Progress necessitates that you do more than just hope something happens for you. Unless you have a clear set of smaller, attainable goals and a clear plan of execution and an understanding of why you want to reach them, your chances of attaining the achievement you crave aren't going to be great. Luckily, there are tools that you can utilize that will help you avoid the pitfalls to progress, which will help you to set your goals confidently and grant you the ability to enjoy the satisfaction that comes with accomplishing what you've planned to do. Let's check out some of those pitfalls that you'll need to avoid in order to achieve success!
1. Your goals do not inspire you. It is important that the goals you've set get you energized - you see the importance in them and you feel they are a priority in your life. If you become burnt out, apathetic, or disenchanted with the outcome, or if the big picture to which your goals lead seems far, far away and unattainable, the odds of your ability to conquer your everyday moves toward it become slim to none. Why, you ask? Well, progress requires dedication. So, if you begin to lose your sense of urgency, you become more likely to procrastinate, and the likelihood of your success begins to fade into your everyday decisions to do things that don't contribute to your goal attainment. When you go over your initial goals, do you feel inspired, or frustrated?
2. Your goals aren't SMART. Are you applying the rules of goal setting correctly? The simple fact is that for goals to be powerful, they should be designed to be SMART. We already know that goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time based.
Your goals aren't specific. Concise is key, so when you set up a list of indistinct goals, you're working against yourself because you will not have a specific course. Always remember: your goals should show you the path to your progress.
Your goals aren't quantifiable. Your goals should be measurable in dates, totals - in numbers. You will find comfort in knowing that your percentages toward achievement are growing gradually each day, so if your goal is something as general as 'learn more', how on Earth will you see when you've achieved this? When your plan of action is devoid of quantification, you will lose out on the feeling of celebration that arises when you make progress.
Your goals aren't realistic. If your goals are too far-fetched or not achievable, you will begin to resent yourself, and your self-assurance will begin to wear away. On the other hand, setting goals that are beneath your level of performance or that are too easy can be discouraging, making future goal-setting feel pointless or filled with the risk of failure. When your goals are realistic and offer you a challenge, you have just the right equilibrium you'll need to gain personal fulfillment.
Your steps are not significant to your progress. When you outline your goals, they should relate directly to the big picture. If you can keep your daily steps parallel to your ultimate career and life goals, your moves will keep your eye on the prize. When you set irrelevant or contradictory goals, your time and energy will be wasted on activities that get you nowhere.
You have no deadline. You must be aware of your successes in order to maintain a good self-image. Having time-based objectives keep you working with a sense of urgency that will find your progress coming that much more quickly.
3. You haven't set your goals in writing (they're just in your head). The physical act of writing down a goal makes it real and tangible. You have no excuse for forgetting about it. As you write, use the word "will" instead of "would like to" or "might." For example, "I will increase my average grade in Maths to an A this year," not "I would like to increase my average grade in Maths to an A this year." The first goal statement has power and you can "see" yourself increasing the grade, the second lacks passion and gives you an excuse if you get side-tracked or don't achieve it.
4. You have no real action plan. Many people feel this is unnecessary, yet those who are successful recognize this step as essential to making progress. You may feel you have your sights firmly set on the big picture, but if you have no daily goals set to help you achieve incrementally, you will lose focus and have trouble knowing exactly what needs to be done. When you allow yourself to check off the smaller steps little by little each day, you will find yourself striding toward the finish line with an even, realistic pace.
5. Your goals do not allow for your skill level. Although ensuring your goals are quantifiable is important, language such as "shed 20 lbs" or "win first place" can be discouraging. If you are able to shed five lbs, you've achieved something that many are unable to do - but if you're only celebrating your success when you hit the 20 mark, you lose your ability to see the successes you are making along the way by feeling you've failed yourself. Understand that there may be delays or that larger goals may take some time. If you get third place, have you failed? Or, is this an important step - and possibly and important lesson as well - along the way?
