Rekindle 'I can do it' spirit to set goals

"Experts" say the only way to accomplish anything in your personal life or career is to set goals. But how do you begin? Most of us are so harried with day-to-day living that taking quiet time to set goals is a luxury.

I recently heard about a creative, unique and pleasurable way to approach goal-setting at a Business and Professional Women's meeting in St. Petersburg. Corey Adler Leidersdorff, community relations manager for several downtown attractions, had this to say: "Go back to the time when everything was possible."

She said that if you remember when you were bulletproof, when the world was full of promise, you'll help find your authentic self. From there you can focus on what really matters to you. Then you can set your goals.

Leidersdorff's current main goal is to complete her college education. She said that her spark came from a 20-year-old notebook of pictures, quotes and inspirational thoughts she had put together. "I hadn't looked at it in years, but as I reviewed it, I remembered what I wanted then and it helped set meaningful goals."

It's all about getting started, she added. Anything can get the juices flowing. Music, an old movie or even a TV show that brings you back to when you felt good and capable.

The next step, Leidersdorff said, is to focus on one goal at a time and to keep it small enough that you can picture it in your mind. "Focus on your sensory reactions. Imagine what it will sound like, taste like and what you will feel when you accomplish your goal."

Now you are ready to clearly identify what you want to accomplish, she said. "Think of the smallest step you can take to move in that direction. In my case, it was to look at a college catalog."

Here are the rest of her tips:

Be willing to ask for help. She said that you may be uneasy, but unless you step out of your comfort zone and find support, you won't progress.

Next, let go. Forget about everything being perfect. "I had to give up on the idea of going back to school full-time and making straight A's," Leidersdorff said. "Instead, because of my workload and family needs, I allowed myself to take one class at a time and I'm happy making the best grades I can."

Finally, she summed up the whole goal-setting process. "Listen to the music of your life, get up, dance around and rekindle that old 'I can do it' feeling. Then set your goals to make them happen!"

Marie Stempinski is the founder and president of Strategic Communication in St. Petersburg. She specializes in public relations, marketing, business trends and employee motivation consulting. She can be reached at sstratcomm@cs.com or through her website, www. howtomotivateemployees.org.