Be patient with yourself and learn from your mistakes like unnecessary over-spending.

4. TIME-FRAME: Put a time-frame to your goal, short-term or long. Some goals can have both the short-term and the long-term time-frames. For example, a short-term saving of Rs. 120, 000 per annum would have a long-term time-frame of Rs 600, 000 in 5 years.

5. SET YOUR GOALS SLIGHTLY HIGHER than what at present you practically think is possible. This will motivate you more in making the adjustments in life necessary to reach your goal.

6. REGULARITY: Break down your working for the goal and do each day’s/ month’s/ year’s work regularly.

ayeshacgs@hotmail.com

2 comments:

Ayesha Parveen said...

MSN Readers'comments:

Bobby Sakariah - Jeddah on 11/26/2008 12:48:35 PM
What if, a person is following all your recommendations religiously and investing 10000 per month in shares and at the end of 5th year expects to make a big investment of around 8 lacs (along with interest). But at the end of the fifth year the stock market crashes and he is left with only 50000 (the value available on the sale of shares invested for 5 years). Don't depend too much on one's own capabilities. It will land us in all the trouble. I don't discourage planning. But don't be too sure that everything will go according to the plans. It is therefore that wise people believe more in God than their own wisdom. Nice article nonetheless. Keep writing.

ayesha parveen - kolkata on 11/26/2008 1:16:16 PM
Bobby, there is always the possibility of things not working because of circumstances beyond our control. But that does not mean we will sit back and not do our part. As Vaasudev Krishna says in the Bhagwad Geeta, we must do our part first. In that context, don't you think we do need to set goals? Best wishes.

Ayesha Parveen said...

MSN Readers' comments:

Lakshmi - Chennai on 11/26/2008 12:40:53 PM
Wonderful tips Ayesha, am sure the readers would be benefitted. Good day.

ayesha parveen - kolkata on 11/26/2008 5:01:39 PM
So, Bobby, we do have to plan and set goals, as this article emphasises on. No point in being a pessimist. Best wishes.