Progress necessitates that you do more than just hope something happens for you. Unless you have a clear set of smaller, attainable goals and a clear plan of execution and an understanding of why you want to reach them, your chances of attaining the achievement you crave aren't going to be great. Luckily, there are tools that you can utilize that will help you avoid the pitfalls to progress, which will help you to set your goals confidently and grant you the ability to enjoy the satisfaction that comes with accomplishing what you've planned to do. Let's check out some of those pitfalls that you'll need to avoid in order to achieve success!
1. You've set goals that don't motivate you. When you set goals for yourself, it is important that they motivate you (yes, you!) This means making sure that they are important to you, and that you feel there is value in achieving them. If you have little interest in the outcome, or they are irrelevant given the larger picture you have created for yourself, then the chances of you putting in the work to make them happen are slim. Why? Because goal achievement requires commitment, so to maximize the likelihood of success, you need to feel a sense of urgency and have an "I must do this" attitude. When you don't have this, you risk putting off what you need to do to make the goal a reality. So do your goals actually motivate you?
2. Your goals don't work for you. Does your adherence to your goals find you feeling confused about the next steps to take? If your goals are not concise, attainable, practical, and/or quantifiable, they are not smart goals - thus making their execution frustrating and much harder on you than necessary. Are your goals simply outlined, and able to be completed on a realistic timeline?
Your goals aren't specific. Concise is key, so when you set up a list of indistinct goals, you're working against yourself because you will not have a specific course. Always remember: your goals should show you the path to your progress.
Is your goal measurable? Almost any goal is measurable if you have clearly defined it and set a specific route. When defining your goal you should clarify timelines and dates so you are able to measure your success. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, you must think about how much weight you want to lose and by when. Set dates along your pathway to success that is measurable such as, "I want to lose my first 10 pounds in one month".
Your goals aren't realistic. If your goals are too far-fetched or not achievable, you will begin to resent yourself, and your self-assurance will begin to wear away. On the other hand, setting goals that are beneath your level of performance or that are too easy can be discouraging, making future goal-setting feel pointless or filled with the risk of failure. When your goals are realistic and offer you a challenge, you have just the right equilibrium you'll need to gain personal fulfillment.
Your steps are not significant to your progress. When you outline your goals, they should relate directly to the big picture. If you can keep your daily steps parallel to your ultimate career and life goals, your moves will keep your eye on the prize. When you set irrelevant or contradictory goals, your time and energy will be wasted on activities that get you nowhere.
The goals you set need to follow a timeline and have a deadline. A deadline creates a sense of urgency and will further motivate you to keep on track with the steps needed for success. This also means when you hit your deadline and you have been successful, you can celebrate your victory.
3. Your goals aren't set in stone. We can say the goals in our head over and over again but writing them down makes them real and gives them power. If possible, you should even write it down in a place you see every day and can update to keep track of your success. When writing your goals down make sure to use positive and powerful words such as "will" or "can". Setting a goal that is worded poorly leaves an open window for excuses. Instead of, "I would like to save $1,000", you should write, "I will save $1,000", or, "I can save $1,000". This will lead you to envisioning yourself hitting your goal and remind you of the passion needed to achieve it.
4. Your goals don't have a plan. While you may have defined your goal and written them down, have you set an action plan? Sometimes we can get so excited at the idea of achieving the goal that we may forget to mark the actual steps needed to be taken along the way. While this is definitely an important aspect for long-term goals, it is also needed for smaller or short-term goals. The best thing you can do for yourself is to write out a list of the steps needed to reach your goal. As you hit each milestone cross it off of your list and celebrate your achievement. You are one step closer!
5. You're using all-or-nothing goals. Being specific and measurable is important, but goals such as "finish a marathon" or "lose 50 pounds" can set up a pass/fail mindset and failure can lead to a negative spiral. If you do set audacious, long-term goals, make sure to recognize that you may experience setbacks. If you lose 47 pounds instead of 50 have you failed? Or have you succeeded?
