Goal Setting

Goal: the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.

Successful people always talk about setting goals and following through. When you write down your goals you are able to fully visualize where you see yourself. I once took a course and we discussed goal setting. She had us close our eyes and imagine we were at a party celebrating our accomplishments. She had us set a specific date for the party and who would be in attendance. What were we celebrating? What did our accomplishments look like? Had we smashed through our goals and gone beyond them? 

I’ll be honest with you. I’m often times stuck in the goal setting mentality and struggle with the follow through. The idea of what I hope to accomplish can often times consume me. And when you are just starting out on a project and you start sharing with others to help hold you accountable, they begin to ask questions. This is not a bad thing, but it sometimes keeps me in the “stuck” phase of planning. 

Why do I need to set goals?

Goal setting is a very personal topic. Everyone has things they want to accomplish that make them stand out from others. There are many reasons to set goals and it depends on what you wish to focus on. Are you looking to accomplish a physical exercise outlook? Do you want to have your own business? Would you like a promotion? Maybe you want to pay off your car? These are all goals that can be written down for you to achieve. Give yourself a clear vision for your future to work towards. 

Many people suggest setting SMART goals vs just “where do you see yourself”. These can be helpful in obtaining success quicker because they are laid out in a different way. What is a SMART goal? 

• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Relevant
• Time-bound

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Getting Started with Goal Setting

When you are first creating a goal, visualize where you want to be. Stretch yourself by saying where you see yourself in 3 years, 5 years, and 10 years to start. What do you hope to accomplish in your life? Are you setting goals for your personal life or for your business? Maybe you’re setting goals for both that go hand in hand. Do you want to be debt-free? Own your own home? Own your own business? Make X amount a year with your side hustle so you can quit your corporate job? 

Next, take your big goals and break them down into smaller goals. What needs to happen to accomplish them? Let’s take being debt-free for example. If your goal is to be debt-free in 5 years, what do you need to do to reach that goal? Maybe you need to cook at home more often and use the money you would have purchased take out towards a credit card for an extra payment. Maybe you decide to sell your car for a cheaper one so you no longer have a car payment while you pay off additional debts. Make sure the goals you set, can be reached and not cause additional undue stress. You want to be successful but not at the expense of reaching unattainable goals you have set for yourself. 

Third, it is good to share your goals with a mentor to help keep you accountable. But, make sure that person will push your boundaries and remind you of your goals. Ensure they are not going to keep you in the “planning mode” I spoke about above. 

Finally, re-evaluate your goals as you go. As you accomplish goals, see what you can add on to keep the momentum going. Challenge yourself to keep pushing forward and set a new vision for yourself as times change. Don’t grow complacent where you are or give up. You may realize you need to break apart a goal down further in order to accomplish it. This is okay! Figure out the best way to tackle it, and jump in head first. 

Additional Tips for Goal Setting

Once you start creating your SMART goals to smash through, there are a few other things to think about. Earlier we talked about setting time-bound dates to accomplish your goals by. It is also valuable to break those timeline goals down further. For example, say you want to have a promotion at work within 3 years. How can you break that goal down for tasks to hit in a 2 week, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 18 months, and 2-year timeline? Do you need to finish school? Think about what you need to work on for that goal and set them in bite-sized parts. 

What will keep you motivated for your goal? Do you need an accountability partner that you discuss goals with on a regular basis? Revisit what you want to accomplish and make sure it still aligns with your vision, life status, and any other influences. Things change over time and it’s okay to shift your focus if something is not fulfilling to you any longer. Don’t push yourself to finish something that does not bring you any sort of joy just because you set it as a goal. 

Are you ready to set your goals? Download my goal setting sheets here to get started. 

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