Goal SettingGoal SettingHelp in creating goals for your Culminating Project

Remember SMART

S specific M measurable A attainable R realistic/results-oriented T time bound

Help in creating goals for your Culminating Project

Remember SMART

S specific M measurable A attainable R realistic/results-oriented T time bound

Specific

• Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen.

• Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do.

• Ensure the goals you set are specific, clear and easy. Instead of setting a goal to collect used baseball equipment, set a specific goal to collect 50 bats, 25 gloves and 15 helmets.

Rule #1 ~ Self performance based, not outcome based

Earn a Division I track scholarship

Decrease my mile time by 45 seconds

You should set goals over which you have as much control as possible.

There is nothing more dispiriting than failing to achieve a personal goal for reasons beyond your control.

If you base your goals on personal performance, then you can keep control over the achievement of your goals and draw satisfaction from them.

OUTCOME BASED PERFORMANCE BASED

Measurable

• If you can't measure it, you can't manage it.

• Choose a goal with measurable progress, so you can see the change occur.

• "I will read 3 chapter books of 100 pages before October" shows the specific target to be measured. "I want to be a good reader" is not measurable.

Rule #2 ~ Measurable

I want to play the piano

I want to help the people of Haiti

I want to become a doctor

Identify the skills needed to play Cannon in D

Raise $400 for Haiti relief.

Identify the skills needed to become a doctor.

NO! YES!

Attainable

You can’t/won’t commit to goals which are set too far out of your reach or scope of this project.

Identify goals that are the most important to your project, then figure out ways you can make them come true by developing the abilities, techniques, skills, and financial capacity to reach them.

A goal needs to stretch you slightly so you feel you can do it and require a real commitment from you.

Rule #3 ~ Attainable

Create world peace

Cure breast cancer

Become a famous fashion designer

Sign a record contract with my band

Raise $200 for Darfur

Lead a team in the breast cancer 2 Day

Job shadow a designer to see if it could be a potential career

Create a press kit for my band

NO! YES!

Realistic

• This is not a synonym for "easy." Realistic, in this case, means "do-able."

• A realistic project may push your skills and knowledge but it shouldn't break you.

• Devise a plan or a way of getting there which makes the goal realistic.

• The goal needs to be realistic for you and where you are at the moment.

• Be sure to set goals that you can attain with some effort!

• Too difficult and you set the stage for failure, but too low sends the message that you aren't very capable.

• Set the bar high enough to be a challenge.

Time Bound

• Set a timeframe for the goal: for next week, in three months, by March. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.

• If you don't set a time, the commitment is too vague. It tends not to happen because you feel you can start at any time. Without a time limit, there's no urgency to start taking action now.

• Time must be measurable, attainable and realistic.

Rule #5 ~ Time bound

Remember you have to complete a minimum of 30 hours.

30 hours will go faster than you think plan this ahead of time by working out a rough draft time line.

ADDITIONAL TIPSFind sources of motivation

Be sure you can attain the resources you need. Ex: Holding a 3 on 3 tournament is great, but can you find a venue

Tell others about your goals to help keep you focused

Leave room for change, be flexible

Set mini goals along the way

Know when and who to ask for help

If your project is something you enjoy, achieving your goals will be both easy and rewarding

Identify obstacles and roadblocks from the start