5 Goal Setting Tips for Moms

Women are natural dreamers. From a young age we fantasized of being a princess, where our dainty minds morphed into that beautiful damsel waiting for Prince Charming to rescue us. It was fun to dream… And, as the modern princess evolved, she became savvier, stronger, proactive; no longer waiting for her world to define her, she sought to define her world.

When we become moms, we don’t stop dreaming, most of us just stop believing our dreams will come true. We get so caught up in life’s chaos that we neglect to pursue the dreams inherent within us. But ladies, this is your opportunity to move your dreams into reality. Whether you’re Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty, a CEO or stay-at-home mom, dreams won’t come true on their own. It takes hard work; it takes dedication; it takes setting goals.

Below are five goal-setting tips that'll help you realize your dreams, and lead you closer to the fairytale life you desire.

To keep things simple, a goal has four irrefutable traits; it’s tangible (I want to be happy is not tangible; I want to get out of debt is); it’s measurable (I want to pay off my $10,000 credit card); it has a time-targeted objective (I want to pay off my credit card in 18 months); and lastly, a goal isn't a goal unless you write it down. You can talk about it all you want, but if it’s not written then it’s a wish, that may or may not get fulfilled. The key is to understand what goals are so we can get those fairytales out of our heads, written down, and start striving toward that happily ever after we all deserve.

What is that burning passion lying within destined to be released? Where do you want to be in 5 or 10 years? What are those things you long to achieve but have no idea how to achieve it? It might be as fundamental as wanting to pay off a car loan, or as daunting as going back to school to get your Master’s degree. Or, maybe you’re yearning to get your pre-schooler into the most prestigious kindergarten in the district, or perhaps it's to finish the book you've always wanted to write. Whatever the dream, make sure it’s what you truly want. Do you really want to rise up the ranks at your company, or do you wish you could start your own business? Be clear of your desires, reach for the stars, and it’s okay to be selfish. Don’t lead yourself down a path you don’t want to travel because by setting goals you will most likely get there.

On a piece of paper write down the long-term (5-10 year) goals you desire for your future. Separate them into categories: health, career, marriage, spiritual, etc. Now, choose one, and working backwards, determine the major steps to achieve that long-term goal. Write down the most important goals that needs to be accomplished this year; this quarter; this month; this week and today. For example, if your long-term goal is to open your own hair salon then your goal for this year might be to attend a beauty college. Your quarterly goal might be to secure financing for beauty college. Your monthly goal might be to get accepted at a beauty college. Your weekly goal might be to apply to 10 beauty colleges, and your daily goal might be to research potential beauty colleges.

Don’t beat yourself up if you fail to meet all of your goals. At least you will be making progress. And, if done correctly, each time you accomplish a daily goal you’ll be one step closer to a well-planned future.

Most schools of thought don’t add consequences to goal setting, but I’ll use the method endorsed by my husband, motivational speaker, and Hollywood writer, Devon Greggory. When he’s speaking at colleges across the country about goal setting he tells students, “Without a consequence your dreams are in danger of going unfulfilled.” Ladies, when you set your goals attach a consequence, whether it’s not getting that chocolate cake after dinner, or being banned from watching your favorite TV show, or having to donate monetarily to a charity of your choice. When we don’t meet the goals set for us at work there are real consequences; the same is true in any educational environment. Our own dreams should be just as, if not more, important.

Post your monthly and weekly goals where they’re clearly visible, and review your goals daily. Be sure you sit down at the top of each week to set the goals for the upcoming week, plus take 5 minutes at the end of each day to plan your goals for the following day. Also, be sure to celebrate by crossing items off each list that you’ve accomplished.

Another way to get to know your goals is to schedule quarterly goals retreats. You can do this with your spouse, if you’re goal setting together, or by yourself. Go to a coffee shop or dinner and review the goals you’ve set, and applaud the ones you’ve accomplished for the quarter; plus analyze the next set of goals you want to achieve for the upcoming quarter. Know your goals intimately and hold them in high regard, as if they were buried treasure waiting to be unlocked.

Moms, if you follow these tips, set your goals, and work hard to achieve them you’ll be well on your way to royalty.

You’ll no longer be a princess waiting for her fairytale to come true; you’ll be the Queen of your castle, living the dream you were destined to live.