FAQ

  • Is GoalDragon just another "To Do List" tool?? - No! A "to do" list or task list is most often reactive. Items on this list might be "Pick up the laundry" or "Go to the store." The process of envisioning, setting, executing, and achieving goals is inherently proactive. Examples of goals might be "Lose 5 pounds by June 1" or "Run 3 miles 10 times this month."

  • Why bother with goal categories? One challenge that we face in life is to keep our lives balanced. If we focus exclusively on just one area of our lives (such as work) then other areas of our lives may suffer (such as family). By assigning categories to our goals and by looking at the "pie chart" of categories we remember all of the various aspects of our lives.

  • What is "SMART" goal-setting? SMART goal-setting is a process by which a quality goal is created with five key attributes. We highly recommend use of SMART goal-setting for year and month goals. In short a goal should be:
    • S - Specific - What exactly do you want to achieve?
    • M - Measurable - How will you know when the goal is complete?
    • A - Attainable - Is the goal achievable?
    • R - Relevant - How does the goal relate to your higher-level (life & year) goals?
    • T - Time-bound - What is your target date to achieve this goal?

  • Should all of my goals be "SMART"? No! In particular we believe in terms of life goals you should "Dream Big or Go Home!" In addition to SMART life goals we encourage you to add any of your dreams and desires into your life list-- even if they aren't yet well-defined.
    • Examples of life goals that aren't strictly SMART goals would include: "Find true love," "Be a great father," and "Stay fit"
    • Examples of life goals that are SMART would include: "Save $10,000 towards retirement by age 30" and "Run a marathon before I turn 40"
    • Most importantly there are goals that may not start as SMART goals in your life list, but as you evaluate your goals for the coming year and months you can decompose the lofty goal into smaller achievable goals which are SMART. For example in your life list you might have "Run a marathon." In your goals for the coming year you can add "Run a marathon in 2016." For January 2016 you can add "Buy running shoes" and "Join a running club."