How to Set and Reach Goals

If you do not have goals, how do you expect to achieve them? Every year, I hear people talk about Losing weight, stopping smoking, getting in shape or getting out of debt. All worthy goals, but you have to do something about them. “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” (Antoine de Saint Exupery)   Do you have dreams and aspirations? Of course you do! What is your plan to achieve your dreams and aspirations?

Goals

Simply obsessing about goals will not help you achieve them! Working hard will not work either! Working toward goals is something everyone should do, but few achieve their goals. Is it because the goals are not Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely (SMART goals)? No! When I was young, I remember adults asking me what I wanted to do as a career. Very few told me how to do it! Setting goals is only part of the solution. You need a plan.

Plan

A plan details how you get to your destination or goal. It is sort of a road map. Breaking down a huge goal is part of planning. If a cake is the goal, then a recipe is the plan. So you develop a plan for your goals. It is really detailed to actually include daily and weekly tasks. You monitor your progress and adjust your efforts. It sounds like you are on your way or are you? Focus and concentration is important too.

Focus on your Goals

Keep it simple so you can easily focus and concentrate on the goal. Keep your goal in front of you so you can focus on it. I would make up signs and put it on the mirror, in the car and on my desk. I put signs all over so I would not lose focus or forget what was important. It is not easy to keep focused and concentrate on your goal. It doesn’t stop there! You must concentrate on your plan and perform the tasks to achieve the goal. If I keep the goal in front of me, I cannot forget it or lose focus.

Compelling Reason

Think about your last goal. Maybe you wanted to lose weight, start a business or make a change. Why did you fail? Was it because you lost focus or concentration? Maybe! It was probably because you did have a strong enough reason to achieve the goal. Of course I did, I wanted to lose the weight to be healthier. Your reason must be stronger or more important than the difficulties of achieving your goal. What is going to get you through those days as you change your habits to achieve your goals?

It is hard work to establish or change your habits to achieve a goal. You need a compelling reason because change is difficult. What works for some will not work for everyone? It is personal! You need to find a reason or motivation that works for you. When I was on a diet and discouraged with the amount of weight loss, I devised a strategy that worked for me. I changed my diet and activity level. What works for you?

Strategy

My plan has daily tasks similar to a check list. I know that I must perform those tasks every day and I hold myself accountable for completing them each and every day. Is it discipline, focus or concentration? Could it be obsession? I do not know, but it works because I achieve the results. I apply this strategy to all my goals, personal or professional. I have a reputation of getting things done! Sometimes, I fail, but I always learn from it.

Failure can be a very good lesson. Monitoring your progress and adjusting your efforts is important. Reflecting on mistakes or failure is a good way to learn why you did not succeed. Sometimes, I learn more from my mistakes than from my successes. I wrote an article about Successful vs. Unsuccessful People focusing on traits that make them successful. Successful people do not quit!

Quitting is not an option. My determination keeps me trying when others give up. Many people give up too soon. They get discouraged and quit. Losing weight is typical of people quitting too soon. What do you do when you are faced with difficulty? Do you give up? If you did not succeed, you gave up! Did you make a good effort? Why not? Making a sufficient effort is key to success.

Final Thoughts

What do you want to achieve in your life? Make it important by making it the focus of your effort. Find reasons for success, they call it motivation. Develop your plan to achieve your goals. A good plan includes daily, weekly or monthly tasks to reach your goal. You have to stay focused on those tasks to reach your goals. When you fail, keep going! Successful people fail often, but they keep trying. What are you going to do? What is your plan? How do you achieve your goals?

Photo by: Flickr