It’s another day at the same job. You greet your fellow workers and sigh, “Routine as always, and no end in sight. Another day, another dollar.” This may sound depressing, but how many of us feel this way? You’re not worried, though, because you have begun implementing a goal to-do list that will get you out of this rut! For many of us, however, we are clueless about setting, let alone accomplishing, goals. I will do my best to explain what goals are, what they mean for different people, and how to go about fulfilling them. Let’s step forward on the road to success by learning how to accomplish our goals!

Before we start on this wondrous road, we first need to know what a goal is. What makes it so special yet daunting for so many people? I recently came across a succinct quote that sums it up well: “A goal is the ongoing pursuit of a worthy objective until accomplished.” When we think of goals, we think of our dreams and aspirations—what we hope to achieve in our careers, education, or personal development. For example, that DIY project that you’re itching to start! Goals hold us accountable for specific actions taken to achieve particular outcomes. It’s like being surrounded by sand in the desert, with a waterhole just five miles away. You know you need what it offers, but you’re so tired and thirsty with all this sand in the way! This is an extreme example, but some people would rather give up than do what’s necessary to achieve a life-changing outcome. You must ask yourself: What do I want to reach? How am I going to get there? When? And why is it important to me?

 

Achieving our goals feels absolutely amazing, right? It gives us that extra pep in our step—the sense of accomplishment that washes over us and spills out to those around us. Our energy shifts, and we know that we can and will achieve more. This means we have to think tactically and strategically; we need to outline the steps to meet our desired outcome. It’s all about committing to making it happen!

 

Speaking of commitment, goals absolutely require us to dedicate time and effort; there is no cheat sheet for this! It’s all about being dedicated and true to your cause. Don’t let distractions pull you back into the same comfort zone that made you want to change in the first place! You may also encounter naysayers who are used to seeing you in your current position. Push that negativity aside and keep your eyes on the prize! There is light at the end of this tunnel—keep up the effort, and soon people will be following in your footsteps!

 

This is where measurements come in. We must hold ourselves accountable by specifying when we will work on our goals, how often, and what our end date is. Yes, when will you wrap this up? This practice will force you to track your progress and see whether you are headed in the right direction or if you need to make some adjustments. This is all part of the process and can be very stimulating.

 

Goals give you direction. Just like a map, goals guide our actions and decisions, helping us figure out what steps we need to take to get where we want to be. Knowing this can be motivation in itself. The vision of reaching your goal can push you to take more action, especially when the going gets challenging. Here’s your mantra—repeat it as needed: You got this!

 

How does this affect you on a personal level? Well, goals encourage us to step out of our comfort zone and explore our limits. We begin to see that we are capable of achieving what we once thought was beyond our reach. We can learn new skills, such as another language, start a new career path, or finish that novel that has been occupying space in our mind and on our word document for far too long. We come to understand what development really means—not only for ourselves, but for those who are waiting to see the outcome and if they, too, can achieve personal success. Goals show you that you are more than the sum of your parts!

 

Finally, the amazing aspect about goals is that they instill a sense of responsibility to ourselves—and hopefully to others—to follow through on our commitments. Make sure that you are specific!  It’s about asking “why” for all the questions and purposes you want to answer and achieve. It’s about getting to the root of the matter.

 

So, ultimately, when we think of goals, it’s a recipe of dreams, direction, motivation, specificity, and a spoonful of accountability, all mixed together so that we can achieve something meaningful in our lives!

 

Here’s an inspiring quote to keep you motivated when you face doubts:

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

—Marie Curie, Polish-French physicist

 

And…

“A goal without a deadline is just a dream.”

—Gail Vaz-Oxlade

 

Wishing you great success in your goal-setting journey… you got this!