Family Life Management 7400.360
Take Home Assignment 3
MAKING PLANS

Purpose:The goal (!) of this exercise is to create a working plan to set and achieve goals in each of four important areas of your life.  What you need: Pen/pencil, paper, this sheet, use the grid given if you need, intrinsic motivation!

Procedure:
1. Here are four planning categories: CAREER/WORK, HOME, PERSONAL, LEISURE on the grid below.
2. Select a long-term goal in each of these areas. Long-term could range from 6 months to 5 years.
3. Within parentheses, write the date you want to see the goal completed. For instance, in terms of work, my long-term goal might be to get a great job as a management consultant in a company in New York City two years from now, when I graduate. In terms of a personal long-term goal, I might want to get married after four years. However, my leisure goal might be more immediate, like in the next 6 months, I am going to buy that CD player I have been longing for forever!
4. Now, within each goal, list sub-goals, or ways to make out that you are well on your way to achieving the biggie.
5. Again, write the expected date of completion. For instance, to get my dream job, my sub-goals would include, getting into a reputed Masters program, graduating with a good GPA and references, getting work experience along the way, applying right, acquiring networking and job search skills, etc.


6. Realistic and flexible planning implies contingency planning. List some things that might go wrong, and ways to overcome these obstacles next to them. Make sure to think wild so there is little that could go wrong that you haven’t considered before. Of course, don’t get so imaginative that all that could go wrong never lets you take the first step!

8. Now, to get out of a negative frame of mind, list the rewards you want at the end of completion of each of these goals. What made you pick this and not any other goal? What would drive you to achieve them, and motivate you when you are ready to give up (as will happen many times in the course of trying to achieve the goal!)

Turn in your three grids for credit, but ... as a follow-up, put this summary GOALS sheet up where you can see it everyday, so you don’t forget it, plus you know why you want it. Feel free to make changes to your lists any time, but make sure you are not changing it out of desperation or frustration. The biggest challenge is to maintain one!

Looking at adversity as a challenge to be enjoyed is one of the most difficult things to learn, and perhaps this exercise will help you persevere! With the right attitude, you can set your goals and value the rewards you get at the end of achieving them.

Back to the syllabus.