Ingredients

Two cups of a Vagueness
A clove of Someone Else's Vision
1 bunch of Too Much Publicity
800g of Too Hard/Too Easy
A dash of Past Objects
Three pieces of Comparing Yourself to Others

Serves: Smart Goal Setters

Directions

1.Your goal is too vague

A goal that is vague has no power – like a chili sauce without the kick. Goals should always be clear and specific. This will allow you to tick off carefully planned milestones along the way. It may help to ask the question, "How will I know when I've achieved this goal?" If you are not sure, then your goal is probably too vague.

2. The goal is someone elses vision of success

You must have real enthusiasm for accomplishing your goal. If it has been forced upon you by a spouse or by a family member then it will be more difficult to become motivated. If you are borrowing someone else success story and applying it to your own life, then it may be difficult to get truly motivated. You need to own it to live it!

3. You made your goal "too public."

It is good to get others in on your mission so they can provide moral support and constructive feedback. However, sometimes involving others can be a double-edged sword. If you go "too public" with your new goal and start telling everyone you meet, then you can face ridicule, criticism or worse still ‘differing advice'. People can do the strangest things when they feel ‘envy' and ‘jealousy' so be careful who you tell.

4. Setting milestones that are too hard or too easy.

It's best to avoid milestone extremes. A milestone that is too hard right at the beginning may intimidate you and cause you to give up. On the other hand, a milestone that is too easy will not keep your interest or motivate you to press on. In essence, you are insulting your subconscious mind with a task that is too easy. Don't get me wrong – it is great to set a really challenging goal – you just need to ensure that the milestones along the way are achievable.

"A goal properly set is halfway reached." – Abraham Lincoln

5. Objects of the Past

Keeping objects around the house that represent ‘your old-self' can be counterproductive to creating ‘a new you'.  This is why some people find it practical to remove old photos or memorabilia of an ex-lover from their house after a break up.  Dwelling on past memories will only slow you down and cause you to look back.  To accelerate your progress, remove such objects, as they are sources of negative energy.  If you don't want to lose these things then leave them at a friend's house or stuff them in a closet somewhere that's hard to access.

6. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Your ultimate vision or dream that has driven this goal may be very different from another person's.  Therefore it's wise not to constantly compare yourself with friends, co-workers or tabloid superstars.  This isn't healthy in a mental well-being sense either.  Of course, it's fine to compare notes if you're on a similar mission, but at the end of the day you are only answerable to one person… ok, I admit… that is an arguable point… but you've got to admit – it is a great cue for a Michael Jackson song.

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The Key Ingredient

The most important ingredient for ruiningGoal Setting Sausage Rollsis not connecting with what you really want. If you put a significant amount of effort into planning your goal list you will be well on the way to achieving your mission.

PLEASE NOTE: No sausage rolls were harmed in the making of this recipe.