The Importance of Goals and how to Achieve them
Why are Goals important? Because data shows that success is more likely if your goals are clear, written and followed by actions. How to turn your Goals from ideas into actions and realized results? Read on to find out and get the free Guide to Goal Setting.
Why set Goals?
Create Clarity - know what you want
Gain Focus - know how to get it
Increase Success - know when you have achieved it
“People work better when they know what the Goal is and why.”
People not only work better, but they are also happier when they have goals and achieve them - and not just for work, but in life in general.
Why Goals make you more Successful?
Ever listen to an interview with a successful person? They are they Goal driven. Why? Without direction, you can drift through life, letting things just happen to you, or worse, or letting others decide for you.
Some of us may set goals, but they have no shape, actions, or outcomes. Or we may be setting the bar too low for ourselves. So we achieve goals that are more like 'to-do' actions. The tasks that get us through the day.
“The great danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark. ”
So what do Successful Goals look like? Why are they important, and how to Set Goals?
What does Success mean to you?
Many times the thought of Success is one-dimensional. "To be rich, thin, or famous." These may be desires, but are they Goals? And are they the right Goals for you?
Consider what you want from life.
If you don't know, try working with a Mentor to help you consider your goals. I have several posts on how to Find a Mentor, and Start a Mentoring Process and more.
Goal Setting works.
If you get into the mindset of “creating goals to accomplish your dreams, then you will do just that.”
Goals help you to be the person you want to be. They give life purpose. But you need to know what that purpose should be. So take time to think about your goals. What does Success look like for you? Remember, Success is a subjective measure - it can be anything that gives you purpose, health, or happiness.
You can also try self-mentorship. I have had great personal Success using the "Future Self Journey" to consider my Goals deeply.
Today, I live the life I imagined for myself over 10 years ago.
So think about where you want to grow or change. Then take action to make it happen.
If I can misquote Ben Franklin for a moment -
Goals are the stuff that life is made of.
How to Start Goal Setting
Getting started can be the hardest part of Successful Goal completion. Fast track your Goal creation with my Free Guide to Goal Setting.
1. Define your Goal
Make 1 long-term and 2-3 short-term goals.
A long-term Goal generally has a large life impact, takes time to realize, and is made of smaller steps. Many people consider the longer goal part of their life plan.
Example:
Get a college education
Build a house
Become debt-free
A short-term Goal can be a step toward the long-term Goal or something complementary to it.
Example:
Apply to a School
Read a book on architecture
Start a side-hustle
2. Make a Plan
See the Guide to Goal Setting and follow along with making your own plan!
Once you have a Goal, make it real and create actionable steps. Create a Goal Post to help you think about your Goal every day. This will remind you to check the actions you need to focus on for the week.
Make SMART Goals
This is your Summary page - so post it where you work to stay focused on your goal.
Specific - So you can imagine it in detail
Measurable - So you know if you have reached it
Achievable - a challenge, but still doable
Realistic - you have what you need to make it happen
Time-based - you have tasks and dates to action them
Write out your Goal
The term SMART Goal is used a lot (especially from Project Managers). That is because it works. Make it detailed, make it real.
Summarize your Milestones
Milestones are stages within the Goal. These can also be short-term Goals. Milestones create stand-alone moments or Goal Posts that move you closer to your larger Goal.
Make a Goal Post
Set yourself "Goal Posts" - Something for your wall to look at every day. Make these Goal Posts Meaningful for you. If you like:
Data - use numbers to imagine seeing every day
Words - use a quote you repeat every day
Pictures - draw your new reality
Plan for Success
Be clear about what you need to succeed with your Goals. What supporting goals will help you reach your long term goal? Where you will need help.
Don't get stopped before you get started.
Think about what your roadblocks may be and make a plan to address them. (see more on Roadblock below)
Create your Action Items
This is where the work gets real. Detail the steps you need and when you need them done. Use my Guide, or use an online tool (like Trello).
Break down your goals into achievable tasks
Review your Actions regularly. Do something from your task list every day. This gives you momentum. Doing one small action every day is easier than an overwhelming task looming at the end of each week. So keep tasks simple, short, and doable.
3. Make Yourself Accountable
Create accountability by sharing your Plan with others. It can be family or a friend. Some Goals work well using the 'Buddy system.'
If possible, agree with your Buddy to work toward a shared goal together.
Examples:
Getting fit? Buddy up to go for a walk twice a week
Taking a course? Study together
Is friendly competition your thing? Compare your Success and push each other to do even better
If your 'Buddy' and you don't share the same goals, you can still use the process to have someone to report to and cheer you on.
Examples:
Meet weekly and report on Progress
Share outcomes and challenges
Celebrate milestones
4. Review your Progress
Set a regular schedule for Plan and Self Assessment.
