1. The Key to Managing Your Life
Goal Setting:
The Key to Managing Your Life
EIU 1111: University Foundations

2. “Give me a stock clerk with a goal and I’ll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals and I’ll give you a stock clerk.”
J.C. Penney

3. Where will you be 5 years from now?

4. “Five years from now, I will be …”
Your plan for where you want to be 5 years from now is a “long-term goal”
On a piece of paper, complete the following sentence:
“Five years from now, I will be …”

5. Characteristics of Attainable Goals
Specific
Written
Measurable
Action-Oriented
Realistic
Time-bound
Own it

6. “A person without goals is like a sheep out in the pasture just living from day to day. You don’t want to be a sheep.”
--Dr. Boyce Watkins, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About College

7. Achieving a long-term goal is like building a pyramid:
Medium-range goals
Short-term goals
What will you do this week to build this
foundation of short-term goals?
5 years from now
Long-term
Goals
Medium-range Goals
1-2 years from now
Short-term Goals
Daily/weekly habits & assignments

8. Build your foundation with effective, short-term goals for a successful semester

9. Set several short-term goals you want to achieve this semester:
Once you meet your short-term goals, your mid-range goals will follow each more easily.
Create a study schedule
Visit Prof’s office
Read text book weekly
Go to every class
Review notes weekly
Meet my advisor
Find a tutor

10. Keep reminding yourself of the long term goal you are working for.
Bachelor’s Degree with 3.55 GPA
As the semester or the year ends, you will replace short-term and mid-range goals with new ones.
30 Credits completed by May 2010
3.5 GPA by Fall 2010
Choose minor
Apply for Summer internship
Create a study schedule
Visit Prof’s office
Read text book weekly
Go to every class
Review notes weekly
Meet my advisor
Find a tutor

11. Each goal you reach, builds towards the next…
Dream house—3 bedrooms, big kitchen, deck and pool
Dream
Job
$60, 000
Financial Independence
Bachelor’s Degree w/ 3.55 GPA
Marriage & family

12. A few hints to help you stay on track with your goals:
Remind yourself of your goals – allow yourself to dream about them.
Write them down and put where you will see them every day.
Change your short-term goals if they are not working for you.
Be realistic, but aim higher than you think you can achieve – you will usually surprise yourself.
Make sure you understand the price of reaching your goals.
Recognize obstacles and avoid or eliminate them.

13. “The path to greatness is usually paved with failure
“The path to greatness is usually paved with failure. That means that most big successes come after you have tried over and over again and failed.” --Dr. Boyce Watkins

14. Obstacles and Roadblocks:
Take 2 minutes to write down 3 possible obstacles that might get in the way of achieving your 5-year goal.
How much control do you have over these issues?
What can you do to eliminate or avoid these obstacles?

15. Powerful habits to help you reach your goals:
Get up at the same time every morning
Establish a regular schedule for yourself
Use a to-do list or appointment calendar to keep track of assignments and appointments
Spend at least hours a week on schoolwork outside of class
Study in small bits of time (not study marathons)
Get most of your studying done before 6:00 p.m.

16. Good Habits cont. Find a study partner and form study groups
Stop in the professor’s office during office hours
Take a study skills class
Keep up with reading assignments
Meet with the instructor after the first exam to learn from your mistakes.

17. On a piece of paper. . .
Write down 4 or 5 short-term goals that you have for this semester.
Make sure they are specific, measurable, and realistic.

18. References
Adapted from a presentation by Pat Scheib, shared on the FYE listserv
Boyce Watkins, Black Voices, bvblackspin.com/2009/08/25/black-college-student-goal-setting/
Santrock and Halonen, Your Guide To College Success, University Foundations custom text