Set Goals to Achieve Success

1. The Importance of Setting Goals

Goal setting is one of the most important steps to achieving success in life. There are many benefits to goal setting, but this article will talk specifically about how it can help you achieve success.  

Goal setting is not an easy process and it takes a lot of time and effort. However, there are many benefits to goal setting, including motivating you to work harder, smarter, and more efficiently. The benefits of goal setting extend beyond the individual as well. Organizations will see higher performances from the employees as goals incite them to work harder. It also makes organizations more productive as goals help people focus on what matters most in their jobs. Goal setting can be effective for even the smallest tasks such as cleaning up or completing that report by Monday morning. You don't need lofty ambitions like owning a company or taking over the world; just set realistic goals and develop a plan to achieve them.

2. How to Set Goals

It is important when setting goals to use the SMART goal framework. When using this framework, it is important to identify what is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-based. This will help you to set reasonable and obtainable goals that are specific in nature.

Using the smart goals framework helps you to think through what you are trying to achieve and how you will know if it is successful. And by using this framework, it is easier to get buy-in from stakeholders.

Specific - The goal is specific.  There is no misinterpretation of the goal itself.  

Measurable - You can measure if you have achieved the goal or not.  

Achievable - The goal is something that can be done.  

Realistic - Means the goal is possible and achievable based on the situation and circumstances that the goal is set in.

Time-Based - There is a time frame for completing the goal.  

3. Goal-Setting Tips and Tools for Success  

Some tips and tools for success are, considering the consequences, listing obstacles, focusing, and measuring toward success.  

When thinking about the consequences, consider what you might gain or lose by failing to achieve your objective. These variables, once discovered, may be strong motivators. It's critical to be truthful with oneself. If you truly care about it, you'll see it through.

By thinking through and listing the obstacles you can identify anything that could get in the way.  This allows you to minimize uncertainty and increase confidence. You may make plans to overcome any roadblocks that are discovered if you know what they are.

Focusing means you stay focused on your goals.  You don't start adding new objectives and changing plans mid-way though.  

Measuring success means, that you will set smaller achievements.  As you work towards the end goal you will know you are on the right track (or not!)  By measuring frequently as you go, you will stay on track to success.  

4. Examples of Good & Bad Goals

One example of a good goal is "I will lose 10 pounds, in the next 60 days, by exercising 3 times per week".  This is an example of a good goal because it allows you to know exactly what actions need to be taken, and when they need to happen.  This goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based.

One example of a bad goal is "I will live a more healthy lifestyle". This is an example of a bad goal because it doesn't make clear what actions need to be taken or when they are needed by.  Additionally, this goal isn't specific enough for you to know if you have succeeded.  

5. How to Achieve Your Goals

Hopefully, you defined a SMART goal and have your specific measurable goal.  In order to achieve your goal, you need to break it down into smaller steps.  You can help yourself by setting up a SMART goal action plan that is specific, measurable, achievable, and realistic; with both short-term (weekly) objectives as well as long-term objectives.

There is a Chinese Proverb you have probably heard:

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step".  

This is illustrative of how to achieve something great.  You break down the entire process to get to the end with the first action needed.  Once you know the first action, then it's as simple as doing the first small action.  This will help you to achieve your goal.

Don't forget to start taking action on the steps that will help you move toward achieving your first milestone!  You don't have to do everything at once, just make sure you are moving towards it daily/weekly.

6. What Happens When You Reach Your Goal(s)

I feel really accomplished when I've reached my goal(s) because it's given me a sense of closure and achievement.  And I bet you will too!  Aside from the obvious (actually getting the thing that was your goal originally) you also boost your confidence and have a real sense of accomplishment.  

When you reach a goal it boosts your confidence, because you know that the goal was something you could achieve. IF it was difficult, it shows that you have the power to do difficult things.  With this new awareness of your capabilities, you can start your next hairy audacious goal!

When you complete something challenging there is a sense of joy and accomplishment. The opposite is also true; when you fail at a goal it can be devastating to your self-image, which means trying again takes on greater significance.

The bottom line: When you set goals for yourself that are achievable, but not easy, they have the power to transform both what you do and who you are.

7. Reaching Your Next Level - Setting New, Even More Ambitious, Goals!

Congrats on making it to the end of the post.  Hopefully, you have started writing down a big audacious goal, and making a plan to achieve it!

Did you know that goal setting is one of the best ways to increase your personal productivity?  Even if you don't reach this specific goal, just having it written down somewhere will make sure that you get more done each day.

Setting goals is a lot like leveling up your life.  You increase your productivity and make sure you spend time on what is most important.  To continue leveling up your life, you need to set new goals that are even more ambitious.

Setting goals is one of the most important steps in achieving success. It's easy to get busy with work and lose sight of what you want for your life, but it only takes a few minutes every day to set some realistic goals that can help you achieve happiness. You may have heard about goal setting before, but did you know there are different types? We recommend SMART goal setting because it covers all five categories: Specific, Measurable, Attainable/Achievable (do-able), Realistic, Timely, or Timed correctly.

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If you're making goals related to marketing - check out our Marketing Goals post. We breakdown the main goals for most marketing campaigns.