1. Goals and Grades
John Williams
Academic Life Coach
Date
School

2. What You’ll Get From this Presentation
Understanding of why “Goals” are often counterproductive and don’t work
Tips and Tools that do work with teenagers
Some coaching and action steps for yourself

3. A Word about Academic Life Coaching
Dedicated to helping students successfully navigate high school and the college application process
Founded in 2004
Organization of nearly 50 Academic Life Coaches located internationally from Boston to Dubai
As seen in CNN, Huffington Post, MSNBC, Wall Street Journal, and the Associated Press

4. Our Programs Work.
Over the past seven years, students who learned skills like this in our program experienced:
93% Reported feeling more confident
82% Reported less stress
79% Reported improved communication with parents
100% Accepted to 1 or more of their top 3 college choices
0.81 Average GPA boost (of students who were not already earning a 4.0)

6. Problem #1: The Word ‘Goal’ is Overused
Hence, no longer cool.

7. Problem #2: Too Many Goals Same as not having any goals.

8. Problem #3: Usually Something Stands in Your Way Out of Your Control
Contributes to Stress.

9. Problem #4: Usually Too Big
Obvious Problems Here.

10. The Solution
Think In Terms of
the Process
and
the Outcomes

11. Outcomes

12. Four Criteria for a Well-Formed Outcome
Stated in the Positive
Started and Completely Controlled by you
Appropriate size to time ratio
Specific and Measurable

13. Example of Shifting Goals to Effective Outcomes
Goal: I want to earn all A’s
Effective Outcomes:
I want to turn in all my assignments completed and on time this week.
I want to talk to all my teachers about my learning and performance once or more a month.
I want to study for each test this month two days before the test for an hour or more

16. Next Friday

17. Now It’s Your Turn

19. Your Well-Formed Outcome #1:

20. System can you put in place:

21. Quick Review Goals aren’t as effective as Well-Formed Outcomes
Focus on the Process
Positive Outcomes happen naturally when the proper system is in place

22. Practical Applications with Your Teenager
Downplay goals as not being cool (you’ll get cool points)
Create Process Oriented Outcomes
Judge success based on sticking to the process
Think in terms of short two-week periods, then make adjustments if needed

23. Thank You!!