We are often asked about the difference between dreams and goals. In short, a dream may make you think, “wouldn’t it be nice one day if …”, and goals are dreams with a deadline.
For example, you may say that one day you’d like to travel in space. We’d call that a dream.
However, if you have a written-down plan and action steps to make US$250,000 by December 2015 to buy a ticket on Richard Branson’s 2016 space mission, you’d have a goal.
We encourage our clients to make their goals SMART, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-framed.
We also ask our clients to consider what they may need to give up in order to reach them.
In our example, the cost of the space fight is not only the ticket price.
The extra commitment to earn US$250,000 will have effects on other aspects of your life – possibly reducing time with your family, energy for exercise, or your availability for interests and hobbies.
If the non-monetary price you will pay to achieve your goal is affordable to you, then you know you have a well-thought out goal.
If achieving your goal requires you to act against some of your values, such as putting family or health first, you might need to reconsider either the goal, or what’s most important to you.
We work with business owners, managers, corporate executives and professionals to work out their true values, and help them set and achieve SMART business and personal goals.
If you’d like a complimentary, no-obligation coaching session to explore your business goals, call business coach Julianne Schwenke on (02) 4933 6622 today.
Posted by julianne, 7/3/14