“I’m going to keep working on this case until all the pieces in the puzzle can be made to fit together!” Nancy told her father. -The Ghost of Blackwood Hall
When Nancy sets her mind to something, nothing gets in her way, even when she doubts her own ability to succeed. Nancy knew at a young age she wanted to be a detective and help her father with his legal cases. Over the years she’s proved herself a crackerjack sleuth, mainly because she never gives up. Here are steps to setting-and meeting-your own goals.
1. Brainstorm. Nancy has set a wide variety of goals, everything from learning tennis, piano, and horseback riding to helping at the crippled children’s home to becoming a super sleuth. Think about all the things you’d like to accomplish or achieve. Include even your wildest dreams, in all areas of your life, such as education, career, relationships, physical skills, financial status, and service to the community.
2. Focus on realistic goals. Even Nancy knows she can’t do everything, so she focuses on realistic goals. Take a close look at your list and decide which goals you want to pursue the most. Make sure they’re realistic and play to your strengths rather than your weaknesses. Be honest about why you want to achieve them.
3. Set positive goals rather than negative ones. For example, don’t state the goal as “I’ll stop being afraid.” Instead write, “I’ll try to be braver.”
4. Separate short-term goals from long-term ones. Nancy’s long-term goal is to be the best detective she can be. Her short-term goals focus on solving mysteries, one clue at a time. Divide your goals into two categories: short-term (those you can reach in a few days, weeks, or months) and long-term (those that may take years or a lifetime). Next, prioritize the goals, setting them in order of importance.
5. Break the goals into steps. Do some careful planning for your goals. Create a time-line for each of the steps. List tasks to accomplish each day, each week, and each month to keep you headed toward your goal. Check off each task as you complete it.
6. Recheck your goals and steps periodically. Your goals may change over time, or you may find that the steps you’ve outlined are not realistic and need to be revised. Don’t obsess about setbacks or incomplete tasks. Move on after you alter the steps to your goals.
7. Stay focused. Nancy constantly reviews her sleuthing to-do list, and at the end of each successful case, she gives herself a reward to remind her of her hard work and perseverance. Review your goals each day. Look at what you’ve accomplished so far and reward yourself for those achievements. Build on these successes to help you keep going.
8. Reevaluate failures. If you have trouble meeting a goal, there may be an underlying reason. See if you can analyze the problem and either overcome the block or let it go. It may be an unattainable goal. Make sure the goal is what you want, not what others want for you. Don’t forget-you learn from your setbacks, too.
