Goal Setting: How to Be Awesome

Several months ago I recommended in this article that fresh meat take some time to set goals.  The nice thing about writing articles like that is it forces you to practice what you preach and at that time I had yet to write down any specific goals for my own journey.  I inadvisably decided to do so late at night on a day that I had skated for five hours.  I was exhausted, didn't write much and immediately forgot about it. 
Several days later I saw a document on my desktop labeled, "Roller Derby Goals," and I thought, "oh yeah!  I was totally going to do that."  When I opened it this is what I saw:
1.  Be Awesome
2.  Make a Team
Well... what it lacks in specificity it makes up for in enthusiasm. 
So.  Goals.  How does one set them in ways that are actually helpful?  At some point, either in music school or business school I either read or was told that goals should be measurable, achievable and have some sort of a time frame.  Usually when I'm goal setting I'll indicate a time frame, what I want to do and specifically how I intend to do it.  People often forget that last part and it's really important.  With that in mind I revisited the above objectives and attempted to flesh them out a bit.
MAKE A TEAM
Q:  By when would you like to make a team?
A:  As soon as possible.  Preferably next Thursday, otherwise in May.
Q:  How will you know when you have made a team?
A:  This is a really stupid question for this goal.
Q:  What do you intend to do to help you make a team?
A:  I will set a consistant and reasonable cross training regimine and stick to it two or three times a week.  I will attend every practice unless I am seriously ill.  I will introduce myself to someone new at every league event. 
As you can see, for goals that are fairly specific you can come up with fairly specific ways to achieve them.  Just for fun, let's check out the same process for a broad-based goal...
BE AWESOME
Q:  What is your time frame for being awesome?
A:  I would like to be awesome today, and continue to be awesome every day thereafter for the rest of my life.
Q:  Being awesome is a fairly broad objective.  What does it mean to you?
A:  To me, being awesome means that I'm living in the present and giving the thing that I'm doing right now my full attention and energies.  It means that I listen to the people around me and fully consider the things I'm going to say before I say them.  It means that I try new ideas before dismissing them.  It means I respect myself enough to let mistakes go and congratulate my successes.
Q:  What specifically do you plan to do to accomplish these things?
A:  At work, I will pay attention to the big sign at my desk that asks, "What are you doing RIGHT NOW?"  At derby I will listen to every instruction for every drill as if it's the first time I heard it.  With people, I will ask questions and repeat information so that I fully understand what's being said before I respond to it.  I hereby pledge to try everything on skates (that's not unduly dangerous) at least once.  When I hear the inner voice of criticism begin to clear her throat I will clear my mind and remember the last time I cleared the pack for lead jammer, or did something else amazing on skates.
What do you want to do today?
<originally posted on 1.24.12>