How to Find and Set Your Goal -Reaching for the Stars with the STAR Method

Reach for the stars with the STAR Method. It is another model for goal checking. STAR is an acronym and stands for: Steps Timeline Affort and Recognition Result The method helps you to precisely plan your goal, break it down into sub-steps, then proceed with implementation, and evaluate the result. In addition to this structured part, the model considers two essential aspects that concern you personally:

• Your Effort: How much are you willing to give to achieve your goal?
• The recognition for your effort and for everything that goes well on the way to the goal.

In this model, there are three phases: Planning, Implementation, and Success Monitoring.

An Overview of the STAR Method

What specific goal do you want to achieve? Phase 1: Planning Steps: What steps will I take? When? How often? How many? Step 1, Step 2, Step 3… Timeline: What is the end date and what other interim deadlines do I set? What time frame? Are there specific times or a time of day that I orient myself to daily/weekly, for example? Phase 2: Implementation Affort and Recognition: How much will I exert myself? How willing am I to make an effort, for example on a scale of 0 to 100? How much have I exerted myself, looking back on Step 1, 2, 3, etc.? How will I acknowledge and reward my performance in Step 1, 2, 3, etc.? Remember: Self-praise is key! Phase 3: Evaluation Result: What result have I achieved? How do you measure your results?

Harnessing the Power of the Unconscious

The good news: Your subconscious is a strong partner on the way to your goal. The power of the subconscious has been utilized by professional athletes for ages. Skiers mentally visualize the course and see themselves crossing the finish line in record time. Successful managers visualize their goals. Make use of this too! There are many mental techniques that can prompt your subconscious to support you in achieving your goals. You can leverage your subconscious for positive influence. Our brain does not differentiate between actually doing something and visualizing it. Therefore, mental techniques create anchors in the brain. It stores something as experienced and "remembers" it when we recall it again, either in reality or mentally. Quick Visualization: I have achieved my goal! Take about a minute for yourself a few times a day. Close your eyes and imagine how it feels when you have achieved your goal. Paint your goal with all your senses, emotionally and preferably in the most beautiful colors. Your subconscious does not differentiate between present and future. It will automatically adjust to you achieving your goal and contribute to fulfilling "your mission." Stay focused!