Now that we are in full swing with Fall Term, it is time for Nontraditional students to start thinking about their goals.   I went through much of my working life over the past 15 years without setting goals for myself.   All of a sudden, now that I’m a Non Traditional Student, I am all about GOALS!  It was kind of culture shock to enter college this late in life, but if not now, when?   I am now driven by different goals; grades, classwork, my degree, money…you name it…    This can be daunting even if you are already goal oriented.   Having the need for personal lifelong goals being thrust upon you all at once…..woooooo baby!   As I discussed in a previous post about College Skills Classes, they are about the best thing a Non Traditional Student can do for their ongoing success in college.   I learned about setting goals the SMART(R) way.   I’ve been exposed to this format years ago when I was a member of the US Jaycees.   Did it get put into use…not so much..  Basically, the concept of a SMART goal falls into this acronym.

S=SPECIFIC    Be specific and clear when you write your goals.   This helps you define exactly what you want    to accomplish.

M= MEASURABLE    Be sure that you set a definite measurement for your goal.   Your goal is measurable when you can document or observe what you accomplish.   This way you can be sure when you have reached it.

A= ATTAINABLE   Set your goal so that it is a challenge for you, but not so high that you get discouraged.   It is important to stretch, but not set yourself up for failure.

R=  REALISTIC    Be sure that you are being realistic.   Use a measurement and a time frame that is possible.

T= TIME BOUND   Set a specific target date for accomplishing your goal.  With a target date, you reduce the possibility of procrastination.   It is usually easier to reach a large goal in steps, so you may want to break up large goals into smaller individual goals.   This also increases your motivation by seeing success as each smaller goal is reached.

AND FINALLY:   R=  REWARD YOURSELF!!   Celebrate your accomplishments.  Plan a reward when you reach your goal.

I may be preaching to the choir here, but I never hurts to see this model over and over again.  Now is the time for all Non Traditional Students to get going on setting  and REACHING LIFELONG GOALS.

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I also have found a program online called Global Domains International.   With this program you can get both a Domain Name and  WEB HOSTING  for $10.00 per month.    This is a super deal.   As a bonus, if you get your friends to sign up for domains, you also earn INCOME ongoing from this.    Check this program out.   I am excited about the deal.   10 bucks is a real great price for a website per month!

Posted: 09|15|09 at 7:32 pm. Filed under: Non Traditional Journey.
Tags: Goals, Lifelong Goals, Non traditional student, nontraditional student, older student, redfokker
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