What do goals really represent and what do they do for us? Goals can give us the markers of the progress we are making towards our visions of the future.
They let us know how we are doing in moving towards our desired outcome.
It is very easy to get side tracked along our path.
Our goals act as the mile markers on our journey.
Our goals don't have to be huge! By establishing smaller goals along the way to our vision, we give ourselves the ability to readjust as needed.
Our mini goals give us the flexibility to make changes in our plan if we see that something isn't working or isn't working as well as we had hoped.
Our mini-goals also do two things that many of us overlook.

• Every time we successfully achieve one our mini goals we are re energized to keep moving towards our larger vision.
  It makes us feel good when we achieve and successfully complete a mini-goal.
  This tends to recharge our commitment to achieve the larger goal that we are working towards.
  
• By having identified our mini goal, we tend to keep it in the forefront of our minds.
  We think about it and consider various ways of achieving it.
  Our safety awareness is growing!

Goals should be achievable and meaningful.
These are the kinds of goals that allow you to put them into practice.
However, merely setting realistic and meaningful goals will not achieve them.
Remember that in order to achieve your goals, you must do! Your plan of action must be just that, an action plan, based on your goals.
We can set up the greatest plan known to mankind to achieve our large vision, but that will amount to nothing if we do not take action.
The greatest plan in the world will not accomplish anything if it is not implemented.
How can setting goals help us in keeping young people safe? Clearly define in your mind what you want to accomplish this is your large overall vision (I want my child to feel safer in the world)

1. Decide what is the goal that you are hoping to achieve by coaching your child to be safer? (I want my child to be able to respond to emergency or dangerous situations safely and effectively)
2. What skills need to be learned by the child so that you know the goal has been achieved? (What to do in a natural disaster, or man made dangerous situation, what to do if grabbed, threatened or intimidated, increase safety awareness)
3. Of the skills that need to be learned, what order should we review them in? (1.
   Increase safety awareness, 2.
   what to do if grabbed, 3.
   what to do in an emergency, act.
   )
4. How will the skills need to be taught so that they are most effectively learned by your child to achieve the over riding goal of safety.
   (We will use a combination of drills, exercises and discussions to teach and review the individual skills)

Each of these steps can be utilized as one of your objectives or mini-goals.
By focusing on achieving the individual objectives we are continually moving towards the larger vision.
Accomplishing our objectives energizes us to keep moving towards our goals.
Having clear objectives makes it easy for us to take the small steps towards our goal.
The small steps that we take to achieve our objectives will be our action plan.
As we plan out our small steps, we will see how to integrate them into our daily lives to the point of becoming automatic behaviors.
Take the time to think about what will be involved in meeting your objectives.
Strategic thinking is very important because this planning time will allow you to be productive and focus on the activities according to your goals.
Act in accordance to your goals.
Having the proper mind setting is very important in achieving your goal.
Achieving your goal will not be easy.
Goals should stretch us and the young people we work with.
They allow us (and them) to experience the thrill of doing something that they might not been able to do before.
Go the extra mile.
Try new ways of demonstrating and discussing personal safety.
Pursuing safety goals means that you are ready to learn new things and challenges that will help you and your child in the long run.
Remember that setting goals does not mean that you will always succeed.
Setting goals means that you are acknowledging your desires and are ready to work your way towards success.
It is for this reason why objective goals matter.
Moving forward, you also have to consider that there are goals that are just too hard to achieve on your own.
At times, these goals even create conflicts that you might think of surrendering in the long run.
Take heart.
Everybody have similar concerns at times.
If this situation occurs and you think that surrendering is the last option, why not look for a partner, a friend maybe who is willing to help you out with your goals? Collaborate with your prospective partner and learn to prioritize.
If it requires spending time in plotting all the possibilities, both the pros and cons, try it.
Remember that goal setting is focused on your benefits.
So try working things out and focus, focus, and focus.
Minimize or avoid distractions if possible so you can work your goals better.
Work the proper mindset for a clearer vision of you achieving those valuable goals.
If you are aiming for a personal or educational goal, make things happen by planning and doing things related to your goals.
You will then realize that goals, no matter how difficult they may appear, are still valuable to consider and utilize in showing your young person how to increase their personal safety.