Do Your Goals Pass the T.O.N.Y. Test?
By Tony Magee, MS, MBA
The Destiny Doctor®
Chances are you know a thing or two about goals. You’ve read the quotes and statistics lauding the power of goal-setting. Maybe you’ve had a fling or two at stating your goals, but it didn’t work out. Here’s the thing: writing down your goals and hoping they will magically change your life is a formula for failure, not success. Your goals have to meet certain criteria, or they’re not really achievable.
I want you to succeed, and goals are a critical part of your success strategy. With this in mind, I have devised a simple acronym to insure that your goal-setting has the best chance of success. I call it the TONY Test. (All right, you caught me. Now, every time you think about a new goal you’ll also think about me, but what’s so wrong about that?) 
T.O.N.Y. stands for Tangible… Obtainable… Nameable… and Yours.
T Tangible
O Obtainable
N Nameable
Y Yours
Tangible… Is it quantifiable? Can you measure it? Will you know when you’ve accomplished it? If not, then it’s not really tangible, so head back to the drawing board. Losing a few pounds someday is not a tangible goal.
Obtainable… Can you actually achieve this goal, or is it a pipe dream? If you’re a five-foot-three inch couch potato and you set a goal to play in the NBA, you’ve just set yourself up for failure and frustration.
Nameable… Is it specific? Can you clearly define it? Wanting to be a better person is not a nameable goal because it’s not specific enough. Exactly, what would it look like if you were a better person? You have to spell out the details of the goal.
Yours… Is this something you really want, or is it something that others want for you? Just as important: why do you want it? There is a world of difference between wanting something in order to make a fellow worker jealous, as opposed to wanting something because it will upgrade your career, or your health and well being. Your true intention behind your goals is the key to your motivation. Our goals motivate us when they’re in line with deep purpose.
When you’re setting your goals, keep TONY in mind. Set goals that are clearly defined, that stretch you out but are still possible for you to reach, that can be measured, and most of all, set goals that inspire you. Goals are meant to spur you to action and if they pass the TONY Test, they should.
The Goal Ghouls
Of course, there are two parts to the Goal Game. First, you set goals that pass the TONY Test. Secondly, you create a game plan that streamlines your follow-through.
Here’s the simplest, most effective goal plan that I know of: rewrite your goals every morning, and read them out loud four times during your day. Period. Don’t miss a day. What are your goals for this day? How are you going to meet them?
Know this, there will be challenges. I call them Goal Ghouls. Physical, emotional, psychological obstacles will pop up to challenge you on your destined path. Don’t try to sweep these good-for-nothings under the carpet; they won’t stay there. Instead, (1) identify them as clearly as you can, then (2) create a plan to overcome them.
Don’t make this complicated. If your goal has passed the TONY Test, in almost all cases, the obstacles that show up are just part of the process. Denial is the enemy here. When the princess was able to call out Rumplestilskin’s name, he lost his power. The same is true with the blocks in the way. Identify them and immediately go on to the solutions.
The masters in our midst don’t skirt the problems. They see them for what they are, and then they focus on solving them.
Two Goal Killers
The two most common — and most dangerous — obstacles to goal achievement are procrastination and attending to unproductive activities. The late George L. Graziadio (whose name was chosen for the School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University), shed light on the procrastination issue in a commencement address he gave to the MBA Fall Class of 2000. He said the best way to defeat the procrastination syndrome is to use the “T-N-T” method: do it “today, not tomorrow.” Procrastination is putting off until “tomorrow” what could be done “today.” You can also avoid procrastination by:
1. Attaining enough motivation and inspiration to achieve the goal.
2. Setting clear priorities for important tasks.
3. Breaking needed tasks into smaller components.
4. Setting small deadlines for each task.
5. Rewarding yourself when tasks are over and done with.
Engaging in unproductive activities may cause your personal energy level to deplete. You may find yourself getting irritated for wasting your valuable time on such unfruitful events. If someone asks you to participate in some task that does not add value to your life or personal situation, learn to just say no. We must avoid as many non-productive activities surrounding our lives as possible.
“Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.” ~ Don Marquis
© 2003-2008 Tony Magee, MS, MBA and PlatinumStar® Life-Strategies
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