Setting meaningful goals requires more than simply identifying what you want to accomplish. It involves understanding your values, creating a clear plan, breaking larger goals into manageable steps, and developing strategies to stay motivated. The concepts below will guide you through the goal-setting process, from identifying what matters most to you to using the SMARTER method, rewards, and self-affirmation to help you stay committed and make progress.
Book: Goals! How to Get Everything You Want — Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible by Brian Tracy.
“You become what you think about most of the time. Your outer world ultimately becomes a reflection of your inner world. Your outer world of experience mirrors back to you what you think about most of the time. Whatever you think about continuously emerges in your reality.”
Helpful tip: You are 42 percent more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down.
Why do most people fail to achieve their goals?
- Imposter syndrome
- Lack of commitment
- Overthinking
- Unclear direction
- Too many goals
- Failing to plan
Ask yourself these questions to uncover your values.
- Who do I want to be?
- What things matter most to me?
- What makes me happy?
- What energizes me?
- What do I want my legacy to be?
- What am I willing to sacrifice for?
- Who do I look up to and why?
- Process goals: This helps us to stay focused.
- Performance goals: This helps us to stay on track.
- Outcome goals: Helps us align with the big picture.
All your outcomes need:
- A name
- A why
- A how
- A set of defined benchmarks to meet
Use the SMARTER method to break goals into smaller actions.
- S = Specific
- M = Measurable
- A = Attainable
- R = Relevant
- T = Time-bound
- E = Evaluate
- R = Reward
What are the benefits of self-guided rewards?
- Rewards increase motivation and shape our behavior.
- Rewards strengthen the activity-goal relationship.
- Self-affirmation builds confidence.
Final tips
Write your goals down and keep them somewhere you will see them regularly.
Focus on a few meaningful goals rather than trying to accomplish everything at once.
Break larger goals into smaller, manageable actions.
Set realistic deadlines and track your progress along the way.
Remember why the goal matters to you when motivation is low.
Celebrate your progress and reward yourself for completing important milestones.
If your plan does not work, adjust it and try again. Progress does not have to be perfect.
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