Goal Setting: How To Set And Achieve A Goal

Posted by Hope

Goal setting seems to be difficult for many to grasp. All too often, lofty goals are desired and because they are unreasonable and unmet, discouragement sets in. This has happened one too many times to me. Don’t let this happen to you!

I recently discovered a goal setting technique that blew the lid off the way I view goal setting now. Read on and I’ll share my personal goal setting method with you that will teach you how to set and achieve a goal.

Define the bull’s eye. This single step totally changed the way I look at setting goals. Think of your goal as the bull’s eye on a target board. A bull’s eye is bold (red) and defined (small circle, centered within growing rings). Here’s how you clearly define your bull’s eye:

• First, your goal (the red bull’s eye) must be specific. “I will get more exercise,” cannot be considered a goal because it is too unclear. “I will exercise 2 days per week at the gym and walk 3 days per week on my treadmill at home,” is a specific goal.

• Second, your goal (the red bull’s eye) must be measurable. When do you want to reach this goal? How long will it take? What steps will you take to reach it? When will you know your goal is completed?

• Next, choose an attainable goal. Is this a doable goal? Your goal should be challenging. On the other hand, you also don’t want to set such a high goal that you become quickly discouraged. Set a goal that you believe you can achieve.

• Is your goal realistic? Is it possible to reach this? Your goal should be something that you believe you can accomplish within a reasonable time frame and in reasonable circumstances.

• Finally, your goal must be tangible. When your goal is completed, you will have a physical, real result. It is something that can be handled, touched or felt. It’s something that you will have in hand when accomplished; a physical representation of all your hard work.

Have your goal? Great! Now it’s time for the next (and easiest!) step.

Define the outer rings. Now that you know what you want, you can determine what you need to do to get there. Take a sheet of paper and draw a big bull’s eye target on it. Make sure to draw several rings around it. Color the center circle with a red marker. Write your goal smack-dab inside that red circle.

Take some time to think about your goal. Each of the earlier steps should have given you a clear image of your goal. At this point you know what you want and are ready to create your plan of action.

• Make a list of every step you think you will need to reach your target. Even if it seems minute in nature or not important enough to write down, write it anyway.

• Ask yourself, “Am I forgetting anything?” Sometimes we overlook the obvious, especially when it comes to setting goals.

• Read through your list, and apply all of the tips listed above to each item. Think of this as your list of mini targets that will help you reach the bull’s eye. Make sure every one of the items on your list is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and tangible. They should all relate to your main object, hitting the bull’s eye (your goal).

• Are there any items on your list that can be grouped together, or condensed into one goal? If so, do that now. Remember, the more specific each goal, the better. Specific goals are clear, easy targets.

• Number your mini targets. This is an important phase. You need to be able to go from A to B, from B to C, and so on and so forth. You can’t get from C to H. Make sure to number them in order of what needs to be done first, second, third, etc.

Now comes the fun part! Write each of your mini targets on one circle of your bull’s eye target. Write your first mini target on the outermost ring. Write the second mini target on the next inner ring. Continue in this manner until you have filled in your target with every step. (Hint: you might have to redraw your target after you determine how many steps (or mini targets) you’ll have.)

Post your bull’s eye target where you will see it daily. You’ll aim towards hitting your first mark, the first, outermost ring. When you hit it, color it, place a decorative thumbtack on it, or mark it in some other way. Then, start aiming for the next ring. Before you know it, you’ll hit the bull’s eye!

Popularity: 26% [?]

Stinky Goals–Smart Goal Setting Tips

Posted by Hope

January 1st always brings out resolutions. Do you, like most people, make New Year’s Resolutions, but rarely keep them? Are you then left feeling discouraged, like you’re a failure because your good intentions flopped? If you’re tired of setting stinky goals that don’t work for you, try these smart goal setting tips.

Smart Goal Setting Tip => Be realistic. Set a goal that you know you can reach. If you are currently earning $30,000 per year, it probably wouldn’t be very realistic to set a goal to earn $200,000 this year. Setting realistic goals means setting yourself up for success.

