How to Set the Most Effective Goals (Part 2 of 3)

Did you know that sadly, 97% of people never set their goals in the proper manner? This is why it should come as no surprise that within weeks of each new year, most have abandoned their hopes of accomplishing the goals they had set.

This 3-part email series on goal setting is designed to ensure that does not happen to you.

Setting effective goals is not only a key component of personal and professional success, but is also critical for overall life satisfaction, well-being and fulfillment.

While it's great to have the ambition to set goals, it's also important to set them in a manner that will give you the best chance of achieving them.

Here are five effective steps to take when setting goals that will set you up to successfully accomplish them.

1. Identify Your Goal(s)

Be sure to specify exactly what it is that you want to achieve in each area of life and write it down. Writing down your goals can help to provide clarity and focus.

Areas may include:

• Travel (where & how)
• Marriage (activities, time spent)
• Vehicle (type, color, options)
• Home (size, style, color)
• Money (savings, investments)
• Career (income, benefits, promotions)
• Family (education, activities, time spent)
• Health (weight, exercise, energy)
• Spiritual (study time, service involvement)
• Mind (education, reading, memory)
• Etc.

Then go through your list of goals and write one sentence or less as to WHY you want that item. If you can’t easily write that one sentence as to “why” it’s important to you, delete it.

2. Set a Deadline

Write down the date that you intend to accomplish each goal by. Without a clearly defined date for the accomplishment of each goal, it is not likely to happen.

3. List the Obstacles

Take time to write out any obstacles that could get in your way and hinder your plans. After exhausting all potential people, places and things that could derail your good intentions, decide what steps you will take to prohibit those obstacles from stopping you.

4. Develop a Plan

Having a goal without a plan is just a dream, and most dreams don’t come true.

Take the time to break down your goals into smaller milestones and create a plan of action by determining what small tasks are needed each day in order to reach each milestone.

This can help to keep you motivated and on track. It is extremely helpful to wake up each day knowing what steps you must take in order to reach your intended goal on your desired timeline.

5. List the Benefits

Write down why you want to achieve these goals. In other words, write down what is in it for you by achieving them.

List all the benefits you will enjoy by accomplishing the goals you have set.

In closing, if you follow these five steps when initially setting your goals, you are well on your way to setting very effective goals that carry with them a high probability that you will accomplish them, if…

…you can execute the last bit of advice that I will share in next week’s Wisdom Wednesday email, How to Accomplish the Goals That You Set.

If you’d like to hear the most recent interview on my “Life's Hard, Succeed Anyway” podcast, with Dean Ives, who in 2015 lost his 11-year-old daughter to cancer, you can listen and subscribe here.

Until next time,