One of the essential components of an effective game plan is an assessment of the present. Sounds a little ho-hum, right?

But think about how much more impact it has when you see one of those decorating shows and there’s a “before” to compare to the “after.” The dull den stuck in a time warp becomes a vibrant, retro game room for the family to enjoy. Wow.

Or, to use a different kind of goal, how satisfying must it be to go from deep debt and eating ramen noodles twice a day to financial prosperity that allows you to enjoy whatever kind of food you prefer?

See how much more powerful that is than just walking into a nicely decorated room with no idea what it used to look like or just knowing someone is doing well financially but having no context around it?

In Game Plan columns so far this year, I’ve given suggestions on how to get started on setting some goals or making resolutions for 2008. They’ve included looking at your life in categories (i.e., career, creative pursuits, etc.) and even finding a horoscope you like and using it as a blueprint of sorts.

Click here to read "Horoscope as Blueprint to Venturing Out of the Box"

From there, it’s a good idea to look at your starting point on those goals. Often when working with clients who are resistant to this exercise, mostly because they’re so anxious to move forward that they find exploration of the present boring, I consciously insert myself into the process. “Well, as your coach, it will be much more helpful for me to understand whether we have a basis for this goal or if we’re starting from scratch,” I’ll say.

That will usually prompt at least a verbal assessment, which is sometimes all that’s needed, or a more in-depth one. For example, continuing on the room idea, let’s say the stated goal is “To make my den vibrant, welcoming and functional.” Who wouldn’t want that, right? Well, how close are you to having it?

There are several ways to get the answer. You could take pictures. You could put together a nice little floor plan. You could make a list of what’s already great about the room. Is there an inspiration piece or do you need to find one? What are your non-negotiables in the ‘stay’ and ‘go’ categories? You could list what functions the room needs to serve (i.e., storage, meditation, etc.). You could create a budget for the redesign. The possibilities go on.

The same goes for the money goal mentioned above. Let’s say it’s specifically, “To feel the liberation of being debt free.” That one is a bit more black and white, as it’s mostly about looking at numbers. However, the emotional aspect of the goal should be addressed separately. If what you’re trying to attain is a feeling of liberation, the implication is you’re not feeling that now. So what are you feeling? I would ask my client to work up something to capture those thoughts – a written page, a list, a collage. It’s important to be able to look back at something tangible once the goal is achieved.

When each goal has a satisfactory starting point, the next thing we work on is the all-important vision. But that’s another column for another day. Tune in next week. We’ve only just begun.

Nancy Colasurdo is a practicing life coach and freelance writer. Her Web site is www.nancola.com. Please direct all questions/comments to FOXGamePlan@gmail.com.