Serve, Learn & Lead with Raymond Tay

Time to Set Compelling Goals for 2010

Written by Raymond Tay on January 3, 2010 – 4:24 am -

Every year without fail, I’ll find time to sit down and write down my goals for the new year. With computer/laptop nowadays, I can easily search and select several empowering pictures for my Vision Wallpaper (instead of a real board) and I think it’s good enough (esp. I need to face my laptop daily). My vision wallpaper will act as a reminder for me to focus and continue to stay motivated & hopeful to reach my goals.

You can follow me or choose the most practical way for yourself. As usual, I have set goals for all aspects of my life (e.g. relationship, financial, business, health and other personal development goals). I encourage you to do so too and not to neglect any areas of your life as we’ll not feel fulfilled if there’s still an area that you are not happy about. My favourite words are “To Be A Complete Human!!”

I believe most of you already know the importance & benefits of goal setting (if you don’t, can drop me some comments) and thus I’ll not elucidate over here.

Have you heard of the 1953 Yale Goal Study? I have read this study in a couple of books and curious whether it really exists. To my surprise, after spending some time in researching, I saw my articles stating that it’s actually a fiction or myth and there are even like-minded people went to ask Tony Robbins/Zig Ziglar/ Yale University about the evidence of this study. It seems like no one can provide the facts or reports. Quite disappointed but still enjoyed the story.

Interestingly, there was a “Written Goal Study“ by Gail Matthews, from Dominican University. This study consisted of 267 participants from  United States, Belgium, England, India, Australia and Japan and they were made up of entrepreneurs, educators, healthcare professionals, artists, attorneys, bankers, marketers, human services providers, managers, vice presidents, directors of non-profits, etc.

The participants were randomly assigned into these 5 groups:

• Group 1- Unwritten Goal (thinking about what they wanted to accomplish over the next 4 weeks)
• Group 2- Written Goal
• Group 3- Written Goal & Action Commitments
• Group 4- Written Goal, Action Commitments to a Friend
• Group 5- Written Goal, Action Commitments & Progress Reports to a Friend

The results of this study concluded that:

1. The positive effect of accountability was supported: those who sent weekly progress reports to their friend accomplished significantly more than those who had unwritten goals, wrote their goals, formulated action commitments or sent those action commitments to a friend.
2. There was support for the role of public commitment: those who sent their commitments to a friend accomplished significantly more than those who wrote action commitments or did not write their goals.
3. The positive effect of written goals was supported: Those who wrote their goals accomplished significantly more than those who did not write their goals.

Now there’s this substantial research to support the impact of written goals. As expected, we have been told and understand the Power of Goals. So why wait if you haven’t start to write down your goals? It’s free anyway and nothing to lose. =)

Also, Performance is maximized even when the goal is not achieved!

Take ACTION now!!

“Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success.“ – David Joseph Schwartz

“You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you had to overcome to reach your goals.” – Booker T. Washington

Tags: 1953 Yale Goal Study, Complete Human, Dominican University, Vision Wallpaper, Written Goals
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