MADE on MTV Teaches Goal Setting Basics

Recently, I watched the MTV show, MADE for the first time. Looking at it, I realized that this show could have been called Goal Setting 101. I have to admit, though, MADE sounds way cooler.

OK, here's how the MTV show MADE reflects goal setting and the questions you can ask yourself while setting your own goals:

What's the goal?
In the show, each kid wants to be MADE into something. The show I saw featured Katie, a drama geek who wanted to be made into the prom queen.

Now that is a tangible goal, easily definable. You are either prom queen or not.

Any goal should be that definable so you know when you reach it. If you can not say it in one sentence, it is too complicated.

What's the deadline?
The goal carried a specific deadline. Unmovable deadlines are great in goal setting because you can not put off taking that next step. A deadline that is not dependent on you is not going to go away.

Other examples of unmovable deadlines that you can use to reach your goals are any kind of contests or races. My screenwriter friend regularly uses contests to motivate her to finish scripts. In the past, I have used a road race to get into shape.

Who can coach you?
The MADE coach was a pageant consultant. She was a former Miss Michigan who knew how to win and make winners.

Now you may not be able to afford a coach, but there are plenty of coaching and mentoring resources available at your local public library. I have never met Dave Ramsey or even seen him in person, but I consider him to be a financial mentor.

I also have mentors when it comes to finances who are everyday folks like my dad and my office's file clerk. Who can be your mentor for this area of your life?

What do you need to change to reach your goal?
This is a tough one. It turns out that Katie was not popular because her classmates thought she was a control freak and a gossip. Ouch!

Without taking an honest look at herself, though, she could not change. Her coach made it clear that that was who she was, but not who she was going to be in the future.

Take a good look at your present situation. I know that it is easy to lie to yourself and tell yourself that things are not so bad. When I look at my savings I realize the truth - I only have enough money to last a month and a half if I lose my job. It is not pretty, but it is motivating.

What's the reality of your situation right now?

Who is your team?
The coach advised Katie to pull together a committee. Katie drew ideas from her committee and they helped her create a commercial for her campaign.

You know, I really used to believe that you do not need the support of others. Mainly, it was fear that I would be made fun of if I told others about my goals. That is so not true. People who are also reaching for big goals will support you.

What's great about a support group is that someone is going to be happy and excited at the same time you are considering quitting. Then, when you are in your "up" phase and they are "down" you can return the favor.

Who do you need to protect your dreams from?
Ahhh, the flip side of support is the folks who do not want to see you succeed. In the case of Katie, it appeared that this was her best friend Erin. Erin did not support Katie in her exercising or campaigning. She did not want Katie to change.

There can be people who love you and who still do not want to see you succeed. You are in a comfortable box and they want to keep you there. You can usually pick out these folks early when you run into your first setback.

The best advice is to see how folks react when the going gets tough. Really, the people to tell your dreams are the folks who have big dreams, themselves. You will encourage and inspire each other.

What happens after the setback?
Katie's commercial for prom queen was a disaster. It set her further back. Still, she pressed on.

There is some crazy misconception out there that if it is not easy than it is not "meant to be." Setbacks and failures are part of life. It is what you do after you fail that counts.

In Katie's case, she hosted a party where she found the strength to mingle and meet every person who was there. She did not give up.

So, what's the real goal here?
Katie did not win prom queen. She did, however, recreate herself into a person who she was proud of. That was the real goal. She did not like who she was and wanted a change. Better than that, she made the change

The deal with goal-setting is not about getting some thing, it is a process of becoming a certain type of person - a person who knows what they want and goes after it.

MTV show MADE - A real winner
This show can open a dialogue with kids about setting goals and achieving them. It is also inspiring for anyone pursuing their dreams. It certainly inspired me.