Goal setting functions as a prerequisite to success in most areas of life. Yet, according to By Dr. Bob Bodenhamer, ninety-five percent of people do not set goals. You will be familiar with acronym for S.M.A.R.T. goals: which stands for specific, measurable, attainable and assignable, realistic and rewarding, timely and tangible and they do work well. However, I have found The NLP model of well-formed outcomes enables us to go beyond mere "goal setting" into the actual "programming" of our minds to drive us towards our desired goal. Well-formed outcomes are described in sensory based, positive terms. This means that unlike SMART objectives, they address both motivation and the impact on others. If your outcome is poorly formed in your mind or you cannot see it clearly then it is very unlikely that you will achieve it. Richard Bandler and John Grinder, the creators of NLP defined a well-formed outcome as follows: 1. State your goal in positive terms Describe the Present Situation and compare it with the desired future goal. Where are you now? Where do you want to be? What do you want? (Not what you don't want) State it in the positive (what you want to achieve). 2. Specify the goal in Sensory Based Terms What will you see, hear, feel, etc., when you reached your desired goal? What steps are involved in reaching this goal? Use all of your senses in this description process to engage more of your brain and nervous system. Have you broken down your goal into small enough pieces so that each is achievable? 3. Specify the goal in a way that you find compelling. · Is the goal compelling? Does you really want this? · When you see your goal make sure you see yourself having obtained your goal. 4. Is the goal right for you? Is the desired goal right for you in all circumstances of your life? Is your goal fitting in all your personal relationships? What will having your goal give you that you do not already have? What will having your goal cause you to lose? Is your goal achievable? 5. Self-initiated and maintained. · Is the goal something that you can initiate and maintain? · Test your goal by asking if it is something that you have within your power or ability to do. 6. State the Context of the goal. Where, when, how, with whom, etc. will you get this goal? · Test your goal by applying it to a context: when, where, with who · Rearrange your goal to make sure that it is fitting 7. State the Resources needed to achieve the goal. What resources will you need in order to achieve this goal? Who else has achieved this goal? Have you ever had or done this before? Do you know anyone who has? Have you spoken to someone who has achieved this goal before? What prevents you from moving toward it and accomplishing it now? 8. Evidence Procedure. How will you know that your goal has been realised? What evidence is there to show that you have achieved your desired state?