For goals to be achieved in any area of life, two directives have to be followed. If either of them is not done properly, goals will fail. The first step is to set goals that present a challenge without being set too high. A goal must be reasonable. The second is to formulate a plan to achieve the goal. A goal without a plan is just a fantasy.
How does one go about setting a reasonable goal that still presents a challenge. A goal that has already been accomplished is not going to be a challenge. This means it must be something that stretches the ability to make it happen. In regard to adult education, a goal of completing a full year of education without a break may be reasonable and challenging for someone who has not gone to school for over ten years.
It is possible that a goal of completing a degree may be a long-term goal, but not really reasonable for a person who has never liked sitting in a classroom. What has to happen is that shorter goals have to be fashioned as intervals that point toward a longer term goal.
If you have no chance of success on the first leg of a long-term goal, you will never reach the end. By breaking it down, you are not only setting reasonable goals, but you are creating a long-term plan. Many people fail in their goals by finishing their plan without having a new plan in place to continue toward the long-term goal.
Once a goal is set, make a plan to reach that goal. If the goal is part of a bigger picture, establish directions to lead from one short-term goal to the next. If finishing one year of college even on a part-time basis is the initial goal, the plan should include getting a copy of the school's annual calendar.
This calendar will furnish the dates for application, enrollment, applying for financial aid, class schedules, and more. Using the calendar as a guide, map out when various tasks associated with getting into the school need to be accomplished. After all , you will not complete a year of college without a goal and a plan to get enrolled in classes.
Sit down with a guidance counselor and explain your goals and your plans to achieve it. The counselor will be able to help you fill in any blanks in your plan. He or she should also be able to help you make any corrections and link your short-term goals to the long-term goal by mapping out your educational path for each semester until graduation.
By doing this, you will start your educational career with a clear plan for completion. With the plan in place, you have just increased the odds of fulfilling your goal dramatically. If these steps are not taken, you probably are better off letting things sit for a while until you are ready to do the work necessary to succeed. If you are not willing to make the plans to reach your goals, you lack the motivation to see it through to the end.
