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A Written Goal Must Have Time Frames

One of the key components of a written goal is that it must have a time frame or deadline. Time frames give you a frame of reference. They also allow you to know when you can stop. And, after all, if you don't know when you can stop, what's the motivation to start?

Having a time frame makes it easier to formulate a plan for achieving the goal. For example, if my goal is to lose 20 pounds in 10 months, I can draw up a plan that has me losing
2 pounds a month or one pound every 2 weeks.

If I leave it open ended, how soon will I get frustrated with the lack of results, because I have no way of measuring them, and just give up?

Most people doom themselves to failure before they even start. They say things like, "Some day I'm going to quit this job and get a better one;" "I'm going to start my own business sometime in the next few years;" "Some day I'm going to lose this extra twenty pounds;" Whenever you hear somebody use one of the above phrases, rest assured none of those things will ever happen.

Let's examine one of the vague words people use to help sabotage themselves: let's look at the word "sometime." Sometime is an interesting word because it could mean anytime, but the way we use it, it usually means never.

Have you ever asked one of your children to do something around the house and they reply, "Sure mom (dad), I'll get around to it sometime." What does their reply tell you? That it's probably never going to get done.

What if you called me on the phone to set up a sales appointment with me and said, "Can I come over and see you sometime?" And I said, "Sure," then hung up. When would you come by? I'd say you better come over right away, because other than right now you'll never know when I'm going to be there.

Has this ever happened to you: you're walking down the street and you run into someone you haven't seen in a while, and couldn't care less if you ever saw him or her again. You find yourself saying, "Hey, haven't seen you in ages. You look great! We should get together sometime. Give me a call sometime. Better yet, give me your number and I'll call you sometime." Why do you say that: because you don't ever want to see that person again.

We use the word "sometime," when we don't want to do something. So, what are we saying when we take the word "sometime" and tack it onto the end of our goals and plans?
Unfortunately, we're saying it's never going to happen.

When you write down your goal, please remember to write down the year or date you intend to achieve it by, because a goal is a dream with a deadline.