GOAL SETTING

I'm a planner. I love to plan things out and usually over-analyze every last little thing. This makes me a goal setter to a fault. Sometimes I lose sight of enjoying of enjoying the now because I'm focused on reaching the next stage. My husband, Charlie is the opposite. He lives very much in the now and doesn't like to think to much other than eventually, someday, maybe. We balance each other out that way. He keeps me grounded in the now, I keep him focused on our goals.

I thought I'd share a little on how I help us plan for our big goals. A lot of people my age have trouble reaching the main goal because it seems GIANT. I know several girls that I went to high school with that dreamed about leaving our small town and it felt so impossible for them. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! I just want to shout it from the rooftops, y'all! There is nothing that can't be achieved. It just takes small steps. Let's apply this to anything in life.

Let's take a real life example of my husband changing jobs. This is a giant change. It isn't to a different company, it is in a different field, it requires a degree, it should be impossible because he is the main bread winner in our household. Right? Nope.

THE GOAL: CAREER CHANGE

STEP ONE: DECIDE ON NEW CAREER AND COMMIT
- This is the most important part. You need to be certain you are committed before you put in all the extra work or you'll just fizzle out the second it gets hard.

STEP TWO: FIND A WAY TO ATTAIN CREDENTIALS
- If you need a new degree for your new job like my husband does and you can't quit your full time job you'll have to get creative with your time to get them. My husband will be taking night school. I've done online college while working full time and I know people in the military take correspondence classes and CLEP exams to get their degrees.

- If it isn't a full degree but like a welding class, or a CNA class see if it is available on your days off. Sure you'll lose your free time for a few weeks/months but you have to keep the BIG GOAL in sight. It won't last forever.

STEP THREE: JOB HUNT
- Once you are qualified for your job the maybe not so easy part starts, finding an actual job. For my husband's new job we will have to relocate, which is why his new job is just a smaller step in our family's big goal. If you have to relocate, figure out a plan for that.

-Sometimes when you have to relocate, it means working MORE at the job you don't want, to save for moving and sometimes that isn't fun. I know I've said this before, but you have to keep the big goal in sight.

STEP FOUR: YOU MADE IT! 
-There you go! I know these are really watered down, but goals are so specific to each person. Sometimes each goal is broken down into separate goals. The days are long, but the years are short. If you're not happy, a change is worth it!

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The main thing that I try to remember when I set goals, is time. Yes, we have a five year plan, I do plan on writing it all up and sharing it here, just the gist of it because I like to to break each year down and each six months down and when those six months feel like nothing is moving, I'll break them down. What can I do in the next 30 days to move to closer to the next goal is a question that I'll ask myself.

Try not to lose sight of the now, I know sometimes I'm so busy planning for five years from now, I forget to enjoy the long weekends we spend together watching TV because we're saving money, or the stay at home board game dates. Enjoy those too.

You only get one life, you should enjoy it.