6. You gave up too quickly! Remember, goal setting is an ongoing activity not just a means to an end. Build in reminders to keep yourself on track, and make regular time-slots available to review your goals (even 5 or 10 minutes a week will do!) Your end destination may remain quite similar over the long term, but the action plan you set for yourself along the way can change significantly. Make sure the relevance, value, and necessity remain high.
1. You've set goals that don't motivate you. When you set goals for yourself, it is important that they motivate you (yes, you!) This means making sure that they are important to you, and that you feel there is value in achieving them. If you have little interest in the outcome, or they are irrelevant given the larger picture you have created for yourself, then the chances of you putting in the work to make them happen are slim. Why? Because goal achievement requires commitment, so to maximize the likelihood of success, you need to feel a sense of urgency and have an "I must do this" attitude. When you don't have this, you risk putting off what you need to do to make the goal a reality. So do your goals actually motivate you?
2. Your goals don't work for you. Does your adherence to your goals find you feeling confused about the next steps to take? If your goals are not concise, attainable, practical, and/or quantifiable, they are not smart goals - thus making their execution frustrating and much harder on you than necessary. Are your goals simply outlined, and able to be completed on a realistic timeline?
Your goals aren't specific. Concise is key, so when you set up a list of indistinct goals, you're working against yourself because you will not have a specific course. Always remember: your goals should show you the path to your progress.
Is your goal measurable? Almost any goal is measurable if you have clearly defined it and set a specific route. When defining your goal you should clarify timelines and dates so you are able to measure your success. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, you must think about how much weight you want to lose and by when. Set dates along your pathway to success that is measurable such as, "I want to lose my first 10 pounds in one month".
Your goals aren't realistic. If your goals are too far-fetched or not achievable, you will begin to resent yourself, and your self-assurance will begin to wear away. On the other hand, setting goals that are beneath your level of performance or that are too easy can be discouraging, making future goal-setting feel pointless or filled with the risk of failure. When your goals are realistic and offer you a challenge, you have just the right equilibrium you'll need to gain personal fulfillment.
Your steps are not significant to your progress. When you outline your goals, they should relate directly to the big picture. If you can keep your daily steps parallel to your ultimate career and life goals, your moves will keep your eye on the prize. When you set irrelevant or contradictory goals, your time and energy will be wasted on activities that get you nowhere.
The goals you set need to follow a timeline and have a deadline. A deadline creates a sense of urgency and will further motivate you to keep on track with the steps needed for success. This also means when you hit your deadline and you have been successful, you can celebrate your victory.
3. Your goals aren't set in stone. We can say the goals in our head over and over again but writing them down makes them real and gives them power. If possible, you should even write it down in a place you see every day and can update to keep track of your success. When writing your goals down make sure to use positive and powerful words such as "will" or "can". Setting a goal that is worded poorly leaves an open window for excuses. Instead of, "I would like to save $1,000", you should write, "I will save $1,000", or, "I can save $1,000". This will lead you to envisioning yourself hitting your goal and remind you of the passion needed to achieve it.
4. Your goals don't have a plan. While you may have defined your goal and written them down, have you set an action plan? Sometimes we can get so excited at the idea of achieving the goal that we may forget to mark the actual steps needed to be taken along the way. While this is definitely an important aspect for long-term goals, it is also needed for smaller or short-term goals. The best thing you can do for yourself is to write out a list of the steps needed to reach your goal. As you hit each milestone cross it off of your list and celebrate your achievement. You are one step closer!
5. You're using all-or-nothing goals. Being specific and measurable is important, but goals such as "finish a marathon" or "lose 50 pounds" can set up a pass/fail mindset and failure can lead to a negative spiral. If you do set audacious, long-term goals, make sure to recognize that you may experience setbacks. If you lose 47 pounds instead of 50 have you failed? Or have you succeeded?
6. You gave up too quickly! Remember, goal setting is an ongoing activity not just a means to an end. Build in reminders to keep yourself on track, and make regular time-slots available to review your goals (even 5 or 10 minutes a week will do!) Your end destination may remain quite similar over the long term, but the action plan you set for yourself along the way can change significantly. Make sure the relevance, value, and necessity remain high.
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