Some experts believe that 80 percent of all your problems in personal and business life come from a lack of clarity with regard to your objectives and goals.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a firm sense of direction in your personal life -- what you as a family would like to accomplish together -- just as you might have a set of professional goals for yourself?

I believe that applying this type of business technique to your home life can help you do just that.

It’s always easier to reach the finish line when everyone on your team is rowing in the same direction. By incorporating a weekly review where you can discuss common plans and dream big together, you can get everyone onboard to work as a team.

One such goal might be to improve the health of everyone in your family by making healthier food choices; setting up a rotating meal preparation plan in order to ensure you eat wholesome home-cooked meals at least a few times a week; or agreeing on an exercise schedule, either together or giving everyone the “alone time” they need to fit it in.

Goal Setting Made Easy

The word "goals" can be intimidating--it can feel so overbearing that it keeps you from beginning the process.

This is why it is helpful to pretend you are a kid again – and to listen to your children during your weekly “meetings.” What kid do you know who doesn’t have a million things he or she wants to do, and can come up with some pretty outlandish ways of making it happen? Some of them might actually work!

Here’s a quick list that can help you get started:

1. Let your mind roam freely, and write down everything you want in your life, as a family. Be sure to decide what you want before you limit yourself in advance by thinking of all the reasons why it is not possible. Put the word “impossible” aside for now and just allow yourself to think about what your perfect life would look like.
2. Your goals must mean something to everyone in your family. With some creative thinking, you’re sure to find that there are many win-win opportunities you may have missed, simply because you never told anyone what you really wanted.
3. Make sure your goals are specific and measurable. Vague generalizations and wishy-washy statements aren't good enough. Be very specific! The more details and precise adjectives and timing you insert, the more likely it will happen.
4. Write down your family’s goals in positive terms. Your subconscious is very specific; it filters out the negative and will attract all the negative things you write down, like a magnet.
5. Leave room for flexibility. After all, since there’s more than one of you, there’s more opportunities for deviation.
6. Make sure your goals are both challenging and exciting. Encourage each other to jump out of your comfort zones to acquire that much-needed energy and edge.
7. Make sure your goals are in alignment with everyone’s values.
8. Last, but not least, make sure your goals include contribution from everyone in your family – even the youngest ones (within reason, of course!)