Okay, I’m assuming you’ve come up with a quest story, or at least a theme or a credo. That is your goal. Now write it down. Say it out loud. Tell it to somebody else.

Think about it. How badly do you really want this? Be careful what you wish for.
Why do you want it? If you can establish the motive, then the means and opportunity will fall into place.

Narrow it down. Be specific.

Be honest. How many plates can you spin at once before it all comes crashing down? Most creatives can and want to do many things. Perhaps you can do it all at once. More likely, you can do some now, some later. If you want to be the best at one thing, you have to focus on that one thing and let the other stuff go. What’s your style.? What are you willing to give up, at least for a little while?

Spell it Out

There isn’t really a right or wrong way to write your goals down. It’s just important that you do it, and do it in a format that helps you understand and remember what those goals mean. Companies write their goals as a mission statement – a one or two sentence concise statement of their purpose and how they intend to achieve it.

Whether you call it goals or philosophy or mission statement, a few guidelines may be helpful as you write them down. Here are some suggestions:

State your goal in the positive.  For example ‘i will write a book proposal’

Set a deadline. This creates a sense of urgency and encourages you to take action. For example i will complete my book proposal by december of this year.

Be specific. Your goal should be clear, detailed and focused. Leave no doubt about what you want to accomplish. For example. I will complete my book proposal, have three people check it for errors and critique it for content, correct and finalize it, and send it to my agent – and I will do it by december.

Make it measurable.  There should be a way to recognize that you have reached your goal. If your goal is to write a book proposal, are you done when it is on your agent’s desk or when the book is on the bookstore shelves?

Make it action oriented.  Your goal should be something that requires action and produces results. A goal to be a writer could be better stated as “I will spend a minimum of three hours a day, six days a week at my computer, writing, another three hours a week in the library researching my book, three hours a week connecting with possible agents, editors, publishers and other business contacts working toward having my book completed and in an agent’s hand by march 1. Action doesn’t have to be your action, however.

The goal depends on only you.  Your goal should not hinge on your ability to change others. If your goal depends only on you, you’d better be sure it’s important enough to put the effort into.

Time to do some weeding

At this point, eliminate any goals that contain one of the following concerns:

1.  It is not really something you want for yourself, but something you put down because it would impress or satisfy others;
2. It won’t make you happier, healthier, wealthier, wiser or more creative.
3.  It doesn’t involve activities you enjoy doing or do well: you wouldn’t enjoy the pursuit of this goal.
4. It is illegal, unethical, immoral, would hurt others, or would damage your reputation in any way.
5. It doesn’t excite or inspire you when you think of it or tell others about it.
6.  It doesn’t involve at least some of the resources, educational background, skills or abilities you already posses.
7. You are not able to state it clearly.
8.  You aren’t willing to pay the price it will take to reach it.