Goal Setting by Cathy Jameson

Do you have measurable goals set in motion for 2012? Goal setting is a hot topic at the start of a new year. Do you dismiss the topic before you really get started? Many professionals already accept themselves as either being goal setters, or not. Some just set vague goals in their minds. Others have only financial goals. Accept the challenge to think through goal setting this year in a new way. Allow yourself to do some reflective thinking about your mission, vision and goals. Then, employ goal activation systems to make sure you stay on track.

Here at Jameson, we set goals and work through activation plans just as we have taught our clients for decades. In writing goals, we recommend that you write them in three distinct and yet interrelated areas of your life: 1) Personal and Family Goals, 2) Business and Career Goals and 3) Self Improvement Goals.

WRITING THE GOAL is the first step to accomplishing the goal, but it is not the end result. Just as visualizing the end result of a tooth preparation does not make the preparation happen, and just as you have a specific process for that tooth preparation, you must have a specific process for goal accomplishment. Here are the essential steps.

1. WRITE THE GOAL.
2. DESIGN THE PLAN. What are the objectives or strategies necessary for the accomplishment of the goal? In other words, what must you do in terms of specific tasks to reach this goal?
3. PERSON OR PERSONS. Determine the person or persons responsible to perform each task
4. TIME ACTIVATE. When must each task be completed?
5 . EVALUATION. How is it going? Do you need to adjust your plan? What have you learned from the proposed plan of action?

You may find that your first attempt at goal writing is somewhat vague. That's OK. However, you need to move quickly to the specific goals and the specific strategies of how you are going to accomplish those goals.

After you have designed the specific plan of action, PUT THE PLAN INTO ACTION! So many of us fall short right here! We know what we want, we design a great plan, but we never expend the energies necessary to put the plan into effect.

During the evaluation phase of this process (usually the most neglected) you may need to address the issue of "what are the barriers to my accomplishment of this goal? Is there something I need to learn, someone I need to learn from, paths I need to clear before I can continue my journey?" Once you identify those barriers, be about the business of clearing them away.

Goals need to be both short term and long term. It has been said that many people spend more time planning their vacation than they spend planning their life, and I believe that this is true for the most part. You must know where it is you want to go if you are to ever get there! Start with a 20-year forecast and then work backwards - 10 years, five years, one year, monthly, weekly, and finally daily. A large group of well- managed days make for great weeks, which lead to satisfactory months, excellent years and a goal-oriented, satisfied lifetime. Keeping your goals written down keeps you on track and allows you to make those very necessary changes that evolve as you evolve. Those lifetime goals may be somewhat vague, but the more specific short-term goals are more action-oriented and will assure you that your footing is solid.

We are forever committed to encouraging each person on our team to reach his or her own unique potential. Goal setting has taken us a long way toward maintaining that commitment. We are responsible for our own success or failure. We have chosen to succeed and until you decide to be successful, you never will be. Until you make the commitment to control your life, you never will.

The first step to success is DECIDING to be a success. The next step is to gain control of your life and you begin that when you WRITE YOUR GOALS. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS! Celebrate the victories along the way. I hope that you will start NOW to begin your journey to success and happiness.

For Jameson clients, there was much to celebrate in 2011 as clients averaged:
- 35% production increase
- 31% collections increase
- 64% hygiene increase

They accomplished these GOALS and tracked them well, all while working an average of two days less. We couldn't have ever helped clients reach those amazing results if we didn't have goals for their practices - and for our outstanding team of advisors who help take them there. Each of those dental teams worked cohesively toward a common set of goals and now they're on to new 2012 goals. We're right there showing them the way. Here's to a great 2012 for all of you!