Goals: Setting Yourself Up for Success

With every new year comes resolutions made by determined people who are dead set on achieving their goals. Some of us set weight loss and fitness goals, while others focus on career growth and financial wellbeing. But despite our best intentions, a few months into the new year, our commitment wanes, and our once steadfast goals slowly become nothing more than another item on our years-long to-do list.

Why? Because we set grand goals that even the most dedicated people couldn't achieve. When we set colossal goals without milestones to check our progress along the way, we set ourselves up for failure. But it doesn't have to be that way. Instead, set a big goal, mini-goals along the way, and milestones to track your progress and help motivate you towards success.

Ask yourself "why" before you set your goals

Anyone who has achieved what they set out to accomplish has two things in common:

1. They commit to their goals
2. They take action

We live in a world where people spend days creating stunning vision boards and making lists of goals they want to achieve, especially early in the new year when they've made their resolutions.

It has become trendy to show off our goals and talk about how this will be our year. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people setting their "intentions" for the new year. But what's the point of setting goals if we're only going to talk the talk? We need to ask ourselves why we are setting these goals.

Before spending hours or even days planning out everything, it's worth a few extra minutes to contemplate our dedication and willingness to take action. I want six-pack abs, but I also know I won't go to the gym seven days a week and cut sugar out of my life. I will not take action on this goal, so why waste my time even adding it to my goals list?

Have you planned out short- and long-term goals that sound impressive but likely won't happen because you're not dedicated? If so, scratch them off your list and focus on those that matter most.

Short, long, and reasonable

Two goals I see everywhere are gaining more wealth and losing weight. When we set these goals, though, reason seems to fly out the window. Instead of setting an attainable target of losing five pounds per month until we reach our longer-term goal, we create a seemingly unconquerable task of losing a hundred pounds in less than a year.

When we consider what we're (not) willing to sacrifice and the amount of work to be done, that 100-pound weight loss target seems impossible. And when things seem impossible, we typically stop trying to accomplish them. Set reasonable short- and long-term goals instead.

1. Make your goals attainable. When planning out your future goals, you want to set yourself up for success. We'd all love to be millionaires by the end of the week, but is that a reality? Probably not. Dare to dream, but make your dreams attainable. And remember, your goals should be challenging, but not impossible.
2. Create long-term goals. I know, I know... it's hard to wait for what we want, but success takes time. And if you're looking for growth—personal or professional—you'll need time to set goals and create an action plan. Where do you want to be in a year, in five years? Think about what's important to you not only now, but also in the future. Set long-term goals that will help you get to where you want to be and cultivate what you want.
3. Set up milestones to help you track success. Once you've got your long-term goals situated, ensure your success. The best way to do this is by adding milestones (think of these as short-term goals) into your journey. Let's take the weight loss example. You want to lose 100 pounds in a year. That's about 8.5 pounds per month. Instead of overwhelming yourself with your big goal (100-pound weight loss), focus on meeting your monthly goal of 8.5 pounds. If sustained weight loss is your end goal, you could include milestones like meeting with a nutritionist once a month and working with a personal trainer twice a week. Set smaller, more easily achievable mini-goals to track progress and keep you moving closer to your long-term goal.

Keep yourself accountable

If you know anything about me, you know I am a neurotic perfectionist. These perfectionistic tendencies, while annoying, keep me accountable for accomplishing my goals—I don't need anyone to keep me on track. But for non-crazy people, it can be challenging to keep progressing towards longer-term goals. This is where mentors, friends, and family come into play.

Aside from connecting us to opportunities and their professional network, mentors can keep us moving towards our goals. Make time for weekly or monthly check-ins for accountability. Share progress with your mentor, ask for help, or celebrate together every time you hit a milestone!

You can do it!

Goals, goals, goals—everyone's got them. The difference between you and everyone else is that you've got everything you need to crush your goals, no matter how big (or small). Set achievable short- and long-term goals and keep track of your progress every time you hit a milestone. If you hit roadblocks along the way, you can seek help from your mentor. And remember, your mentor is there to celebrate the wins with you, too.

Who's ready to set—and crush—some goals?