A Step-By-Step Guide To Goal Setting

When it comes to pursuing our dreams, I've found that the only way to keep track of our progress is to set milestones. And not to cross off boxes on the proverbial dream-chasing checklist. Milestones show us what we've accomplished so far and help us realize how we can achieve even more.

This is where setting and achieving objectives come into play when it comes to pursuing our aspirations.

You will have read two things if you have ever paused to study any of the data or articles on goal setting.

1. People who don't have goals aren't as successful as they think they will be.
2. People who do not put down their goals are less likely to achieve them.

Over the previous ten years of dream chasing, I've seen how crucial goals are in the big picture of making your ambitions a reality. Goals help us develop and see milestones along the path, similar to how a life plan helps us create a plan for pursuing our aspirations.

Making Your Dreams Come True

We must decide to go all in when we decide to pursue our aspirations. In order to set effective goals, we must first decide what we want to accomplish, as I mentioned in my last post.

This is why setting goals comes after making a life plan. When we make a life plan, we have already decided where we want to go and where we are now.

Setting goals allows us to build markers and milestones along the route to realizing our dreams. Goals provide us with the motivation to persevere in the face of hardship as we pursue our aspirations.

In this piece, I'll share what I've learned about setting and achieving objectives.

Is Goal Setting Out Dated?

There was a strong push this year to avoid setting goals. People were talking about how bad it made them feel last year when they didn't reach their goals or how they never really followed through on them.

So, should we even try to achieve our dreams by setting goals?

Of course we should! For many people, the issue is that they haven't set goals that will help them succeed. And their failure to follow through due to fear or a lack of clear goals is holding them back.

About ten years ago, this was me. I used to establish objectives at the beginning of the year and then forget about them. I'd have these hazy, general thoughts of what I wanted to do, but I'd never put any action steps or plans in place to make it happen.

This is why objectives don't work.

And this guide will assist you in achieving your objectives. This book will assist you in setting goals that you can track and see through to completion. You will be provided a plan and actions to review and alter your goals in this guide. This strategy will enable you to succeed in creating and accomplishing your objectives.

As a result, your dreams will come true.

Make The Most Of Your Goals

You may learn how to set goals for each year in the section below. When it comes to setting goals for the year, one thing to keep in mind is that you can only set five to seven goals.

If you're looking to finish some really huge goals, five to seven goals are actually the most number you can accomplish in a year. With everything else going on in your life, trying to accomplish more than this can make it tough to spend time every month.

I used to try to set 10–12 goals for each year when I initially started. Despite this, I only completed one or two since I was overworked. Remember that 5–7 goals would suffice as milestones on your journey to your dreams.

You Need To Use The S.M.A.R.T.E.R Goal System

The S.M.A.R.T. goal system is undoubtedly familiar to you (specific, measurable, actionable, relatable, time-bound). This is an outstanding system. In truth, after growing exhausted from never achieving my objectives, I discovered this approach and began to see some of my objectives being met.

After that, I discovered the "ER" in goal-setting.

Let's get started utilizing the SMARTER System to create some goals. We'll walk you through each step to help you set goals that you can reach. Also, be aware of how this method might benefit you.

Specific

Isn't it rather straightforward? Simply write down something particular. What I'm trying to figure out is how particular I need to be. The answer is that the more particular you are, the easier it will be to quantify your results.

For example, if you want to reduce weight, how much weight do you want to lose in particular? Better still, what weight do you want to be when you've achieved your goal?

This is what a specific aim says: I'll be 200 pounds.

Measurable

We want to be able to quantify our objectives. We must be able to track progress over time in order to make a goal quantifiable. Assume you want to create a novel. How do we make it quantifiable?

By delving into more detail than you can track, you'll be able to make it highly detailed and measurable.

I will finish writing a 50,000-word novel, according to this exact aim for writing a novel.

Actionable

Every objective should be doable in terms of achieving it. When it comes to writing objectives, though, we're talking about doing so as an action. "I want to read 24 novels in a year," isn't enough.

In this case, the action is stating that you 'will' or simply 'read.' It's all about putting it into action. And this is one of the reasons why setting goals is such an important part of achieving your aspirations. You're taking steps toward making your aspirations a reality. So here's what I'm going to do:

I'm going to read 24 novels.

Relevant

In the equation, the 'R' stands for relevant or related. Is your objective something that you can relate to? This is the realistic approach to what you want to do while making goals. You must consider your existing situation before setting a goal.

Some people will encourage you to set a "10X Objective," which is a seemingly unachievable goal that will force you to stretch yourself. While I believe this is beneficial, it is not appropriate for first-timers or those who are having difficulty achieving their objectives. You must set goals that you can achieve at your current age.

Do you work two jobs as a parent of three tiny children? If you want to lose 3 percent body fat, you may not be able to work out for 3 hours every day. Consider the following:

My starting percent is _______, and I plan to reduce my percent body fat by 10%.

Time-Bound

Every goal necessitates the setting of a deadline. Why? As a result, you are compelled to act within a specified deadline. Simply stating that you will do something is insufficient.

You must state when you will finish it. You'll need to chart out your road to success this manner. Otherwise, you'll constantly have a goal but never feel compelled to achieve it. Returning to the novel example:

By December 31st, I will have completed a 50,000-word novel.

Evaluate

When it comes to your objectives, this is where the rubber meets the road. We must assess our progress on a frequent basis. "A few times during the year," respondents say when I ask how often they review their goals.

This is why people fail to achieve their objectives. Every month, I review my goals, and I read them once a week. This helps me remember what I'm attempting to accomplish and ensures that I follow through every week.

If there's one thing you should change about your ambitions, it should be this.

Reward

This 'R' has two different meanings to me. However, I believe that rewards are more beneficial and that evaluating (the preceding category) is preferable to just revisiting our goals.

A reward is required for each objective and milestone. We enjoy receiving a reward for a job well done. And, as we work toward our goals, these small rewards allow us to enjoy our achievements and prepare for the next step. Here's an example of a debt-reduction reward:

Pay off your loan by the 31st of December. Purchase one item for $100 that you would never purchase for yourself.

Your Dreams Are Ahead Of You

You may have previously struggled with setting and achieving goals. If you're anything like me, you've probably failed to achieve all of your goals in a year. However, this does not have to be the case with you anymore.

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” — C.S. Lewis

This statement inspires me because it reminds me that the goals we set for ourselves now, regardless of our age or stage in life, will ultimately help us change our story. They will assist us in pursuing and realizing our dreams.