Success is the end product of great goals. Perhaps, that’s why GOALS is an acronym for Godly Objectives Assure Lasting Success. It’s almost impossible to succeed without goals. They give focus and direction to your life. Contrary to popular belief, setting goals don’t only allow you to take control of your life’s direction. They also give you a benchmark to know whether you are succeeding or not. So, in this article, you will learn some of the ways to set great goals and how to achieve them.
However, the best way to accomplish your goals is to set them the right way. Goal setting is not something you simply say, and it happens. It’s a process that requires you to consider what you want to achieve, and how to work tirelessly towards achieving it.
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So, here are strategic ways to set great goals:
#1. Set Goals That Motivate You
One of the best ways to set great goals is to ensure that your goals motivate you. As a rule, never set your goals because of other people. If you do, the chances of achieving them will be slim.
It’s essential to set your goals in line with what you want in life. Ensure that every aspect of the goals are important, and the result is valuable to your successful journey. With this, you will always put in the necessary work to achieve your goals. And if things become more challenging than expected, you will be motivated to keep moving.
Again, it’s essential to have only a few goals at a time. You tend to lose focus if you want to achieve too many things at a time. And in most cases, you may end up not achieving anything.
Additionally, every great goal can’t achieve itself. You need to put in the necessary work. Otherwise, your beautiful goal will be in the dreamworld like many others.
Commitment to set goals is what differentiates successful entrepreneurs from the crowd. It increases your chances of success, gives you a sense of urgency, and triggers the “I must do it” attitude in you.
#2. Tackle Your Scary Thoughts
I don’t think anybody is immune to fear. Sometimes, when we think of achieving our goals, fear creeps into our minds. It’s normal, but you must learn to tackle these scary thoughts because it’s one of the ways to set great goals.
Of course, setting great goals comes with scary thoughts like – what if I can’t do it? What if I fail?
Try to be realistic with yourself. Pick up a pen and paper, and write down all the scary negative thoughts you are having about your goals. Reflect on these thoughts and think of ways to tackle them. For instance, you can point out some of the positive outcomes of achieving the plans, and they will help you have a positive mindset about your goals. With this approach, your chances of achieving your goals will be high.
If your goal is to achieve a particular financial milestone before the end of the year, you will have several scary thoughts about achieving the goals. A voice may tell you that “I am no good with money”, and another voice may tell you that “my income is not big enough to achieve such a financial milestone.”
These thoughts may discourage you from achieving the financial goal you set for yourself until you find a way to handle them.
#3. Your Goals Should Be SMART
If you are an entrepreneur, you should know about SMART goals. But how often do you apply this rule? For you to easily achieve your goal, it should be SMART. It’s an acronym for
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable
- Relevant
- Time-Bound
Set Specific goals
One of the ways to set great goals is to make them specific. People often make the mistake of setting generalized or vague goals. These goals aren’t achievable because they aren’t clear, well defined, and more importantly, they won’t give you direction. But if your goals are specific and precise, it’s easier to achieve.
Set Measurable Goals
Every great goal should be measurable. Ensure you have a system in place that helps you measure your goal and identify areas that require improvement.
Set Attainable Goals
Again, it’s important that every goal you set is attainable. Trust me; if you set goals beyond your reach, you may give up before you even start. Because the more you analyze the goal, the more demoralized you will become.
Set Relevant Goals
I earlier mentioned that it’s wrong to set goals because of other people. It will only make you lose focus and motivation when you encounter little challenges.
So, ensure that your goals are in line with the direction you want your personal and professional life to take. It’s easier to achieve goals linked with your personal and professional goals because when things are hard, you will always see the bigger picture.
Set Time-Bound Goals
One of the best ways to set great goals is to give them deadlines. That’s what creates a sense of urgency and the motivation to achieve your goals despite the setbacks involved.
#4. Set Your Goals in Writing
Of course, you can’t set your goals in your mind. You need to write them down, that’s what makes them real and tangible. Once you pen down your goals, you have no excuse to forget them. And always post the goals in places where you can easily see and act on them.
#5. Make an Action Plan
Setting great goals isn’t enough. You must have an action plan in place to achieve these goals. Unfortunately, people miss out on this crucial step. Yet, it’s one of the best ways to set great goals.
Your action plans outline the tasks you need to accomplish to achieve your goals. Of course, an action plan is different from a to-do list because the former focuses on achieving a single goal, while the latter focuses on several smaller goals.
An effectively designed action plan helps you accomplish tasks in the proper order. It also ensures that you adhere to every step involved in achieving your goals.
Wrapping Up
Goal setting is the first step in every successful journey. And it goes beyond a mere saying that you want something to happen. People who achieve their goals always clearly define what they want and understand why they want it.
Don’t worry; the ways to set great goals discussed in this article will guide you to achieving your goals easily.