Smart Goal Setting Tip => Be kind to yourself. Let’s be real here. You will have setbacks at some point. Life happens. So when you don’t reach one of your goals, or fall behind in your timeline, be kind to yourself. There’s no point in beating yourself up over it. Get up, dust yourself off, and try again.

Smart Goal Setting Tip => Be firm. Nobody’s going to stand over your shoulder with a cattle prod, poking you to keep moving forward. You are your own task master. When you start to procrastinate, remind yourself that you are responsible for making the most of your time and energy.

Smart Goal Setting Tip => Be consistent. The only way anyone ever accomplishes what they set out after is through consistency. As I stated earlier, you will no doubt have a few setbacks along the way. This is normal. However, you must remain consistent in your actions. A daily routine creates good habits that, over a period of time, are key to reaching your desired end result.

Popularity: 25% [?]

How to Find That Writing Spark Again

Posted by Hope

I’ve never been one to fall too short on article ideas. I keep several running lists of ideas on my computer. I also have endless pages of research for article ideas that I printed out and keep on hand at my desk. I like to keep a stash of ideas for when I’m sitting in a waiting room or waiting to pick up my daughter at school. This way, I’m always fueled up and ready to write.

I recently joined a spring article writing challenge, which began on May 1st. This challenge is the second one of its kind that I’ve joined in an effort to push myself to write more. The challenge is to write at least 30 articles and submit to article directories online (also known as "article marketing").

The first week of the article writing challenge went off without a hitch. I wrote and submitted several articles to my favorite article directory. As a ghostwriter, I’ve learned to write lots of articles in a short amount of time. However, going into the second week, I met a writing block. I felt totally uninspired to write a single sentence.

Have you ever felt like this? Have you ever reached a point when you felt like you’d never formulate another good article idea again? Despite my writer’s block, I pushed on and found my writing groove again. Here are some ways I found my writing spark; maybe they will help you, too:

1. KEEP WRITING - No matter how uninspired you feel, don’t stop writing. Even if you write "crap" keep on writing anyway. If you stop writing, you are enabling yourself to be blocked.

2. CALL ON GOOD FRIENDS - Sometimes when you face writer’s block, the best thing to do is call on a few good writer friends. After all, who could understand what you’re facing better than another writer? Often you will find your writer friends to be a source of inspiration and help when your writing well feels dry.

3. REFILL YOUR WRITING WELL - Speaking of dry wells, every so often it is necessary for every writer to refill the well. When we write, we empty ourselves of what’s inside. Take a long walk, visit a museum, browse interesting photographs. Do whatever your inner artist enjoys to refill your well.

4. TAKE A BREAK - Forcing yourself to face the computer screen and stare at a blinking cursor is more of a punishment than a shove in the right direction. Instead, give yourself a break from writing for a little while. Take the day off. Do something different for a few hours. Call a friend for a chat you’ve been postponing. Give yourself a break and you may return to your work feeling energized and full of ideas again.

Popularity: 20% [?]

How to Write a Quiz in 6 Easy Steps - Part 2

Posted by Hope

Miss Part 1 of this article? Click here to read it!

In Part 1 of this article, I showed you the first three steps to writing a great quiz. First, you chose the topic of your quiz. Next, you determined the reason for the quiz. Last, you decided what kind of quiz to write.

Now comes the fun part…writing your quiz. Ready? Let’s get started! Here are the final steps to writing your quiz.

Step 4: Write the questions.

Keeping the purpose of your quiz in mind, you will now write questions for your quiz. This is often the part where writers freeze up and quit. Don’t stop now!

Let’s say the topic of your quiz is house plants, and the purpose of the quiz is to determine whether or not your quizzer has a green thumb. Keeping this in mind, you might write questions like:

1. How often should you water an ivy?
2. Where is the best spot to place a potted plant?

TIP: If you are writing a True or False quiz, remember to write questions that have an affirmative answer (yes or no).

Step 5: Fill in the rest of the quiz.

After you’ve written all the questions for your quiz, you’ll need to go back fill it in. For example, if you are writing a multiple choice quiz, write 3-5 possible answers, making one of those the correct answer. If you are writing a quiz that will require the test-taker to score points, write statements that result in yes or no answers.

