Have you set goals for yourself, but can’t seem to make any progress on them? You may be setting the wrong types of goals for yourself.
The goal setting process is equally important to achieving those goals.
What makes a successful goal?
A successful goal is one you actually accomplish. That may sound redundant, but a lot of my clients come to me admitting they’ve had one major goal for a long time (sometimes years) and can’t seem to complete it.
The first thing I have them do is tell me the goal. A red flag is their goal is too vague. I hear a lot of “I want to get more clients.” Sounds simple enough, but within that goal is a bunch of other smaller goals. If you need more clients you’ll need to meet more. That’s increased networking, marketing, and outreach. Within that increased networking comes researching events, practicing and perfecting their pitch etc. You can see how the list keeps growing.
To help them transform that big, vague goal I have the client put it through the following procedure:
Micro-goal/chunking:
Take your largest goals and make them realistic. Break them up into attainable goals or “chunks.” A single chunk may be further divided. Take a year goal and divide it into monthly chunks and then weekly and eventual daily chunks. It may sound tedious, but the more precise you are the more likely you are to accomplish them.
This works best when you plan hour-by-hour. Get rid of awkward transitional periods between tasks and work within your peak performance hours for greater results. See our Genius Zone blog for more tips on how to work this way.
Manageable timeline:
Greatness takes time. More than you might think. Be generous with your timeframes. Don’t expect to get a year’s worth of work done in a quarter. This will only set you up for disappointment and increase your chance of abandoning your project.
Rush jobs won’t have the lasting impact and effect you may desire. Limit errors and decrease the need to re-do tasks because of mistakes or oversights by giving yourself a proper timeline.
Measurable “success points”:
It helps to have check-points along your journey. Think of these as motivation boots. It's easier to be productive when you see the progress. It also alerts you if you need to adjust your pace.
Use them as check-ins. Is the project going as expected? Are there new factors or circumstances that need to be addressed? You can always adjust your goal for unexpected events during these check-points.
Write down your biggest goal. How long has it been since you set it? Are you seeing the results you wanted? If you’re not satisfied with your answers, reach out to our team! We can help you set and achieve your biggest goals.
What ensures a goal’s completion?
Accountability Partner:
It’s hard to rely only on yourself. Having a mentor or accountability partner will increase your chance of success. This person can provide helpful, outside insight and encouragement. This will also distribute the pressure of accountability and motivation. Many find it easier to stay motivated and engaged when they have another person supporting them.
You need to find a person who is going to be a good fit. Ideally, this is a person you trust. You should count on them to deliver hard truths when needed. Remember communication is key.
Adjustable outcome:
You need to be flexible. Sometimes circumstances change and the original goal needs to be revised. Don’t let this undo all your hard work. Instead, let this fuel you to use what progress you’ve made and channel it towards a new outcome.
If you do encounter insurmountable obstacles I suggest stopping where you are. Adjust for the new outcome and re-start the planning process to accommodate your new goal. This will allow you to compensate for new dates and tasks. Salvage what you can from your previous plan, but be flexible. You aren’t committed to any one projection or timeline.
Reassessment:
Check-in multiple times throughout the process. Sometimes our original intentions become obsolete. Or we might need to re-remind ourselves of why we started this process in the first place. It is always advisable to re-access your motives and goals. This can help you find your motivation or re-work your timeline.
Putting it all together
Your success is in your hands. If you want to accomplish a goal, you will. But you need to put in all the necessary work.
Remember to:
- chunk you goals
- measure your progress
- enlist the help of someone else
- be flexible
- keep trying
If you at any point feel like giving up don’t panic, it’s natural! Everyone struggles with motivation, but the secret is wanting it badly enough that you can overcome any pause and get back on track. I recommend visualizing yourself after you’ve accomplished your goal. This type of projecting will give you something to hold on to and motivate you when you may feel like giving up.
Another way to push through your toughest blocks is to get support.
Our team has worked with our clients to achieve their biggest goals. We will help you plan, pivot, and succeed. We have years of experience assisting businesses of all types visualize and actualize their success.
Reach out for a free consultation today.
Reach out when you are ready to achieve your ideal, successful business. We have years of experience working with business owners and helping them actualize their goals.
Book a free 1-hour Breakthrough Consultation with us.