Are you achieving your written Plan? Great! Update your chart and check off the completed steps.
Are you realizing the Goal internally (are you working or feeling different)? Great! Note your Progress in Goal Posts.
If you are not realizing your Plan - take stock of the situation.
Don't consider these moments of review failure. Consider these lessons learned on the Road to Success! With this mindset, you can work on self-assessment and revising your Plan instead of feeling defeated.
Regularly Measure Progress
Note the date
Compare Planned versus Actual progress
Note Goal Results
Keep track of lessons learned to approve your approach next time
You know you've got this - you just need to fine-tune things.
So Consider:
Is it harder than you thought?
Review your Plan and add an action every day in your calendar. By setting time aside time in your day using a calendar entry or alarm, you teach yourself that Goals are achieved through regular, small steps.
Do the steps take more time than initially estimated?
Update your Plan with more realistic timing. Be honest about procrastination. Don't give yourself so much time that you lose momentum. Plan the time you need to give your Goal real effort needed to complete tasks successfully. (Note: successfully, not mean perfectly - do your best and keep moving forward).
Are you not focused on the Goal?
Did something change in your motivation? Review your Plan and your Why Statement.
If you are not committed to the idea, what changed? Why? If things have really changed, no worries, life happens, and reset your Goal to one that works for your life now. But don't use 'life happens has a cop out.'
Check the Roadblocks below to see if something else is keeping you from Success.
If you are still committed to the idea, then ask yourself what is stopping you from your Goal.
Are you hitting Roadblocks? Assess and update your Goal - Roadblock Action Planner.
How to overcome Goal Roadblocks
Lacking Confidence?
Doing small things will give you the motivation to keep going. So break down tasks and use the Goal-Setting Guide to track Success.
Review your Plan: spend time visualizing or meditating on it
Meet with your Buddy and review your successes so far
Use the comments below to share your Goal and get a "You've Got This!" from me.
No Time?
This is a big one. Goals take time. We have so little in the day for work, rest, and to action our Goals. How to make time?
Start your day with your Goal action. (Start your day with Success in mind)
Stop the time-wasters (I'm talking to you: social media)
Build your Time Management Skills (see my tips on how)
Feeling Stress?
Goals may feel stressful because you are growing and challenging yourself. After all, the nature of a Goal is to do something new.
Check your mindset. Is it an 'out of your comfort zone' stress? In which case, pat yourself on the back. Reward yourself for making changes even when you feel scared.
If you are overwhelmed by the workload you have set yourself or the feeling of failure, review your Goal plan and make it more reasonable. But keep moving forward.
Doing something new always has an element of stress to it. But the fact is, not setting goals can be equally stressful. Research done by The Harvard Business Review shows that stress is a problem for many people. Especially micro-stress associated with "misalignment of rules and priorities."
In summary, this is stress from requirements and goals that others apply to you. You can minimize the impact of this ‘misalignment stress’ by creating a personal Goal that is aligned with who you are and what you want. Taking charge of your own life, consistent with your values, is the best way to keep the 'pressures from the outside world' in check.
Still, feeling stressed? 3 more ideas to try:
Keep it small and simple. Have you overdone it? Update your Plan with smaller and simpler steps.
Example: Instead of "apply to a school," Make it 3 to 5 smaller steps.
Check the school website.
Gather the required documents.
Create a list of questions for the school.
Call the enrollment office.
Make an appointment with the counselor.
Just making a more detailed list will make you feel more in control. And create clearer actions for you to follow.
Keep it real
Suppose you are overwhelmed by the size of the Goal. Take time to review your objective. You want to aim high, but not so high you lose faith in yourself. Also, consider if the Goal is meant to be achieved.
"A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves simply as something to aim at." – Bruce Lee
I agree with Bruce Lee (who wouldn't?). I have been successful with goals that are partially reached. Goals are not about perfection but about progress. Maybe I will realize my Goal, but maybe it has been realized. If needed, re-evaluate your Success.
Give yourself Grace
Nobody's perfect, and sometimes "life happens while you are busy making other plans." So be kind to yourself and keep moving forward toward your Goal. Even if you ‘trip and fall’, get up and keep going.
5. Celebrate and Create a new Goal
Your life is a journey. So enjoy your progress and celebrate the milestones. And when you reach that Goal - make it a big deal.
Reward the fact that you have:
Created a plan and achieved it
Grown as a person
Taken charge of your life
You have done something only about 3% of the population does. You Rock!
Meeting your Goal felt good, am I right? So make a new one that takes on your next Challenge. You have a new life journey ahead. Good luck!
I would love to know if this information was inspirational or helpful to you. If you want to share your Goal - please do! Let me know if you have questions or if there is a point I didn't cover. And I will update the Guide to include your ideas and input.
Thanks for your time!
