Don’t Do It Like ME! Setting Realistic Short-Term Goals

Stacey Schultz-CherryStacey Schultz-CherryAssociate MemberAssociate Member

Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research HospitalChildren’s Research Hospital

Are you kidding?

What do other people do?

Undergrads

What’s a What’s a short-

term goal?

What’s a Hmmmm?

PhD students & Postdocs

What’s a

Daily to do list forexpts then short

term goals for gradschool stuff

What’s a Over-arching long

term goal broken intodaily things to

accomplish

Stacey tells me what to do

Make a listexample – submit

NRSA

What do other people do?

What do other people do?

Colleagues

So – how do you set a short-term goal?

1. What is a short-term goal? A goal or objective is a desired result a person or a system envisions,

plans and commits to achieve—a personal or organizational desired end-point in some

sort of assumed development. Many people endeavor to reach goals within a finite

time by setting deadlines.

It is roughly similar to purpose or aim, the anticipated result which guides reaction, or an end, which is an object, either a physical object or an abstract object, that has intrinsic value.

What the heck?What it’s not is a “TO DO” LIST

So – how do you set a short-term goal?

1. Be Realistic (not overly ambitious; timely)Examples: • Write my preliminary exam• Apply for my NRSA• Prepare my tenure package

• Write the introduction to my preliminary exam by Tuesday

• Discuss the aims of my NRSA with my advisor tomorrow am

• Prepare the teaching portion of my tenure package today

Give yourself a deadline

So – how do you set a short-term goal?

2. Be SpecificExamples: • Get good grades in Dr. Ahlquist’s Molecular Virology Class• Network at the ASV meeting• Hire a technician

• On Tuesday from 8 – 10 pm complete the homework and study the notes in Mol Virol

• At the dance on Tuesday night, I’m going to meet 3 senior members in my field

• On Monday, submit personnel requisition to HR

Be specific for short-term goals

So – how do you set a short-term goal?

3. Prioritize

Consider looming deadlines and plan smart!

4. Use a simple method to track your goals

So – how do you set a short-term goal?

4. Mark off your goals when they are accomplished

Is it really that important?

What’s a What’s a short-

term goal?

1.9X3.0

Things to consider1. Will help with time management

2. Related to long-term goals

3. Self-confidence

4. Interview question

5. Goals are going to change• stage of career

S - Specific (or Significant). M - Measurable (or Meaningful). A - Attainable (or Action-Oriented). R - RealisticT - Time-framed (or Trackable)

Questions?