Using the example above, let’s plug multiple choice answers into one of the questions:

1. How often should you water an ivy?
1. Every week.
2. Every day.
3. Every hour.
4. Every three months.

TIP: Keep it simple, sweetie.

Step 6: Write the summary.

The end of your quiz should contain two parts: the results of the quiz and the call to action (the purpose of your quiz).

First, explain to the quizzer how to tally their results. Then give them the findings of their results. The final part of your summary should also contain a call to action. Now that they’ve taken the quiz and learned the results, what should they do now? Give your reader specific direction that they can take away from the quiz.

Using the house plant quiz sample above, the end of your quiz might contain the following results for quizzers:

If you answered mostly A’s, you have a green thumb. In fact, you probably have a house full of beautiful, blooming plants right now. Keep up the good job!

If you answered mostly B’s, you have a good chance of growing indoor plants. Sometimes you might forget to water your plants, but overall you’re able to maintain pretty plants. Remember to feed and water your plants regularly and your plants will love you forever.

If you answered mostly C’s, you should stay away from plants altogether. You’re most likely to neglect or kill even the toughest of greenery. Opt for live-like silk plants instead.

TIP: Keep your quiz fun and light. If your quiz is on a more serious topic, you might want to include some background research information in your summary.

Popularity: 25% [?]

How to Write a Quiz in 6 Easy Steps - Part 1

Posted by Hope

So you want to write a quiz, but you aren’t sure how or where to begin? No problem! I’m going to show you a step-by-step formula that will make writing quizzes as easy as pie.

Step 1: Choose your topic.

Before you begin writing a quiz, you need to settle on a topic. What will be the subject of your quiz? You can write quizzes on just about anything. But you should never start until you know what your topic will be.

Got your hot topic? Good, let’s move on to the next step.

TIP: Choose a topic that is "hot" and you’ll generate lots of immediate interest.

Step 2: Determine the purpose.

Now that you know what you’re going to write a quiz about, it’s time to decide what the point of your quiz will be. What purpose will the quiz have? Is it to test the quizzer’s knowledge about a certain subject? Will you help the quizzer determine if they are ready for something in particular?

Every quiz should have a purpose. If yours doesn’t, then maybe you should start back at the beginning and choose a different topic. Do not move to the third step until you have a topic and purpose.

TIP: The purpose of your quiz should be to answer a specific question that your reader has.

Step 3: Decide what type of quiz to write.

As you already know, there are a variety of quizzes. Do you want to write a multiple choice quiz? Or maybe you want to write a True or False quiz. How about a quiz that allows the reader to answer on a sliding scale?

In addition to deciding what type of quiz you’ll write, you need to determine how many questions your quiz should have. Most quizzes contain 5, 7, or 10 questions. If you’re new at writing quizzes and still unsure, start with a 5-question quiz.

TIP: What type of quiz do you enjoy taking? Write that kind of quiz first.

Popularity: 29% [?]

Do You Recognize These Early Warning Signs of Writer’s Block?

Posted by Hope

If you are a writer, you already know about writer’s block. If you’ve experienced writer’s block then you know what a heartache it can cause. The good news is that you can stop writer’s block cold in its tracks. The key to doing this is knowing the warning signs of writer’s block.

The seven early warning signs of writer’s block are:

1. Feeling tired. When you start to feel tired, save your work and take a break. Tense muscles, aching neck and shoulders and a headache are just a few signs that fatigue is setting in. Don’t ignore these aches and pains.
2. Long hours at the keyboard. Writers commonly suffer from pain in our hands, fingers, wrists, and elbows. This comes from long hours at the keyboard. If your arms or hands feel numb or tingly, take a break from the keyboard. Performing simple hand and arm exercises regularly can help, too.
3. Several looming deadlines with no plan for completion. Is your plate so full that you feel like you can’t breathe? Don’t pile on too many deadlines close together.
4. Procrastination. This is quite possibly the biggest warning sign of writer’s block. When blocked, writers tend to deflect by doing other things. House cleaning, laundry and cutting the grass suddenly seem like better tasks than writing when you are blocked.
5. Jumping from one project to another. Are you having trouble staying focused on one thing at a time? Are you jumping from one writing project to another, instead of finishing a single project at a time?
6. Starting several new projects at once. The worse thing you can do when you feel blocked is start another new project. However, many writers tend to do this so they don’t have to think about the work that needs to be completed.
7. All work and no play. Too much work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy…right? Right!

