This document provides instructions for an exercise where participants describe a goal and outline the steps needed to achieve it. Participants are asked to write down a specific goal, define it with key words, explain why it is meaningful and how it will be known when complete. They are also prompted to consider if the goal can be accomplished, what needs to happen first, and the steps required to reach the goal. The goal and steps are to be written down on paper to free the mind for focused work on planning how to achieve the described objective.

1. Jill Hurst-Wahl, @Jill_HW April 13, 2018
Syracuse University Upstate SLA Chapter Spring Conference
Putting the Goal before Your Work
We often carry our TO-DO LIST in our head. If any to-do’s occur to you, please get them out of
your head and onto paper, so your mind is free to work on this exercise. You can place them
here.
Describe one GOAL that you want to achieve.
What specific words define the goal?
Why is this goal meaningful? How might someone know it has been completed?
Can it be accomplished? What needs to occur so it can be accomplished?
How is this goal relevant? To whom is it relevant?
When does this goal need to be completed?
What needs to occur before you can begin to work on this goal? (pre-work)
What steps need to occur in order to reach the goal? (use back of page, too)