Making your goal public

Making your goal public is an extremely effective method for most people. Just think of corporations like TOPS (take off pounds safely) and their monthly weigh in. Knowing that the public will be tracking your progress ensures commitment to your new goal and can be very motivating. Here's how it works.

The process of setting goals needs to be motivational and clear. Your goals need to inspire and motivate you to accomplish them. So the first step is to write down all your short, intermediate, and long-term goals.

Then, set a time limit on accomplishing each goal. This gives you something to look forward to each week. Another way to accomplish this is to list all your daily activities, noting any successes and accomplishments. Then cross off the things you didn't do, or didn't do correctly. This is another way to keep reminding yourself that you are making progress toward your goals.

You also need to write down a list of people who have a big impact on your ultimate goals. It could be family, friends, or other groups that encourage you to succeed. If you can't get in touch with these people, then find new people that you get on with. Always keep adding to your list as you accomplish more goals. It's great for reinforcing your success.

Finally, don't forget about setting goals for your New Year's Resolutions. Goals for the New Year have to be attainable and specific. Setting goals for your New Year Resolutions allows you to create a roadmap for what you want to accomplish and when you want to accomplish it. So make sure your New Year's Resolutions are written down and available for review.