There are plenty of reasons why people don’t achieve the goals they set out to attain, whether it’s related to motivation, discipline, or other lifestyle factors. However, there are some tried and true steps that can greatly improve your chances of achieving your goals. I’ve identified six key factors that have made all the difference in my own life when it comes to setting goals and achieving them successfully. I hope you find these tips useful.
Table of Contents
Define what success means to you
The first step in achieving your goals is defining success. For some people, success might be making a certain amount of money or owning a certain number of properties. Others might define success as being able to work the hours they want or being able to spend more time with family. To figure out what success means for you, think about what your life would look like if everything went according to plan and you achieved your goal. What would you be doing each day?
Who would you spend time with? How much money would you make? What type of house would you live in? Write down all the things that come up when thinking about this future scenario and then define these items as success. In addition, create a timeline so you can see how long it will take to reach those achievements.
Set a timeline
You should set a timeline for when you want to achieve your goal. You don’t have to be exact, but some people find it helpful. If you’ve already done this, keep reading below. If not, go back and set a timeline now. What are the obstacles? What’s one thing you can do today? Create a vision board or list of affirmations
Get help from others . Seek out those who will support your goals and motivate you along the way. Find an accountability partner that will check in with you on a regular basis. The idea is to hold each other accountable so neither of you falls off track with their goals. Finally, celebrate every milestone that gets accomplished along the way.
Identify possible obstacles
Identify possible obstacles in advance and plan how you will handle them. Without a plan, you are likely to be caught off guard when something goes wrong, which can lead to additional problems and delays. Take time now to think about potential challenges you may face, such as funding or obtaining the necessary permits. Discuss your plans with someone who is knowledgeable about the area of concern so they can offer helpful feedback and support. If an obstacle seems insurmountable, consider whether it is worth overcoming- perhaps there is another way around it?
Also, take some time to weigh the pros and cons of achieving this goal. Sometimes it’s better not to overcome certain barriers. For example, if one barrier is holding up everything else on your list because it is both complex and difficult, you might want to let go of that goal instead of trying for years without success.
Find the right tools and resources
Resources help you stay on task with your goals. You may need a spreadsheet to keep track of your progress, or an app that’ll remind you what you’re working towards when it’s time for a break. Tools can help make the process more efficient, like an app that lets you take photos of your receipts and get reimbursed for them automatically. Sometimes all it takes is having the right tools and resources at hand to turn an impossible goal into a reality.
What are some tools and resources people might find useful when setting goals? Spreadsheets -Apps that manage tasks and set reminders (e.g., recurring tasks) -An app that automatically tracks receipts
Visualize your success
Visualize your success. In order to achieve any goal, you must see it happening in your mind’s eye. This is called visualization and it can be a powerful tool for manifesting your desires in the physical world. It also helps you stay focused on what you’re trying to achieve, which gives you more energy and motivation. There are many ways to visualize yourself achieving your goals. You might want to picture yourself as you would look once you’ve reached that desired destination, or picture how good it will feel when you accomplish this goal (you’ll feel excited and proud). Imagine what life will be like after reaching this goal (you’ll have greater confidence and happiness). You might even want to imagine a ceremony of sorts where everyone congratulates you on accomplishing this particular dream.
Follow up regularly
It’s important to follow up on your goals on a regular basis. You need to make sure that you’re following through with your commitments, and staying on track with the timeline you laid out for yourself. You’ll be more likely to stay motivated if you find some way of checking in regularly with yourself about whether or not you’re making progress towards your goal. Some good ways of doing this are by having a weekly meeting, or scheduling some time every day for reflecting on how much closer you are getting. There are lots of different options available to help you keep yourself accountable.
For example, use something like an accountability partner to hold you accountable, which can be someone who is also working towards their goals. The other option is setting up a system where somebody else gives you feedback on how well you’re achieving your goals. For example, set up an alarm which sends your friend an email once a week about how well you’ve been sticking to the plan so far.