If you’re like most of us you’ve probably made some attempts at goal setting in the past or had goals lumped in your lap - perhaps in a work context or on the sporting field.
But there’s a big difference between the experience of saying we have a goal and the art of setting goals and then actually achieving those goals.
So...
What is Goal Setting?
A goal is defined as “the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.” Setting goals at its simplest is determining what result you wish to achieve. Effective goal setting that produces results is a little more... scientific.
Why Bother?
Before we dive further into how to set and achieve goals, let’s take a quick look at why you’d put in the effort in the first place.
If you're like me you’ve had the experience of setting a goal (perhaps a new year's resolution) only to seemingly fail before February is over - or getting to the next new year and not even remembering what goals were set. So why bother?
Goals are the magic sauce that turns “I wish I…” or “if only I…” from pipe dream to lived reality.
You actually need them! Because:
1. Goals provide you with a pre-determined result:
Walking through life without goals is like walking through an unknown city without a map. You don’t know where you will end up. While this might suit some people, or make sense at some stages of life, if you want to achieve anything specific, you need to determine what those things are.
2. Goals are part of your human nature and increase your happiness:
Goal setting is part of how we're all wired. That means you thrive on setting and achieving goals. Every time you achieve something you set out to do your brain provides you with a reward in the form of a dopamine hit. You feel the most happiness while you’re working towards a desired result and achieving milestones along the way.
3. Goals provide focus: Goals focus your attention. Your human capacity to problem solve is enormous, and when that capacity is focused on a specific goal you will find ways to achieve those goals!
Get those obstacles out of the way
If goal setting is so effective then why don’t more people do it? Here are some of the common obstacles to goal setting...
1. Not knowing how
You know what a goal IS but when it comes down to setting some goals you just hit a brick wall. “Where do I start?” “How many goals do I set?” “How ambitious should the goals be?” “Which one do I take on first?”
If that’s you and the process seems overwhelming, keep reading for the 6 steps to goal setting.
2. Fear of failure
You know HOW to set a goal, but if the fear takes hold that after commiting to a goal you’ll fail... that can just prevent you from setting goals in the first place. “What if I set a real goal, a goal that means something and I don’t achieve it?”
The fear of failure never goes away completely but keep reading for tips on how to keep working through the fear.
3. Previous failure
Perhaps you’ve tried setting goals before and didn’t achieve them. You might feel goal setting doesn’t work. There are many reasons why you might not achieve your goals but it’s not time to throw in the towel just yet! (Otherwise you wouldn’t even be reading this!)
Keep reading for the 6 steps to goals setting and see where you may have become blocked before.
4. Fear of commitment Setting a goal requires commitment. You’ll see in the goal setting steps below that goal setting involves acknowledging the sacrifices you’ll need to make. If that commitment seems overwhelming then simply not setting a goal allows you to push away those feelings.
The key here is to acknowledge this fear and be realistic about the commitment you can make but not allow fear to prevent you from achieving what you really want!
The 6 Steps to Goal Setting
Step 1: Set your goals
Most people find it helpful to think about their goals in categories and to set a few initial goals in each category. The categories might vary a bit from person to person but generally, we can fit goals into the following 5 categories:
Work
Relationships
Health
Personal development and or Spirituality
Finances
Once you’re happy with your categories, set 3 goals in each category by asking yourself these questions:
“Where do I want to be long term in this category?” For example, in the work category this might mean securing a partnership or role in the c-suite. Or it might mean starting your own business or increasing your income. In the health category this might mean living a long and active life or managing an existing health condition to the best of your ability. (For more examples check out the Goal Setting Template).
“What do I need to do in order to get on track for where I want to be long term?” For example, if you wish to become a partner in your firm and you’re a junior right now, you may need to get a promotion to the next rung. Or if you’re looking for a c-suite role you may need to look for a new job opportunity. If you want to live a long and active life you may need to quit smoking or lose weight or start exercising.
Looking at the three goals you have set in each category pick the top priority for that category by asking:
“Is the goal realistic?”
“When achieved, which one of these goals will have the greatest impact on my life in this area?”
Once you have picked a top goal for every category move on to step 2.
Step 2: Write why achieving that goal is important to you
Look at each top goal and write down why achieving that goal is so important. What will achieving that goal mean for your life? What difference will it make? What will it enable you to do?
Your reason should make you feel excited about achieving that goal. This reason is going to be important every time you face an obstacle, every time you have to get up at 5am or say no to something else you’d rather do in the moment..
Step 3: Determine what you will have to give up to achieve that goal
Theodore Roosevelt once said:
“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty.”
If your goals are worth achieving it’s going to cost! Be realistic about what achieving this goal is going to cost you. What will you need to give up?
Just as your reason for achieving your goal is important for helping you to continue to work towards your goal when things get tough, being realistic, and acknowledging what you're prepared to give up will help you stay on track to achieve those goals.
Step 4: The “One Goal”
Now, looking at all the top goals you’ve set, which ONE of the goals, when achieved, will have the greatest impact on your life? This is usually the one goal that trumps others.
You can’t work at all your goals at the same time. You need to pick one and start and make progress there. It doesn’t mean you can’t make progress towards other goals at the same time but you can’t focus all your energy on a number of different goals.
If your goals include getting a promotion and getting fit you need to decide where to start. If you’re feeling lethargic and unmotivated you may prioritise getting fit first. Once you’ve established new sleeping, eating and fitness habits and you can see results in how you feel, you can now tackle the goal of getting a promotion. The health habit is in the bag - so no goal juggling to overwhelm you. And now you actually have the energy to take on all that’s required to get that promotion!
But you need to start with that One Goal. So...
Step 5: Create a plan to achieve your One Goal
1. Determine what you need to know to achieve your goal Where are the knowledge gaps you’ll need to fill in order to achieve your goal? e.g. If your goal is to write and publish a book but you have no idea on how the publishing process works, that’s a knowledge gap. Work out your knowledge gaps - and write them down.
2. Map the milestones on the way to the goal Milestones are the major steps along the way to achieving your goal. In the book-writing example, a book proposal might be a milestone. Think through your milestones - and write them down.
3. Decide when you will achieve each milestone
Set a due date for each of your milestones to keep yourself accountable and on track - and write them down.
4. List the tasks for each milestone
Determine all the tasks you need to do in order to achieve each milestone. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the tasks right now, just write out all the tasks you can think of for each milestone and keep working on and adding to the list along the way. For ideas on how to manage an ongoing project task list check out this post.
Step 6: Systematically work on your goals every day
This is the hardest part. No shortcuts here! You have to put in the work to achieve your goal. Use your milestone to-do list (created above) to systematically chip away at your tasks. You’ve probably heard the saying “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” The way to achieve your goals is to work on them consistently.
Don’t worry if your milestone to-do list is looking a bit short, or you don't know exactly how you’ll get the whole way to your goal.
Do your research and start with the first step. Consistently work towards your goal and the path forward will become clearer and clearer.
Have you found goal setting to be helpful? What’s been the biggest struggle for you? Let me know in the comments below.
Related Posts:
Further Resources:
Goals by Brian Tracy
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
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