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Four Guidelines for Setting Goldilocks Goals

GoldilocksI’ve coined the phrase Goldilocks goals to describe goals that are not too soft, not too hard, but just right. Goldilocks goals are the ones that are challenging and motivating, but not insurmountable. Remember, Goldilocks had a pretty good idea of the kind of chair, porridge, and bed she was looking for. She had goals. But they were reasonable ones. Her vision of what she was looking for, coupled with her and tenacity and positive outlook, drove her to keep going until she found everything just right. Your Goldilocks goals can drive you to keep going, too. They can help you know what you’re looking for – what just right looks like, feels like, and tastes like in your career and your life — but they can also be reasonable so that you don’t become overwhelmed by your goals and deflated by them.

Below are the four guidelines I’ve developed to help my clients craft their personal and professional Goldilocks goals. In addition, I recommend that you take a look at my Pinterest board, “Goal Setting: 25 Tips” at http://pinterest.com/drlaurahills/goal-setting-25-tips/. Together, these two tools will help you set your own Goldilocks goals – and articulate them positively.

Write your goals for your career and your personal life following these four guidelines:

1. Phrase your goals like you’ve already achieved them. For example, “I now own outright a new black BMW 4-door sedan” or “I have just been promoted to vice president in my firm”. Putting goals in the present tense makes them more compelling and triggers your brain to think of them as achievable and real.

2. Use passionate, motivating language.  For example: “I absolutely love and am excited about waking up every day in my beautiful townhome.” Such a statement is far more motivating than the more sedate, “I like my new townhome”. Let passionate language drive you to achieve your goals.

3. Write specifically and in rich detail.  Your subconscious mind manifests ideas literally. Therefore, use clear, specific and powerful language to describe what you want. For example: “I absolutely love being the HR director of my company. I love having my own office, earning a higher salary, and having the respect of others that go with the title. But most of all, I love being in the position to help others, to solve problems, and to make our company a great place to work.”

4. Write in positive terms. Examples of positive statements might be: “I am now free of the habit of smoking”, or “I am now a smoke free person”. Negative examples might be: “I don’t smoke any more” or “I’m not a smoker”. Your subconscious mind is likely to be motivated by positive outcomes and the benefits associated with them.

Tip: Share these four guidelines and my Pinterest board with your employees, colleagues, and mentees if you are in a position to help them with goal setting. – Dr. Laura Hills, Blue Pencil Institute, www.bluepencilinstitute.com