6. You've simply given up. Remember, goals may shift as you learn something new about your path, or if certain deliverables become impossible. Even just a few minutes a week spent editing your goals and re-aligning them to your big-picture desires will help to keep you on track. Your goals will grow with you - they shouldn't work against you. When you stop to review your goals, be sure that they are still relevant to you, important to your progress, and maintain your sense of urgency. Never give up - if your goals outgrow you, they must be readjusted!
1. Your goals do not inspire you. It is important that the goals you've set get you energized - you see the importance in them and you feel they are a priority in your life. If you become burnt out, apathetic, or disenchanted with the outcome, or if the big picture to which your goals lead seems far, far away and unattainable, the odds of your ability to conquer your everyday moves toward it become slim to none. Why, you ask? Well, progress requires dedication. So, if you begin to lose your sense of urgency, you become more likely to procrastinate, and the likelihood of your success begins to fade into your everyday decisions to do things that don't contribute to your goal attainment. When you go over your initial goals, do you feel inspired, or frustrated?
2. Your goals aren't SMART. Are you applying the rules of goal setting correctly? The simple fact is that for goals to be powerful, they should be designed to be SMART. We already know that goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time based.
Your goals aren't specific. Concise is key, so when you set up a list of indistinct goals, you're working against yourself because you will not have a specific course. Always remember: your goals should show you the path to your progress.
Your goals aren't quantifiable. Your goals should be measurable in dates, totals - in numbers. You will find comfort in knowing that your percentages toward achievement are growing gradually each day, so if your goal is something as general as 'learn more', how on Earth will you see when you've achieved this? When your plan of action is devoid of quantification, you will lose out on the feeling of celebration that arises when you make progress.
Your goals aren't realistic. If your goals are too far-fetched or not achievable, you will begin to resent yourself, and your self-assurance will begin to wear away. On the other hand, setting goals that are beneath your level of performance or that are too easy can be discouraging, making future goal-setting feel pointless or filled with the risk of failure. When your goals are realistic and offer you a challenge, you have just the right equilibrium you'll need to gain personal fulfillment.
Your steps are not significant to your progress. When you outline your goals, they should relate directly to the big picture. If you can keep your daily steps parallel to your ultimate career and life goals, your moves will keep your eye on the prize. When you set irrelevant or contradictory goals, your time and energy will be wasted on activities that get you nowhere.
You have no deadline. You must be aware of your successes in order to maintain a good self-image. Having time-based objectives keep you working with a sense of urgency that will find your progress coming that much more quickly.
3. You haven't set your goals in writing (they're just in your head). The physical act of writing down a goal makes it real and tangible. You have no excuse for forgetting about it. As you write, use the word "will" instead of "would like to" or "might." For example, "I will increase my average grade in Maths to an A this year," not "I would like to increase my average grade in Maths to an A this year." The first goal statement has power and you can "see" yourself increasing the grade, the second lacks passion and gives you an excuse if you get side-tracked or don't achieve it.
4. You have no real action plan. Many people feel this is unnecessary, yet those who are successful recognize this step as essential to making progress. You may feel you have your sights firmly set on the big picture, but if you have no daily goals set to help you achieve incrementally, you will lose focus and have trouble knowing exactly what needs to be done. When you allow yourself to check off the smaller steps little by little each day, you will find yourself striding toward the finish line with an even, realistic pace.
5. Your goals do not allow for your skill level. Although ensuring your goals are quantifiable is important, language such as "shed 20 lbs" or "win first place" can be discouraging. If you are able to shed five lbs, you've achieved something that many are unable to do - but if you're only celebrating your success when you hit the 20 mark, you lose your ability to see the successes you are making along the way by feeling you've failed yourself. Understand that there may be delays or that larger goals may take some time. If you get third place, have you failed? Or, is this an important step - and possibly and important lesson as well - along the way?
6. You've simply given up. Remember, goals may shift as you learn something new about your path, or if certain deliverables become impossible. Even just a few minutes a week spent editing your goals and re-aligning them to your big-picture desires will help to keep you on track. Your goals will grow with you - they shouldn't work against you. When you stop to review your goals, be sure that they are still relevant to you, important to your progress, and maintain your sense of urgency. Never give up - if your goals outgrow you, they must be readjusted!
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