Setting Goals Facilitated by the Faculty and Staff at KEYS Academy and Options High School with the ARISE Foundation

Your Presenter… A member of the faculty and staff at KEYS Academy or Options HS Internationally Certified in Life Skills through the ARISE Foundation

Frame We will identify some of the key characteristics of developing effective goals for ourselves. EQ: What are some of the goals that will prove most effective as we begin planning for our future? I will list short-term, attainable goals with specific characteristics of effective goals.

Rules for Training Participation is crucial No wrong/stupid answers Respect one another No talking while others talk, No rude comments or noises Wait until you’re called upon

Why we’re here… Because we have to be To learn some skills that will carry over into adulthood To learn more about ourselves

How we’re going to do it… Discussion Everyone participates Some, very little lecture Activity or activities Some Conclusions

Questions?

Ice Breaker What is an ice breaker? Definition of an ice breaker: An activity used to lighten the mood and or get participants warmed up to the idea of interaction

Ice Breaker!!!!

Topic of the Day: Setting Goals Does everyone have goals? What kinds of goals are there? Who determines which goals are for which person?

Topic of the Day: Setting Goals (cont.) Name some examples of goals people might have. Do people always reach their goals? What are some of the barriers that people might face when trying to reach their goals?

Definition of “Goal” According to Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary: The terminal point of a race The end toward which effort is directed Synonyms include: Aim Ambition Aspiration

Reasons People Create Goals Guide their decision-making process Articulate what they want to do Keep their life on track Any combination of those mentioned above Any others?

Key points when setting goals According to Gene Donohue, www.topachievement.com: Make sure it’s something you want, not just something that sounds good Love working with cars, don’t say you want to own a car dealership Love drawing or painting, don’t say you want to own an art gallery

Key points when setting goals (cont.) Don’t contradict your goal with another goal If you’re in high school, don’t get a new car (you can’t pay for it unless you have major help) Don’t plan to go to college and do illegal activity, it’ll hurt your chances

Key points when setting goals (cont.) Develop goals in six areas Family and Home Spiritual and Ethical Social and Cultural Financial and Career Physical and Health Mental and Emotional

Key points when setting goals (cont.) Write your goal in the positive instead of the negative Don’t say “I want to leave my crappy car behind,” say “I want a brand new car” Don’t say “I don’t want to live like this,” say “I want to live a healthy and happy life”

Key points when setting goals (cont.) Write your goals in detail Don’t say “I want a new home,” say, “I want a 4,000 square foot home with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths” Don’t say “A new car,” say “I want a brand new Cadillac Escalade with beige leather interior, twenty-inch spinning rims, a DVD/CD player, Alpine subwoofers with a 200 watt-amp XM radio.”

Key points when setting goals (cont.) Make sure your goal is high enough Remember the saying “Shoot for the moon. If you fall you’ll still be among the stars.” Make sure your goal coincides with your interests and doesn’t reach so far that it has nothing to do with your interests

Key points when setting goals (cont.) Write down your goals It creates a roadmap for what you want to do It allows you to re-visit your goals frequently

Activity: My Goals and How to Get There Activity Sheet p. 51 List your goals Follow the key points for writing your goals closely Volunteers!

Conclusions Goals are attainable when written out carefully and connected to your real interests and desires Long-term goals are a result of reaching lots of short-term goals Goals come in many different varieties for different areas