Graded AssignmentMaking Goals Real
Over the next few days you will be working with the long-term goal you developed earlier using the SMART process. You have already identified milestones and predicted possible barriers. Now you will propose a plan for addressing the barriers to the goal.

Before you start:

Consider this example from a previous lesson about Jeff and the goal barriers he identified:
“If Jeff decides to take guitar lessons while maintaining his B average, he could face some real barriers. He may not own a guitar. Or, he may not be able to afford lessons, or find a place to practice. Or, Jeff may realize he doesn’t have time for guitar, schoolwork, and his other activities.”

How can Jeff work with these barriers to reach his goal? Some suggestions might include: borrow a guitar from a friend, rent a guitar from a music store, rework his allowance budget to put aside money for lessons, trade lessons for tutoring with a friend who plays the guitar, arrange a time with his family when he can practice without bothering others, or delay guitar lessons until summer break.

Jeff may discard some of his solutions later, but it’s important that he listed all of his ideas in his plan.

Project Instructions:

1. Review the lists of milestones and possible barriers for the long-term goal you developed earlier in this lesson.
2. Brainstorm your solutions to overcome each barrier. Use the chart below to record your ideas. Think creatively but realistically. For example, in the above scenario about Jeff, it’s not realistic that he work fulltime to earn money to buy a guitar and pay for lessons.
3. Finally, write your final plan to address the potential barriers to your goal. Choose those solutions that are realistic and will help you overcome the barriers that could stop you from reaching your goal. The format for your plan is your choice, it may be a chart or possibly an essay.


Possible Barriers to Long-Term Goal

Solutions to Possible Barriers