A goal is an object or an aim that we wish to achieve through action. When we set a goal, we are giving ourselves a target to strive for. Holding onto that end result leads to a more structured, meaningful, purposeful, and productive life.
The 2 most recognized goals are short term goals and long term goals.
Short term goals are the ones that a person will achieve in the near future, usually less than a year. These may be an hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly goal. Accomplishments of these goals, when built on each other, can help you achieve an even greater goal/result. Keep in mind, that in order to be successful at your short term goals, they have to be believable and achievable.
Long term goals are ones that a person will achieve as they advance through the different stages of their life and life experiences; these goals usually are set for a time that goes well beyond one year. Perhaps something you hope to achieve, in let’s say…the next 18 months. You can even place your 5, 10, 20 year goals…or beyond…under long term goals.
Tracking progress with your goals can be a game changer. When you measure progress while working towards a specific goal, you will be able to see that though you might not be, in this moment, where you are wanting to get, or visualizing yourself being, you will be able to see over time, that you have made movements in the right direction. Seeing that personal growth will show you that you are a lot better off than where you began when you first set your initial goal(s).
Before you set a goal, take a closer look at what you’re trying to achieve and ask yourself the following questions:
- Is this goal something you truly want?
- Is it important enough to pour hours of time and effort into it?
If you’re not willing to put in the time, it may not be worth pursuing.
A useful way of making goals more powerful is to use the SMART mnemonic. While there are plenty of variants, SMART usually stands for:
- S – Specific (or Significant).
- M – Measurable (or Meaningful).
- A – Attainable (or Action-Oriented).
- R – Relevant (or Rewarding).
- T – Time-bound (or Trackable).
Just don’t think about your goals. Write them down. Once you’ve written your goals down, keep them somewhere visible; put personal goals up on your mirror or near your computer screen as a daily reminder and source of motivation.
Your action plan should include the overall goal you’re trying to meet and all the steps you need to take to get there. Working with a life coach can support your efforts to set and make steps to achieve your gols.
Goal setting gives you a list of manageable steps that you can take in order to take your life from where it is now to where you want it to go both effectively and efficiently.
Your life coach will provide a safe space during your sessions to explore these steps, and help hold you accountable as you work towards your goals.
It’s never too late to set goals for success!
Life Coach, Medical Advocacy Consultant, Professional Speaker 