Setting & Achieving Goals

Whether you're a student, a mother, a businessman, or career person, you have your own set of goals you want to achieve. However, there are times that you might feel overwhelmed by obstacles or become preoccupied with other things that you tend to give up on doing things leading towards your goals. You become unsuccessful and don't achieve your goals simply because you have lost focus on them.

Goal-setting is an important process to achieving our dreams and desires. Without clearly-defined goals, we have a tendency to flounder rather than flourish. But most of us struggle in organizing our hopes into a step-by-step process.

Are your goals specific?
Many people make the mistake of generalizing their goals. For example, if the goal is weight loss, they simply say, "I want to be thin," or "I want to lose some weight." A goal needs to be specific. It needs to be something quantifiable and within a specific time period. Write down exactly what you want to accomplish. (i.e. "I want to lose 50 pounds by December 31, 2006.")

Are your goals achievable?
By achievable, we mean realistic and attainable. You might unconsciously have set a goal that anyone will really have a hard time achieving, even if they had the means and the time to do so. Goals also need to be both challenging and realistic. While having something to work towards instills motivation, having a goal that is unrealistic will only create frustration. And as in the weight loss example, a goal that is too extreme can lead to health risks. Make sure your goal is something that is attainable and beneficial -- not only in the end result but in the process as well.

One thing you can do is break down your goals into small, realistic goals, set against reasonable time frames. Oftentimes, you'll be able to achieve your bigger goals if you work on achieving the smaller goals leading to those. The important thing is to make your goals as realistic and as achievable as you can.

Do you really believe in your abilities?
It is true that the only person whom your success hugely depends on is yourself. So, do you believe enough in yourself and in what you can do to achieve your goals? Self-doubt is your biggest adversity and the biggest obstacle you will come across on your way to your success. Could it be that you have lost focus of your goals because you unconsciously set aside having to deal with your self-doubts?

Do you have a feasible plan on how you can achieve your goals?
After you have set your goal, create the steps to attain it. You should also have checkpoints of progress to keep yourself focused. For example, if your goal is to lose 50 pounds within 7 months, you might have a list of steps that include a specific diet plan and a detailed workout routine, with progress goals of 7 pounds per month. Then have monthly weigh-ins with your doctor or at the gym to monitor your results.

Yes, you know what you want, but do you know how you can get what you want? Would you be needing a special kind of technical or artistic training to achieve your goals? Or maybe further educational studies? Do you have a set plan of action that will lead to the achievement of your goals? What things, both tangible and intangible, do you need that will aid you in reaching your goals?

Take a moment to sit down and list the things you would need and make your plan of action. This is a good time to break them down into small, realistic goals and then take them one day at a time!

Are you spreading yourself too thinly?
Sometimes, it's better to work on one goal at a time, rather than doing and shooting for so many goals all at the same time. For one, doing so will hinder you from achieving each goal faster, and for another thing, you will not be able to focus your full energy on one goal. You will constantly be running and trying to achieve one goal after another and this usually results to you not being able to achieve any one of those. Prioritize your goals and then start with either your top priority or the most realistic goal. You'll discover for yourself that you are able to do more and achieve more using this approach.

Do you easily give up?
Along with asking if you believe in your ability to achieve your goals, this is the second most important question you should ask yourself. Yes, you do the steps necessary to achieving your goals, but after one or two failures, do you give up and not try again? Persistence and patience are the keys to achieving your goals and eventual success. Always remember that it is very rare that a person achieves total success or attains his goals in his first try. If people did, there would be no need to build self-confidence, patience and persistence in oneself.

Once you have everything mapped out, seek out ways to stay motivated. Some people work well with a buddy-system -- having a friend holding them accountable to their goals. Others use reward systems as an encouragement. For example, if you meet your first step in your goal, give yourself a treat to some small indulgence. Find whatever works best for you to keep motivated and stay focused on your end result.

All of these principles can be summed up with an acronym used frequently by goal management experts: SMART. According to Paul J. Meyer in "Attitude Is Everything," goals need to be:

S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Action-oriented
R - Realistic
T - Tangible

So stop simply thinking about your dreams, and start planning on how to actualize them. Set SMART goals and put them into action!

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