The Goal of Goal Writing
I'll be honest with you. If you have a clear big or small vision, that can almost be goal enough if you have the drive and motivation to accomplish it. For a long time I told myself and people that I was going to go to China and learn Chinese. I never wrote it down as a "goal." It's what I was going to DO. I didn't know how, I didn't need to know how, it's all I thought about so any time I thought of something that might take me closer to that goal, I tried it. Anytime I saw or heard something that would (in my mind) bring me a little closer. I acted on it.
I didn't end up in China, but I did end up living in Taiwan for 5 years and learning Chinese. It wasn't done with the most style and grace but... it was done. :)
The goal of that story is to point out the goal of goal writing. It's to gain unwavering clarity in what you want to do so it stays on your mind and you get things done to take you closer to the result you want. That's it.
Don't Let Your Goals Fool You!