CASS Workshop Series: Goal-Setting: Preparing For Your Future Center for Academic Support Services.

CASS Workshop Series:

Goal-Setting: Preparing For Your Future

Center for Academic Support Services

Workshop ObjectivesReview Goal-SettingDiscuss short and long term goals Review the goal setting processDiscuss the importance of goal setting

How To Write S.M.A.R.T GoalsDefine the elements of a S.M.A.R.T goal

(worksheet)

Monitoring goal progressionDevelop an action/task plan (worksheet) Managing a To-Do List

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What are goals?Goals- are objectives you are working

towards. It is something you want to achieve, have, or do.

Long term goals – are a description of what you want for yourself in the future.

Short term goals –are intermediate and short term objectives you work towards achieving your long term goals.

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Overview Of The Goal Setting Process

First, create your "big picture“ by visualizing what you want to do with your life in the future.

Then, break down this long-term goal into smaller and smaller targets that you must hit in order to reach your long-term goals.

Finally, once you have your plan, start working on it to achieve success!

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Why Is Goal Setting Important?

Goals represent expectations, hopes and dreams.

Setting goals gives you long-term vision and short-term motivation.

It focuses your acquisition of knowledge, and helps you to organize your time and your resources so that you can make the very most of your life.

A goal not properly defined or written down is merely a wish.

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What Are S.M.A.R.T GOALS?

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S=SPECIFICThere are two types of goals: general and specific.

General goals are basically a blanket statement that only covers the end goal and none of the steps involved along the way.

Specific goals will outline a process and possibly a few steps along the way.

EXAMPLE

General goal: Save enough money to buy a car. Specific goal: Save $500 a month for x months until I can buy a

car by x date.

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M=MEASURABLE

A goal should be easy to measure so you can chart your progress along the way.

Use actual numbers, target dates, or specific events to indicate when your goal has been achieved.

ExampleI will lose 10 pounds in 30 days.

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A=ATTAINABLE Pick goals that you are willing to work for and that you're going to stick with. Working toward your goals requires inner motivation, not outer motivation. Your goals should push you past your comfort point but you should still be able to

attain them with effort and commitment.

Example

I will move into my first apartment by age 21.

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R=RELEVANT/REALISTIC

When you create a goal, make sure that it is realistic. Goals should be challenging, not impossible.

Avoid setting goals that are not challenging. Try to find the ideal balance between challenging and impossible that works for you.

ExampleAfter graduation on June 1, 2011, I will start a home-based turn-key business within 1 year.

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T=TIME BOUND

Set an end date that you would like to achieve your goal in.

For small goals: days, weeks, and months work just fine. For larger goals, months and years are acceptable.

Example

I will be married by June 15, 2014.

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S.M.A.R.T GOAL ACTIVITY

Do the goals listed below meet the SMART criteria?

I am working in my field as a math teacher by January 2016.

I will save $1,200 in my savings account.I am going to law school.I will increase my GPA to 2.0 by the end

of Summer 2011.

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MONITORING GOAL PROGRESSION

Action Plans- are the actual strategies or steps that you will need to take in order to achieve your goal. Keep in mind that these steps are time sensitive.

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MONITORING GOAL PROGRESSIONA “To- Do” List or Planner –helps to prioritize the task/steps from

your action plan so that you complete the most important task first.

Monitor your progress by reviewing and updating your To-Do List/Planner on a daily basis. Periodically review the longer term plans, and modify them to reflect your changing priorities and experience.

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ACTION PLAN ACTIVITYComplete the Action Plan on your

SMART Goal Worksheet.

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Thank you for attending!

Q & A

[email protected] behind library

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Next CASS Workshop:

Study Skills: Are you ready for Midterms? (2-16-11)

Same place – Same time – Next Week

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