As per the study conducted by Bressler, Bressler, & Bressler, 2010, if one carries an optimistic attitude toward goal setting, one is likely to get successful. The research studied many students and indicated that traits such as optimism and hope impact our goal-setting attitude.
Let us accept that most of us set goals in our life. We try our best to reach them. Some of us struggle, and some of us make it.
So how is it possible to fix your goal-setting process?
1. Know the Basics
One of the reasons some people struggle to set goals is a lack of ability to identify a goal’s result without having clarity on the ‘Why’ part of the goal setting. If one does not know ‘Why’, one might lose interest or get distracted easily.
If you wish to achieve the set goals, the groundwork has to be done well. You have to understand that you are setting goals for a reason.
2. Know Your Goals
You need to identify your goals first. This means you know where to focus and where to improve. Once the target is set, you feel driven.
While identifying goals, consider your abilities and the situation at hand. The goal should be challenging enough to push you towards something and reachable enough to assure you of success.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Why am I setting this goal?
- What will I get once I succeed?
- Which resources will help me reach my goals?
- Do I have to improve something to reach there?
3. Analyze the Goal and Plan Ahead
Before you start this journey, know where you are at the present moment so you can plan accordingly. You need to think about all the resources you need. Try asking the following questions:
- How ready am I?
- Can I spare enough time for this?
- What is stopping me?
- Can I afford professional help?
4. Make a List of Benefits and Hurdles
This is surely one of the crucial steps while setting goals. The list of benefits will encourage you to go for the goal, while obstacles will remind you of all the necessary steps you need to take/overcome to reach the goal.
5. Build an Action Plan
Now is the time to transform all your theoretical and ground-level research into reality.
Make sure your plan of action considers each stage that is crucial to reach the goal. Depending upon your goals, you need to categorize your plan of action and break it into smaller steps.
The process of systematic goal setting might be new for you. If you wish to succeed, you can start by praising your efforts, as it will help you keep going.
Some people prefer deadlines; some don’t. If having deadlines pushes you to do more and better, set a time limit. If it doesn’t, then don’t.
6. Praise Your Achievements
You might find doing this a ‘waste of time.’ But if you are ready to give it a shot, you will realize the benefits.
Forgive yourself for mistakes, laziness, or unproductive things you have done in the past. The past is gone, and you are a changed person who has started a new journey with new hope.
Pat your back for all the good things you have done. Be happy about your past achievements.
7. Have a Big Picture Strategy
These are your goals, and you need to be careful and responsible toward them. When you feel a connection to your goals, you can see the big picture and imagine the outcome too.
For example, if your goal is to get a toned body, you most probably can imagine how you would look with strong muscles, running on a treadmill or the seashore.
This strategy would make you feel the success scenario and motivate you to do even better.
Something Interesting
To make the goal-setting process more relatable, honest, and effective, you are recommended to start step by step. If you fail, start again, and stay determined. Praise your efforts for each successful completion of the stage.
Your goal setting becomes more effective if your goal becomes somebody else’s goal too. If anybody other than you is as willing as you are, you feel encouraged.
You can take the help of your friends, family, and professionals too. If your goal is to start a business, it is always better to find a reliable person who can work as hard as you in building the business.
Conclusion
In short, your goal setting will be successful, only and only when you truly, consciously decide on something and start preparing for it. Do not set any goal because everybody else is or just because the ‘new year mood’ has just hit you. All the very best!
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How Can You Fix Your Goal Setting Process?
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SMART Goal setting is one important of the process of the Circle of Success. See http://www.vanduardldrship.wordpress.com.