Are you one of those who go through life without plans and goals? You settle for whatever life brings your way, work hard and wonder why you haven’t gotten anywhere.
Not having a goal is a recipe for mediocrity and personal disaster. It’s like planning a major journey and having no idea where you’re going!
When you catch yourself moving through each day as if it’s just another number, stop. Don’t just go through the daily motions. Make every day a step towards personal progress. Think about what you really want in life, set realistic goals and make doable plans.
Goal setting
Why do you need goals? Because they help you achieve your best potential and lift you above the ordinary. Goals motivate you to work harder, which increases your chances of achieving whatever it is that you want in life.
Goals help you know where you are going and how to get there. By setting goals, you put your mind on a success path; helping you turn your vision of your ideal future into reality. When you know exactly what you want to achieve, it is easier to weed out the distractions and pool your efforts to zoom in on success.
Don’t get sidetracked
Setting goals can be inspiring and motivating, but it can also be easy to get out of touch with them if you don’t have a plan.
To help you get back on track, write down your ultimate goal. Create your “big picture”. Then, write down four milestones that will help you reach it.
Take the first step and put the others to one side. Now write down all of the things you need to do to achieve this one small step and give yourself three months to succeed. Repeat the process with the next three steps.
Making things smaller and giving yourself a time limit is always far less daunting. Gargantuan plans become more manageable. Small steps always add up to one big leap forward!
Stick to the plan
Once you have your plan, start working on it to achieve your goal. Move from planning to action mode and stick with it.
Be open to learn new things and include this in your action plan. Is your goal to get a promotion at work? Maybe it is time to get that degree or MBA. Do you want to lose weight? Educate yourself on healthy living. It is easier to reach your goals when you are willing to fill in the gaps.
Don’t be afraid to reach out. Connect with people whom you share a common goal or those who can be your motivators. These positive influences will help you stay committed to your goal.
Get organised. The process of goal setting and planning can be overwhelming, and the key is to make a priority list. Organise your plan of action and put yourself in control.
Finally, don’t forget to reward yourself for each progress you’ve made. This will give you a boost on the road to personal success, one sure step at a time.
