Q: I will be graduating from college this year and my roommate and I are planning to start a business. We have several ideas. My question is about setting goals. I have always fallen short when it comes to setting goals. When I set a goal I want to shout it from the rooftop and let everyone know. But, I recall you saying that goals should be kept quiet until they are reached. I want to do well in business and I don't want to be sidelined by not reaching goals both large and small. Should I keep my objectives between my roommate, and me or is it OK to share goals and ideas and plans with others?

A: There is no formula. We all have to reach our objectives in the way that works for us.

My friend Lisa never learned to swim. So, for her 50th birthday she decided to take up swimming, and her goal is to dive off of a diving board into the pool. She is telling everyone. She has sent e-mails, text messages, phone calls and even handwritten notes to family and friends to let them know of her plans.

When I asked her why she was telling everyone, she said that is the only way she will keep up her courage. She said telling everyone will force her to reach the goal instead of embarrassing herself by backing out. She admitted that some had negative things to say, but their comments were overshadowed by the positive comments and good advice and suggestions she has gotten from others.

On the other hand, when I set a goal, I quietly do research and lay out my plans, telling no one at all. It works for me to keeps my plans to myself. I unveil the goal only after I have reached it.

How you meet your goals should fit your personality and your approach to life.

There are a few things you can consider when setting goals. Set goals you can see. For example, you may end up in your own private Gulfstream jet, but it might not be a good idea to start with that in mind, especially if you aren't yet able to fly first class on a commercial airline.

Break your goal down into small, reachable nuggets. Manageable goals allows you to experience small successes along the way, giving you a sense of accomplishment. But keep in mind that goal also should be ambitious enough to get you excited and enthusiastic.

You will need benchmarks along the way, something that gives you an indication of how you are doing. For example, if your goal is to run a marathon, you would condition your body during training so that you could run longer and longer distances. Meanwhile you would be preforming various exercises that would give you the strength and stamina to reach these benchmarks of three-mile runs, then five-mile runs, etc.

As Lisa told people about her goal to dive off a diving board, someone suggested that she join a Pilates class to stretch her muscles for better flexibility. Lisa has been doing Pilates for a couple of months now and has seen remarkable flexibility.Also, she says the nagging lower back pain she had for years is gone.

Also, it is important to have patience. Sometimes we can get discouraged when things aren't coming together as quickly as we want.

Sometimes when our goals or dreams don't come together as we planned or hoped, it could be a sign to stop and rethink the method we're using to reach our objectives.

In the meantime, set your goals, objectives and dreams in the way that works for you and continue to find ways to reach them.


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