Most of us at some point in our lives have set goals for ourselves. While this is a common occurrence in our personal or professional life, we are not always successful in reaching our set destination. A goal needs to be meaningful for us to reach it, but we also need to have the psychological readiness to put the time into it that the goal requires. We must ‘own the goal’ and commit to putting the work in. A coach can assist you in achieving this readiness level to maximize your chance of success.
What if you could discover what makes a goal so compelling that it would be nearly impossible not to achieve it?
Here are a few thoughts that may assist you in reaching your next goals:
1. Stop writing a to-do list of things and calling them goals.
2. Examine if your goal is intrinsically or extrinsically motivated. Extrinsically motivated goals belong to your wants. These wants may be self-imposed or influenced by your environment. Intrinsically motivated goals are rooted in your needs and values. When your goals are rooted in your needs and values, the goal will feel right and as you work toward reaching it, it will significantly enhance your life satisfaction level.
3. Determine why the goal is important to you by asking yourself “what makes this goal meaningful in my life?” Take time to reflect on what is motivating you to engage in that direction. What does the goal mean to you and why is it so important? Understanding this will serve as a reminder if you stray from the path toward your goal.
4. Solidify the goal by writing it down in detail. This is an excellent way to visualize and anchor yourself in your goal. Use positive language when writing down your goal and describe in detail your vision of what it will be like to have achieved the goal. Get a mental picture of yourself at the point of achieving the goal. Give your subconscious a vivid image to work with.
5. Come up with an action plan and write it down. Use verbs that motivate such as: organize, coordinate, lead, develop, build etc
6. Create a timeline with signposts. Breaking down the goal into manageable steps will help you stay focused and allow you to experience successes along the way. The timeline and sub-goals should be realistic. Unrealistic goals will set you up to miss your targets and might cause you to give up before you see your goal to completion.
7. Set a deadline to reach your goal. Many of us are motivated by the adrenaline rush that comes with the pressure of a deadline. We also tend to experience improved creativity during this burst of adrenaline.
8. Tell others about your goals. As you talk about your goal, it will help you crystallize your vision and reinforce your commitment. Ask your network to cheer you on and to hold you accountable.
9. Come up with a method for keeping track of what you’ve accomplished as you work toward your goal. How will you measure your success?
10. Enjoy yourself and the process of achieving your goal. I believe that a crucial component of goal setting is that the process of achieving the goal should be enjoyable. If your goal is truly derived from your needs and values, the feeling you have on the journey toward your goal should be filled with positive moments.
11. Take the bull by the horns, and just go for it! Forget procrastination and do it. Start Today.