Goal setting is a much-talked-about subject in the world of business.
Introducing the concept of goal setting to kids is lagging. Because of this, kids are not learning how to create the healthy habit of setting goals.
The reason for this may be because nearly 80% of people don’t set goals themselves. How do people know where their lives are heading if they don’t have something to aim at? Think of the game of soccer. A goal gives direction and purpose for players, and they know where they are heading at all times of the game because they have a goal. Life is no different. If we have a goal, it provides direction and purpose. Without it, we wander aimlessly.
Another sad statistic is when people do set goals, nearly 70% fail to achieve them. This statistic suggests people don’t have a strong enough reason or drive to stick at the goal they set, and there is no why behind the goal.
Unlike any other creature on earth, human beings get to create their reality. We do this by starting and finishing projects. Whether starting a company, creating a family, or simply growing a garden, things can exist a few years from now that does not exist today simply because we decide to make them happen.
We want to start teaching the next generation how to set goals that they stick with and accomplish. Here is a method that might help.
The first step is to start asking them what they want to achieve in the next year. The answer your child provides then becomes a goal they to go after.
The next step to creating goals that stick is by helping kids find their North Star. That is, how do we help them uncover their passion or purpose? By assisting kids in discovering these, we can start attaching the goals they set themselves to something that has meaning in their lives.
Here are some questions that might help your child tap into their internal drive. There are no right or wrong answers, just their answers.
- If I could accomplish one thing in my life, it would be?
- If I could make a vital contribution to my community, it would be?
- If I could make an essential contribution to my community, it would be?
- If I had the power to make any change in the world, it would be?
- When I think about the world, the most upsetting thing I see or hear is?
- The world would be a better place if…
Now look for a theme. Is there something in the answers that could highlight your child’s internal drive? Now write a possible North Star sentence.
- My North Star could be helping other kids be happy.
- My North Star could be helping keep the planet clean.
- My North Star might be to become the next inventor of something to help those struggling with poverty find work and make money.
Now they have something bigger than themselves to think about, the fun work begins. We use this North Star to attach a reason for setting goals.
Take my North Star example from above and add it to a life goal. It might look like this:
- “I want to become a famous soccer player because I want to earn a lot of money and help my family and other kids be happy.”
This life goal is great because it has meaning for the kid who set it. As they start to work toward the goal and things become challenging, the North Star provides a reason for pushing through. Whatever their goals might be, their North Star will provide a level of clarity that will help make the goal stick.
I hope this simple process will help you start a conversation with your child about goal setting. If you need any assistance or have questions, please reach out to us at info@thepuregame.org
