Exercise 2: Goal Categories & Lists

Below is a suggested list of goal categories to begin building your goal lists. You should define your own categories on the following page ready to transfer to a new file or goal journal. These do not need to be in any particular order of priority but I generally place them in a relative order of importance for regular viewing and reflecting.

 

Example of Categories

Family or Relationship Goals

Health Goals

Recreation Goals

Professional or Career Goals

Personal Development Goals

Travel Goals

Financial Goals

Business Goals

Contribution Goals

Spiritual Goals

Material Goals

 

Define your goal categories here.

Goal Categories

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

 

Now that you have your categories create your goal lists.
On a copy of “Appendix A: Goal Lists”, a fresh sheet of paper or a new computer file label each of your goal lists with the category you defined. Be sure to keep a space at the left of your lists so that we can prioritize in Exercise 3. Then list everything you can possibly think of that you might want for that category. List all goals, short term, long term and life time goals.

Health Goals

1) Eat an ideal diet.

2) Jog 3 miles a day 3 times per/week.

3) Get my teeth whitened.

4) Join volleyball team and play every Saturday morning.

5) Weigh 175 lbs at 10% body fat.

6) Learn about and take  herb supplements.

7) Play tennis and win singles tournament this year.

8) Get a black belt in Kung Fu.

9) Join a fitness club and hire a fitness trainer.

 

Ideals for Goal Lists

• Family or Relationship Goals: In this category list the people and the quality of relationships you desire. How many and what kind of friends do you want. Do you want a girl/boy friend, wife or husband? How many children do you want to have? Who and what kind of relationship do you want with relatives, aunts, uncles or in-laws?
• Health or Recreation Goals: In this category write how much you want to weigh, what kind of shape you want to be in? What kind of exercise, sport or recreation activity do you want to be involved in? Medical or dental check ups? What body fat percentage would you like? What kind of nutrition/diet would you like? What kind of mental health would you like?
• Professional or Career Goals: Here you want to list any career advancement goals, what position you would like to achieve? What do you want to specialize in or become proficient at? Do you want to change careers? What company do you want to work for?
• Business or Hobby Goals: What kind of a business or hobby would you like to start? What would you like to create, invent or bring into reality?
• Personal Development Goals: Your personal development goals are who you want to become, what kind of person do you want to be? What kind of character, personal skills do you desire to possess? What kind of education, training do you want to have? What kind of specialty organization would you like to join for personal improvement?
• Travel Goals: Where do you want to go? What countries/cultures do you want to see and experience?
• Financial Goals: What kind of money do you want to earn? What investments do you want to have? How much do you want to save? Retirement Planning?
• Contribution Goals: List what you want to give. Donations, charity or volunteer work for the community, church involvement, etc.?
• Material Goals: List here all the tangible things you want to have, own and purchase.
• Spiritual Goals: These are your inner development goals. What will be your moral standard? Church commitments? Religious studies? Meditation and contemplation?

“I feel that the most important step in any major accomplishment is setting a specific goal. This enables you to keep your mind focused on your goal and off the many obstacles that will arise when you’re striving to do your best.”
Kurt Thomas