Creating a goal tracking chart is as simple as drawing a basic grid or table. Create as many vertical columns as you have goals to include, and include a horizontal row for every sub-goal or milestone you wish to divide your goals into, plus one row on top for your "Finish By" date and one row below for your goal heading or title. [Hint: Creating a goal tracking chart poster-sized on inexpensive and brightly colored poster board ensures visibility and accountability!]

Complete and use your chart according to the instructions below:

1. Place the name of one goal, or a major section of a larger project goal, in the row of boxes at the bottom of the chart.

2. In the row of boxes at the top of each chart, in the appropriate column above each goal or goal section, place the deadline for that goal, if applicable.

3. Break down each goal or goal section into individual steps that make sense for each one (pound loss intervals for a weight loss goal, steps for completing and sending off a college application, action steps that make up a project phase, etc). Fill in the boxes in each column between the goal title and the finish date with stages involved in meeting that goal, starting with the first step in the lower-most square, just above the goal heading or title, and working your way up to the deadline. Use as many or as few boxes as you need.

4. Cross out, color in or place a sticker, etc., in each goal-step box as you complete that step. By placing several related goals on one chart, you can track whether or not one goal is getting the lion's share of your attention, and you can eliminate worry over forgetting about less vital, but still important, goals in the flurry of day-to-day life.

Large projects can easily be managed using the goal tracking chart by grouping all of the goals specific to each phase of the project together on seperate charts. This way, you can ensure that all project goals are met in a timely manner, and the project as a whole is completed smoothly and efficiently, with no forgotten stepping-stones or bottlenecks.

Soni Pitts

Soni Pitts is a writer and personal life coach currently living in SE Missouri, US.

As a writer, Soni has two main goals. Her first goal is to use her innate copywriting abilities to rid the world of ambiguous, confusing and boring copy. Her second goal is to use her creative writing skills to make a living meeting cool people and doing cool things, then writing about it.

As a personal life coach, Soni works with people who have reached the point of epiphany (eg: "There's got to be more to life than this") rebuild sustainable lives and lifestyles that work for themselves and for the world around them.

She is also the Assistant Community Coach of the Social Capital and Networking Community of CoachVille, and volunteers on the board of her local Habitat for Humanity Affiliate.

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