Here are some examples of how you can help motivate (stimulate the interest of a person in an activity) yourself in your study, and keep yourself ‘on track’ (heading in the right direction) for achieving the results you want.
Challenge Yourself (make demands on yourself)
Keep your goals high enough to ‘inspire’ (excite) you, and reasonable enough to be within your reach. Excellence is never achieved (got) by luck or accident. It requires that you push yourself beyond your ‘comfort zone’ (that which you find easy and comfortable to do) and challenge yourself. You have to be practical, but there are always ways to achieve some version (form or outward appearance) of your dreams.
Be Specific (clearly defined)
Goals aren’t helpful if they’re not specific. Don’t set your long term career goal as something vague (unclear), such as “helping people” or “making a lot of money”. You should express your goal in specific terms, such as “I will be an interpreter” or “I will teach English in China” or “I will run my own public relations company”. The more exact (accurate; precise) you are, the easier it is to measure your progress (know how far you have gone in getting what you want). It’s also easier to tell when you’re finished and ready to move on to the next goal.
Include Actions
Just setting a goal by itself isn’t enough. You need to commit yourself (promise to do) to the actions required to achieve your goal. The things you need to do to achieve ‘long-term goals’ become the ‘small goals’ you set for yourself this month or this week, or what you write on a list of things that you need to do today (today’s ‘to-do list’).
Remember this. If you have work to do that you know is important to your goals then:
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Dear Greg and Ivy,
I’m so happy to see these useful and meaningful suggestions regarding our goals that you have put it here! It’s so kind of you to give us so many tips! Actually,I’m dreamming to be a interpreter some day. Really,I have a passion for English, so I know that I must study hard to achieve my goals! I want to study two other foreign languages during my time at the college! They are Japanese and Portuguese! I know it will be very difficult; not so easy at all. But I’d like to try! As you say:”Challenge Yourself!” So this is my Challenge! In fact,I firmly believe your ideas regarding “just do it and do it now!” My motto is: “Nothing is difficult, just do it!” I would like to get your encouragement and support in the future! My thanks to you all the time!
Dear Greg and Ivy
I ‘m glad to learn these ,but I ‘m afraid I have a problem! I find I ‘m not only intrested in becoming an interpreter, but also want to set up a company to do foreign trade! At the same time, sometimes I even think of becoming a teacher! What should I do ?As the matter of fact, I have decided to learn all the skill the interpreter should have, and also develop my mind on how to be creative! I hope as the time goes on and my knowlege about society becomes enlarged, I may find my real goal! If you are in my situation, what will you do ?
Good Girl Iris! Aim for the top and challenge yourself!
With planning and hard work you can achieve your goals.
All the Best from Greg and Ivy