This document describes a goal setting activity where participants fold a sheet of paper into quadrants and label them "Ideal", "Reality", "Difference", and "Goals". For each quadrant, participants reflect and write down responses. They imagine their ideal work, note their current reality, identify differences between the two, and then use the differences to form specific, challenging, realistic, and flexible goals. The document provides explanations and examples of each type of goal.

1. A Simple Goal Setting
Activity
www.thrivapy.com
Copyright © 2014 by Troy P. Roddy, Ph.D.
presented by Dr. Troy P. Roddy

2. Fold a sheet of paper into quadrants

3. Label the first
quadrant,
"Ideal."
• Close your eyes and imagine your
work in its most ideal state. What
are you doing? What does it look like?
• After a few minutes, open your eyes
and write down three things you
imagined when you imagined your
ideal.

4. Label
quadrant two,
"Reality."
• Again, close your eyes and reflect on
your actual work. What does it
look like in reality? What are you
actually doing?
• Open your eyes after a few minutes
and write down three items about
your actual work - your reality.

5. In quadrant
three, write,
"Difference."
• Look back at your "ideal" and
"reality."
• Think about the differences
between the two lists.
• Write down three differences
between your "ideal" and "reality."

6. Now, open up the page and
label quadrant four, "Goals."
It should look something like this...

8. Moving from knowing the differences to
making goals requires you to take the
differences and reframe them in a way that
includes the four qualities of good goals.
1. Specific
2. Challenging
3. Realistic
4. Flexible

9. Specific
Specific goals are ones that can be measured and are timely. For example,
get stronger is not specific because it does not have a time element attached
to it nor does it speak to how to measure strength. However, to do 50 push-
ups without stopping by the end of three months is specific. It can be
measured (number of push-ups) and has a time element (three months).
Can the differences be measured? How?
Is there a time element connected to them?
Measuring over time allows you to track progress (or lack of progress). This
is important because you should celebrate progress and address lack of
progress using the feedback you get by measuring your results.

10. Challenging
In order for a goal to be considered challenging, it needs to
require both effort and focus to complete. For example, for most
of us putting our shoes on and tying them correctly no longer
requires a great deal of focus or effort. However, for most of us,
tying a bow tie would be quite challenging. It would necessitate
a great deal of focus and effort to do until it was mastered.
Are your differences challenging? Does the act of overcoming
them take effort and focus?
Look at the specifics you just finished writing. Are they
challenging?

11. Realistic
Challenging goals require effort and focus, but if they cannot be done even with
effort and focus, then they are not realistic. Realistic goals are those that can be
accomplished either by "stretching" or "climbing" not by "flying."
"Stretching" refers to your ability to push through some discomfort to reach a
point slightly beyond your reach today. By working each day, the destination gets
a little closer until you get there.
"Climbing" refers to the need for support or help in reaching the goal. On your
own, you may not be able to reach it, but with the right help, it is possible and
attainable.
"Flying" refers to the impossible. No matter how hard you flap your arms or focus
on taking flight, you will not fly. "Flying" goals are unrealistic.
For example...

12. Realistic (continued)
A light bulb needs changing. However, it is in a
fixture 10 feet above your head. In order to change it,
you have options. Option 1 is to get a tall ladder,
climb up, and change the bulb. Option 2 is similar.
You can use a small ladder, climb to the top, and
stretch up to change the bulb. That is basically it. Two
options. Flying up to the fixture is not an option.
For determining how realistic your goal might be,
think climb or stretch, not fly.

13. Flexible
Flexible is the an area I believe does not get enough attention
when setting goals. In order to do so it is important to
differentiate between flexible and noncommittal.
Noncommittal means there is no defined purpose or direction.
Flexible means having the ability to adjust your approach while
still maintaining your course of action.
In other words, being flexible in your goals is being able to adjust
to the moment without abandoning the spirit of your goal.
For example...

14. Flexible (continued)
Assume you set a goal to read 20 pages of your novel each night. Tonight,
however, a family member is ill and needs some attention. You might even
need to help out around the house more than usual. This changes how much
time you have top devote to reading that night. So, instead of 20 pages, you
only read 10. Now, you need to adjust in some way to stay on track. Maybe,
you get up in the morning and read the 10 you did not the night before. You
might read 30 pages the next night.
This works the other way also. Maybe you finished your 20 pages with time
to spare. Maybe you read 5 more during that time and do more than your
goal.
Life will throw unexpected challenges your way. Having goals that can be
adjusted when needed will help you address those challenges without giving
up on the reason you set the goal.

15. Try this activity with your students or children. Try it
yourself. Let me know how it worked or how to improve it.
troy@thrivapy.com

16. There are few joys in life more
satisfying than seeing a student
or child truly thrive in their
learning. Visit my website
www.thrivapy.com for more
ways to encourage and support
a better educational experience.
troy@thrivapy.com
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