Do your goal-setting right and you’ll be halfway to the finish line.

Good things are more likely to happen in your life if you set doable goals.

Whether you want to complete an important work project, lose 20 pounds, or get rich, planning is critical. Yet many people skip this step, says Michael Dobson, coauthor of Goal Setting: How to Create an Action Plan and Achieve Your Goals.

People skip it because other activities may seem more pressing, he explains. Careful planning also can be uncomfortable: It forces you to face all your unanswered questions, all your unfinished work, and all your worries about being unable to do the task.

But if you set your goals right, you’re halfway to the finish line. Here are Dobson’s 10 guidelines for setting goals and following through.

1. Put your goals in writing. “If you write them down, your mind thinks it’s a contract,” he explains. But don’t share them proudly with others; you’ll be giving yourself a psychic reward before you’ve earned it.
2. Write your goals in specific, measurable terms. “This week I will make 15 sales calls and close on four of them,” for instance. “Basically, fuzzy goals are less likely to be achieved because you can hit a target but you can’t hit a blotch,” Dobson explains.
3. Visualize doing it right. Athletes mentally rehearse themselves hitting the ball or making the perfect shot. By visualizing going through the process and reaching your goal, you help bring your dream closer to reality.
4. Set a bar that’s high but reachable. There’s no guarantee you’ll reach a lofty goal. But by aiming high, odds are you’ll rise higher than if you’d aimed for a more modest goal.
5. Set deadlines based on reality. For example, “I must complete this project by Nov. 10, or I can’t present it to my supervisor before my annual performance review.” If you pull a deadline out of thin air, you’re unlikely to take it seriously.
6. Set manageable goals. “As a writer, if I say my overall goal is to be on The New York Times bestseller list, that’s not a goal—that’s a wish,” says Dobson. Even a more workable goal may be impossible to reach in one step, so break it down. For example, “I’ll assemble and organize the entire book’s research by Jan. 15. I’ll flesh out the outline by Jan. 20.”
7. Analyze your process for potential problems. Do you lack information or education in key areas? Are you likely to face external resistance? Obstacles like these may be the reason you haven’t already reached your goal.
8. Act to eliminate or minimize the effects of potential problems. Don’t expect them to go away on their own. For example, take an evening class in your subject. Take steps to defuse any possible resistance.
9. Review your progress regularly. You can’t reach your goal on schedule if problems keep tripping you up. Make sure your goals remain realistic, relevant, and timely.
10. Ensure your goal has rewards you value. Are they proportional to your investment of time, effort, and money? This step is listed last, but Dobson feels it’s the most important. “It’s amazing to me how many people skip what is absolutely essential: Why do you want to do this? What’s the payoff?”

Polly Turner spoke with Michael Dobson, coauthor with Deborah Singer Dobson of Goal Setting: How to Create an Action Plan and Achieve Your Goals. New York: AMACOM, 2008, $12. Dobson has more than 20 years’ experience in project management and has written 13 books related to business management.

© StayWell Custom Communications. Information is the opinion of the sourced authors and organizations. Personal decisions regarding health, diet, and exercise should be made only after consultation with the reader's own medical advisers. This material may not be reproduced for redistribution without written permission from StayWell Custom Communications.