While these early warning signs may seem ridiculous, stop and think about it. At some point, if you’ve ever been blocked, you most likely found yourself in one of these positions. Pay attention to yourself and your work habits.

Popularity: 17% [?]

You Don’t Have to be an Expert to Write Good Articles

Posted by Hope

Have you been putting off writing articles because you don’t think you have anything to say? I have seen way too many people discount their knowledge and article writing ability, just because they think they have to be an "expert" to write articles. This simply isn’t true.

You really don’t have to be an expert to write articles. In reality, everyone is an expert…even if you don’t realize it. Even more so, just about anyone can turn out a good article with some amount of effort. Here are some quick tips to help you write a good article, even if you don’t think you can:

• Be yourself. Don’t try to write in a scholarly tone of voice. Write just like you talk. Pretend you’re writing a letter to a good friend. What would you say? What kind of advice would you give? Just be yourself.

• Write clearly. Be sure what you write makes sense. Re-read each sentence to ensure they each make a clear point. Does each paragraph contribute to your main idea? Will readers be able to easily follow your train of thought?

• Use an outline. A lot of people get hung up on the idea of outlining because they think of those rigid outlines from high school. An outline can be as simple as a few sentences, phrases, or even single words describing each part of your article.

• Write a rough draft first. When I write, my first draft is always an outline. If you don’t like to outline, quickly write a first draft from start to finish without stopping to edit. Once you have the basic idea on paper, then you can go back and flesh it out and edit it for clarity.

• Proofread. Before you send your article off, don’t forget to proofread it. A lot of writers tend to skip this step, but it’s very important.

• Edit. Even if you’ve already edited your article, go back after you proofread and edit it again. Be sure your thoughts are clear and your words are concise. Say what you can in as few words as possible.

• Publish. By now, you have a polished piece of work that is ready to be published. Send your article off and reap the rewards of comments from happy readers.

Popularity: 30% [?]

Writing Ruts - What NOT To Do When You Get Stuck

Posted by Hope

In Writing Ruts: What To Do When You Get Stuck, I shared some things every writer can do to get "unstuck." Now I want to briefly talk about the things you should not do when you’re feeling stuck. It’s all too easy for a writer to self-sabotage. So if you’re feeling low on inspiration, or if you feel like you just cannot write another word, stop right there.

What Not To Do:

1. Hide. Let me tell you, I understand how it is when you can’t write. You don’t want anyone to know about it. You want to retreat and pretend like everything is okay and you’re writing everyday. Don’t pull away though. Keep in touch with those who will encourage you and cheer you on through your block.

2. Stop writing. Whatever you do, don’t stop writing. I know you think it’s impossible, but you can write, even when you don’t feel like you can. Keep a journal. Write out your frustrations by hand. Write about how you can’t write. Write how it makes you feel. Sometimes all you need is to work out those inner frustrations.

3. Throw it all away. I’ve heard way too many writers talk about how they threw away their rejected manuscript. Rejection hurts. But don’t throw away all your hard work, just because someone said, "No." Just get up and try again.

4. Bury yourself in work. Writers on the other end of the spectrum think that if they bury themselves in what I call "busy work" they’ll eventually be able to write again. If you can’t write, then don’t punish yourself by doing other things to keep yourself busy. Do something productive, or write in your journal.

If you’re feeling stuck, I hope these tips help you out. Remember to be gentle with yourself. The inspiration will return. In the meantime, stay focused and be encouraged!

Popularity: 14% [?]

Writing Ruts - What To Do When You Get Stuck

Posted by Hope

I know you’ve heard about writer’s block. You might even think you suffer or have suffered from writer’s block. But what do you do when you get stuck?

