Goals can come in many different dimensions.  You can characterize goals by their focus.  For example you might set a goal for your GPA or you could set a goal for getting an internship.  Goals can also have a time element.  A career goal is very long term.  A goal for a grade on a test is shorter term.  Goals can also have consequences if not achieved: some more severe than others.

What are the different ways of characterizing goals?  Here are some different dimensions for thinking about goals:

• Focus area
• Time Period
• Consequences

The focus area represents the general nature of the goal.  Typically these can be:

• Academic performance (e.g. GPA, test performance)
• Experience (e.g. internship, job after college)
• Physical fitness/health (e.g. weight loss)
• Financial (e.g. money earned to pay for college)
• Involvement in activities (e.g. leadership)

Goals can also have a time horizon.  The three main time periods can be thought of as:

• Micro — goals of less than one month
• Short term — goals from one month to a year
• Long term — goals of one year or more

The third way of looking at goals is to consider the consequences if the goal isn’t achieved.  The consequences can be thought of as:

• Dire — these goals could involve life threatening situations or major changes in life direction if not achieved
• Serious — these goals could involve situations that will take considerable effort to recover from if not achieved
• Important — these are goals that involve realizing opportunities if successful
• Discretionary — these are goals that are something a person wants to do, but not achieving them will not be critical

When you are setting goals, it’s useful to think of them along each of these three dimensions.  These dimensions will also be useful in developing your approach for meeting the goal.  Often one goal could have each of the above dimensions.