How many so-called resolutions have you made that you actually accomplished? How many goals have you set and seen to the finish line? According to Statistic Brain Research Institute, only 8% of people are actually ever successful in achieving their resolution. If you are part of the 8%, you should be extremely proud. If you are part of the 92%, chances are the word resolution leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
Undoubtedly, setting and accomplishing goals is a major challenge. It requires determination, focus and discipline. Although the goal setting market is saturated, you can still find hundreds of books on the subject, people who succeed on goal setting are in the minority.
“The really important achievements are usually the hardest to accomplish. They are also the most rewarding.”
I love reading books, listening to podcasts or any outlet that allows me to learn, hone my skills and grow. When I am reading a book on personal growth, not all of the concepts are new to me. You may read a book on a particular subject and realize that it is just a different take on a previous concept from another book you read. The more you can read about a subject, the more you will become an expert on the subject.
Enhanced Skills = Learning + Practice + Readjusting to your needs + forming new habits
You may have read several articles on goal setting already. Whether or not you have mastered this skill, keep investing in it because the rewards far outweigh the work required. Keep reading more tips and you might find one that connects so strongly with you that it launches you on the path of achievement.
Here are 8 Goal Setting Tips To Increase Your Likelihood of Success.
Make it POWERFUL enough to Believe and Inspire
This is probably one of THE most import tips. If your goal does not inspire you enough to achieve it, eventually you will give up on the effort. I wrote a recent blog post on the 3 questions that matter if you want to succeed. The first question, “What do you want to accomplish most” helps give you the basis to determine what your goals should be.
Top of Mind All Year
Once you get over the initial excitement of deciding on a goal you want to accomplish, the key is in keeping the momentum going. Once the goal is determined, create a plan to keep it top of mind throughout the year. That is why writing down your goals is critical. It provides a way you can review your goal regularly.
Make it Measurable
In April 2015, I committed to returning to my pre-pregnancy weight. My youngest son was 6 years old and I was still 20 pounds over what I was before I had him. I created my goal and made it easy to measure. I aimed for 1 pound per week, with a target date of 20 weeks. It was easy to determine whether I was on the right track because it was measurable. This is an important step in making a S.M.A.R.T goal.
Keep Track and Review
When you decide on a goal you want to accomplish, do you tend to Set and Forget, only to find the paper you wrote it on months later stuffed at the back of your drawer? Keep your goal in a visible place where you are sure not to forget to review it.
How often should you review your goals? A good habit would be to review it at a minimum, once a week. A great habit is to review it daily, mornings if you can. This way when you wake up, you can plan your day to ensure that you perform one action that will bring you one step closer to your destination.
[tweetthis]“No matter how small the step, any step taken, is a step closer to your dreams.”[/tweetthis]
Determine which Skill You Need to Improve On
If you are aiming to achieve a goal that will force you to stretch your abilities, it is possible that you do not currently possess the necessary skills. When you first create your plan, determine which skills you need to acquire it. Then, make it part of your action steps to accomplish it.
Turn it Into A Habit
When I first committed to writing down my goals, I had a hard time being consistent in reviewing them. I also found it difficult to remember to review my goals. I was the example above of the person who would find their “goal sheet” stuffed in the back of the drawer.
What changed? I kept at it, stumbled several times, but kept plugging away at what I needed to do until it became a habit. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you forget or miss an action you were supposed to do. Just keep focusing on developing the positive habits that will get you to where you want to go.
Accountability Partner
When you have an accountability partner, your commitment to your goal increases. Once you put it “out there” and inform someone, you become more likely to succeed. That is why Weight Watchers has been so successful. Members scramble to lose that target weight before their next public weigh in. They don’t want to fail on a goal in front of others.
The key, is in finding the right accountability partner. Someone that will help you climb those walls you may face can make all the difference. Find someone who will support your dreams, not knock you down.
Adjust and Readjust
It can be easy to become discouraged when you find yourself behind on your plans. Sometimes, despite all your hard work, you realize that you’re not any closer to your achieving what you wanted. These are the moments when you need to believe in yourself the most. These are the moments that count the most.
Take the time to review your plans and be flexible enough to adjust steps as needed. Don’t give up on your goals, readjust how you will arrive.
“The true measure of success is how many times you can bounce back from failure.”
― Stephen Richards
“Everybody has their own Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb.” ~ Seth Godin
Here are two other posts about goal setting that I hope will help:
9 Reasons You May Not Be Achieving Your Goals
Seven Things That People Who Achieve Their Goals Do Differently
Do you take the time to write down your goals? What tip do you have to achieve them?