Do you just stay in the rut? Do you whine and complain about not being able to write? Do you seek inspiration or do you hide away hoping it will find you?

I’ve been a writer for many years. I can honestly say that I’ve been stuck many times myself. Sometimes, I’ve allowed that block to stop me in my tracks. Thankfully though, I’ve learned to pull myself up and out when I start feeling stuck. Here are some things you can to help pull yourself out of your rut, too:

- Take a break. Sometimes you just need to walk away. Step outside or just walk away from the computer for a little while. When you return, you’ll most likely find that your head has cleared and you can think and write again.

- Go for a walk. Taking a 10-minute walk can do wonders for you when you’re stuck. It’s even better if you can walk for a longer period of time. Go to a park or walk in a heavily wooded area. Nature’s sights and sounds will open up your senses.

- Refill your well. How long has it been since you refilled your creative well? All work and no play will cause you to become blocked quicker than anything else. Feed your starving artist: buy a new paint set, take horseback riding lessons, visit an art gallery.

- Brainstorm for ideas. Keep a notebook handy at all times to write down ideas. This will quickly become your rich source of inspiration when you can’t come up with a new idea.

- Write with pen and paper. Technology is great, but sometimes it helps to do something different. Shake up your routine by writing with pen and paper. Even better, take your notebook outside and write to the tune of a song bird.

- Ask a friend for help or ideas. Get some input. It never hurts to ask for help. Call on a few artist friends to have a brainstorming session. You’ll really get the ideas flowing fast!

Popularity: 18% [?]

New Things You Might Have Missed

Posted by Hope

I’ve been tweaking my blog for a few weeks now, in an effort to make it both more useable and user-friendly. Even though I liked the previous theme I was using, it began to feel very crowded and ugly. Here are some of the changes made so far:

1. Reduced Adsense ads. This was one of the things that caused my last theme to look overcrowded. I like to use images in some of my blog posts, but that mixed with Adsense ads in single posts just wasn’t cutting it. The combination was causing a very ugly single post with the text all squished out of whack, so that’s gone now.
2. Sponsor ads in sidebar. I still have a spot or two open right now, so if you’re interested click here for more information on getting your ad on Hope Writes.
3. Added a Print This Post plugin. I absolutely love this plugin and am so happy to have stumbled across it on another blog. I don’t know about you, but when I find a meaty article on a blog, I like to print it out for further perusal offline. This plugin basically strips all the extraneous matter from the post, leaving you with just the article, as well as full links. If you’ve ever printed something, only to realize months later when you read it that you don’t have a clue what the underlined text was linked to, you know how important a printable feature like this can be!
4. Added a Poll plugin. Another terrific feature I love on blogs is a poll. I enjoy voting in and reading polls, so I thought why not add one of my own to this blog? My goal is to switch out the polls every month. Jump in and cast your vote on the latest poll today! (Hint: Look in the right sidebar ==>)
5. Added new Social Bookmarking plugin. I’ve played around with a few different social bookmarking plugins but none of them grabbed me until I saw Courtney’s. I like this one much better because it’s more simplified. When you place your pointer over the I Love Social Bookmarking text, a horizontal menu will pop up. You can then click on either of your favorite social bookmarking venues to quickly and easily bookmark a post. Neat, huh?
6. Removed some external links. I love swapping links with others. But lately my links list seemed to take on a life of its own. So I pared it down tremendously and plan on adding a links page instead, to share some of my most favorite links.
7. Added a new RSS feed link. Until a couple of months ago I didn’t fully understand the importance of RSS feeds. Since then, I’ve switched my feed to Feedburner and added a button at the top of the sidebar. (Feel free to sign up.) I’ll be adding a sign-up form shortly for those who prefer to get updates via email. (Makes it so much easier than trying to subscribe to a bunch of RSS feeds!)

So there you have it. Those are just a few changes I’ve made over the last few weeks. I love writing but most of all I love helping others. I want my blog to be inviting, but I also want you to enjoy yourself when you’re here.

How often do you tweak your blog? What changes have you made?

Popularity: 18% [?]

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