7 AWESOME STEPS TO SET AND ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS - EVERY TIME!

7 AWESOME STEPS TO SET AND ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS – EVERY TIME! 

Achieving complex and difficult goals requires focus, long-term diligence and effort. Success in any field requires forgoing excuses and justifications for poor performance or lack of adequate planning; in short, success requires emotional maturity. The measure of belief that people have in their ability to achieve a personal goal also affect that achievement.

It’s been said that everyone has goals, whether we know it or not. We have goals to keep our current job, or to get a different one. We have goals to save for the future, or

to travel, take a vacation, or purchase the things we need and want to make our lives more enjoyable. Achieving set goals is neither as simple as the English alphabets nor difficult as rocket science. Inability to achieve goals is due to individual shortcomings than environmental influence.

What is a goal?

A goal can be simplified as the object of person’s ambition or effort, an aim or desired result. A goal can also be termed as a desired result that a person envisions, plans and commits to achieve a personal desired end-point. Bottom-line, a goal is a cognitive vision or a carefully hatched plan set out to accomplish a much craved result.

A goal is something we want so much that we make concerted efforts to reach it. However, most people mistake want for goal whereas, they are completely different but closely related entities. A want is more like a fantasy while a goal is a pre-conceived reality. For example, a person might nicer car than he current affords to own, but it’s not really one of his goals. It only becomes his goal the moment he tags it with a degree of priority and work towards turning it to reality.

An important distinction, however, is that to achieve your goals, you must be very intentional and focused and also know that the wording, structure, timing and format of your goal can make it’s achievement much easier – or far more difficult. You must understand the basic skills for setting and reaching goals, every time! You must know how to design goals that create success.

Here are the 7 most important steps to set and achieve your goals:

1. Define your goal: The very first and most important step is to delineate and be specific with the goal you want to achieve. You have to act assertively and be precise with your goal. You must convince yourself with exactly and precisely, what you are trying to accomplish. Never word a goal with indefinite terms like some or a little bit or more. Be specific! If you want to lose 10 kg in a month, specify the exact numbers. If you want to save #5000 this month, be exact. This will help create a gulf between your set of wants and goals. You accomplish almost anything if you attached a definite meaning to it.
2. Set surmountable goals: One of the reasons why most people’s goals fizzle out halfway is that they embark on goals that are neither visible nor feasible in their spectrum. They map out astronomical goals that will eventually result to white elephant projects. As a goal setter, you should abide by the rule of simplicity. Set simple creative goals. You can’t be dreaming of owning a Power Bike when your salary is not enough to get a bicycle. Work towards owning a BMX bicycle first. Keep your goals simple, clear, and focused.
3. Give deadline: Setting deadline for your goal will push and spur you towards achieving it in due time. This will help eliminate laxity and implement a positive drive towards quick realization of the goal. Vagueness should be avoided when setting deadline. For example, saying, “I want own a house before the end of the year” is too indefinite. Attributing a specific figure to your goal will make it more realizable. Rather say, “I want to own a house by September, 2015.” Deadline may bring about anxiety but it will definitely push you to break grounds so as to achieve that particular goal.
4. A goal at a time: Never make the mistake of compiling or combining several goals. This will only give you more propensities not to achieve any of the goals. Running goals concurrently may sound like a good idea but will only make you brood on so many things without achieving anything at the end of the day. Poco a poco should be the order of the day. I know we’ve got lots of things we want to change about our lives. But those changes can only be effectuated if we do not muddle everything together. How can this be done? Simple! Lay all your goals bare on a scale of preference. Pick the most significant one(s). Focus and work solely on it and. This will not only ensure you achieve the goal in due time but also create space and time for other goals to materialize.
5. Try new tricks: Employ new plots and ideas whenever it seem like you goal is moving off tracks. Always have a contingency plan and be ready to tweak your formation to support the quick materialization of your goal.
6. Be unique: It has always been said that there is nothing new under the sun. Almost everything on this planet has been done by someone else already at one time or another. It is very okay to imitate someone's template but it must be done with discretion. Usually, achievements aren’t rocket science. Analyze what you've to do to achieve your goal. What do you have in common with the person who has already attained a goal similar to yours? What else do you need to have or need to change about yourself? What obstacles are in your way and how can you overcome them? What are the ingredients to be added to make your contribution unparalleled? The key to success is following someone else's example while making your own contribution unique. "A successful life is one that is lived through understanding and pursuing one’s own path, not chasing after the dreams of others." – Chin-Ning Chu
7. Don’t give up: At times, the desired result we craved that made us embark on a goal may not be achieved. That’s the exact point you know the true hallmark of an achiever, the never-say-die attitude. When it feels like you won’t beat the deadline, don’t give up and strive harder. Don’t ever give up on your goals no matter how hard it may seem. You’ll pull through in the end if you remain steadfast.

Finally, we've come to the end of today's inspirational edition of Success Stimulants. I'm so glad you joined us today. I hope to see you again next Wednesday. Until then, do enjoy the rest of the week. Stay positive!

"The big secret in life is there is no secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work" - Oprah Winfrey