There are several key aspects to setting goals in order to increase your chances of accomplishing them.
Goal setting is one of the most straightforward steps you can take on your path to becoming a high achiever. While many people claim to have goals, far fewer actually have them written down. Not surprisingly, even fewer people have a plan or take any action at all. If you want to become someone who not only sets goals but reaches them, follow the steps below.
- Write Down Your Goals
If your goals are only in your head, then they aren’t worth the paper they are written on. For goals to have any power, in fact, for a goal to even be a goal at all, you need to write them down.
- Be as Specific as Possible
Writing down something like “I want to make more money” isn’t a goal. It is merely a thought. A proper goal needs to be something more specific. It needs to have a well-defined ending. “I want to make $5000 more by the end of the year” is an example of a specific goal.
- Break Your Goals Down
Every time you set a goal, you should think about each step you will have to take to reach it. When you break your goals down into smaller, more actionable items, you are essentially creating an action plan to get there.
- Set Deadlines
Each goal you set should have some sort of deadline attached. This will create some much-needed urgency that should encourage you to take action. The timelines don’t have to be super aggressive, but you strive to hit them.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Think Big
Everyone will tell you about SMART goals. The R in that acronym stands for Reasonable. Yes, you should have reasonable goals that you can reach. This helps you from getting discouraged. That said, don’t be afraid to have a couple of really audacious goals as well. These bigger goals aren’t always reasonable, but they are often exciting and motivating.
- Learn From the People Who Reached Your Goals
No matter what your goals are, someone before you has likely reached them. There is nothing wrong with learning from their experience. If you want to make more money, then you should find people who have done it, and use what worked for them (and more importantly, avoid what didn’t).
- Build and Foster Your Support System
No matter what type of goals you have, they will be easier reached with support and help. Make sure your loved ones know your goals and don’t be afraid to ask for help along the way. This goes both ways, though. If you want someone to be there to support your goals, make sure you make an effort to support theirs.
- Create Rewards
Working tirelessly towards your goals is admirable, but don’t forget to enjoy the process and embrace your journey along the way. One of the best ways to do that is to reward yourself for meeting certain milestones. Don’t feel guilty about this either, as long as the reward doesn’t sabotage your goals; you can choose to be a little selfish.
- Take Action
Want the world’s biggest secret to reaching your goals? Taking action. Even one single step can build momentum. Some people think about their goals; others take it one step further and write them down. The people that achieve those goals, though? They take action.
