2. Objectives To explore goal-setting skills.
To examine ways of achieving goals.
To explain the importance of making good decisions.
To describe strategies for making good decisions.
To explain the benefits of seeking guidance from trusted adults.

3. Main Menu
Setting & Achieving Goals
Decision Making

5. Planning
Is the process of forming a program of actions and methods to achieve something
Can help determine future courses of action before problems and challenges occur
Involves setting goals
Is essential to reaching goals

6. Goals Are future actions or achievements which you aim to accomplish
Can give you long-term vision
Can give you short-term motivation
Should act as a guide for making everyday decisions

7. Goals Can be long-term Can be short-term
to be accomplished over a long period of time, typically one year or more
for example, to become a doctor
Can be short-term
to be accomplished in less than one year or over a period of time occurring in the year
for example, to exercise four times each week

8. Types of Goals Include: personal goals health goals family goals
to keep my room clean this month
to be outgoing and make new friends in college
health goals
to eat fruits and vegetables everyday
to improve my balance and flexibility
family goals
to be a strong role model and mentor to my sister
to be a supportive father

9. Types of Goals Include: financial goals academic goals career goals
to buy a new bicycle
to pay off debt
academic goals
to make the honor role this semester
to expand my vocabulary
career goals
to get a summer job
to become a chef

10. Setting Goals
Is important to help you stay focused on what you really want out of life
Can help you organize your time, talents and resources to get the most out of your effort
Is important throughout your young and adult life
learning how to set and achieve goals now will benefit you as an adult

11. Setting Goals Can be challenging
Requires you think about what you want in realistic terms
Includes considering lifelong needs and desires
this can give you perspective which will help you when planning to achieve goals
Sometimes requires prioritizing
you cannot expect to achieve everything you want all at once

12. SMART Goals Are useful, powerful and easier to definitively accomplish
Are Specific, Meaningful, Attainable, Rewarding and Trackable
for example, instead of setting a goal such as “to be a better daughter”, make the goal SMART by changing it to “to actively participate in and contribute to family activities while being positive and supportive”

13. Achieving Long-Term Goals
Often requires forming short-term goals to help you along the way
for example, if your long-term goal is to expand your vocabulary, some short-term goals to set might include:
to read at least one book each month
to research the meanings of words you do not know
to keep a vocabulary notebook
to use at least two new words each day

14. Achieving Short-Term Goals
Typically requires you to think about the specific actions you must complete
these are known as tactics
for example, if your short-term goal is to read one book each month, tactics might include:
reading every day at lunch and before bed
going to the library every week
joining a book club

15. Achieving Goals
Is often easier if you write them down and review them often
keep a goal notebook or map to help you keep track of your long-term goals, short-term goals and tactics; you can then mark off each as it is completed

16. Achieving Goals Raises you self-esteem and self-worth
Motivates you to continue setting goals
Should allow you to be satisfied and reward yourself
May require you to review your other goals and adjust them as necessary

17. Getting Help
From parents, teachers or other trusted adults can make setting and achieving goals easier
adults have life experience which you can learn from
some adults may have resources and/or advice which can help you

18. Helpful Adults Include those who know you well
parents, teachers and counselors can give you advice tailored to your personality and abilities
Include those who have achieved the goal you have set
it is always helpful to hear from someone who has “been there and done that”
Include those with knowledge or resources concerning the goal you are trying to achieve
learning more about your goal can help you understand the tactics necessary for achievement

19. Setting & Achieving Goals
Can teach you a lot about yourself
strengths and weaknesses
interests
values
ambition and persistency
decision-making ability

20. Ambition & Persistency
Are important to setting and achieving goals
ambition is the degree to which you desire something and are willing to work for it
if you want something, set a goal, make a plan and work hard to achieve it
persistency is the degree to which you continue to work for what you want despite struggles and challenges
if you want something, stick to it and never give up

22. Decision Making
Is the ability to select the best option of several alternatives
Is a skill used by all people everyday
Skills are valuable and should be developed and practiced throughout life

23. Types of Decisions Include:
“whether” decisions: those for which the answer is yes or no; often begin with “Should I … ?”
“which” decisions: those for which the answer must be chosen from an established group of possible answers
contingent decisions: those for which the answer depends upon a variable; can often be put into “If … , then …” scenarios

24. Decisions May be minor and seemingly insignificant
even small decisions can have a lasting effect
for example, it may seem minor when you decide what time to go to bed, but this decision will likely affect other, more meaningful decisions
May be major and very consequential
these are most likely the decisions for which you use a careful process for considering the pros and cons of all alternatives

25. Making Decisions Is a process which requires the following steps:
define the decision
list all possible alternatives and the positive and negative consequences of each choice
select best choice
act on the choice
evaluate decision made

26. Making Decisions
Can be made easier through the use of a pros and cons list
think about all positive and negative aspects of the decision, including:
moral standards
emotional responses
tangible consequences
effects on other people
weigh each pro and con to determine its importance to you
not all pros and cons will be of equal importance

27. Decision: Should I go to college?
Pro & Con List Example
Decision: Should I go to college?
Pros
Cons
Fun
Exposure to new experiences
Opportunity to make new friends
Ability to learn new things
Increased chance of getting a higher paying job
Scary
Difficult; hard work
Expensive
Less ability to gain work experience
Would have to be away from my family and friends

28. Research
Can also aid in decision-making, particularly for major decisions
pros and cons tend to be general and might even be assumptions, so researching the specifics of each can be helpful
for example, talking to someone who went to college, researching college options and learning about alternatives to college can help you make your decision

29. Possible Outcomes
Are possibly the most important thing to consider when making decisions
ask yourself, “Can I be satisfied with the final outcome of this decision,” if you think you cannot, you should reconsider the decision
May not be based solely on the decision
remember, some things are beyond your control; just because you make a good decision does not mean the outcome will always be what you wanted or expected

30. Decision Making
Can be aided by getting advice and guidance from a parent, teacher or other trusted adult
adults may have knowledge or experience which could be helpful
adults may be able to see an aspect of the decision which you did not consider
adults may be able to point out a possible outcome which could change your mind

31. Decision Making
Performed by a group, rather than by yourself, can also be solved through the use of discussion
group members can all contribute to a pros and cons list
having everyone express their opinions can help bring more perspective to the decision and might bring to light more alternatives

32. Group Decisions Can be made based on the following methods:
consensus: everyone agrees on a decision
compromise: everyone makes concessions and the decision is a mix of views; opposing opinions are settled by blending qualities of each
vote: decision is made based on the majority opinion

33. Important Decisions Are sometimes irreversible
Should only be made after careful thinking and consideration
Should not be made hastily or based solely on emotions
if you feel you are getting too emotional over a decision, give yourself time to calm down and think it out objectively

34. Resources
Ideas to Teach Goal Setting to Kids Five Elements of a Useful Goal Mind Tools Wise Decisions.com

35. Acknowledgements
Production Coordinators Amy Hogan Allison Lee Brand Manager Megan O’Quinn Graphic Designer Melody Rowell Technical Writer Jessica Odom V.P. of Brand Management Clayton Franklin
Executive Producer
Gordon W. Davis, Ph.D.
CEV Multimedia, Ltd.
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