HOW TO SET A GOAL AND ACHIEVE IT

What is a Vision?

‘Vision’ means the ability to see, or plan something for the future. It is an image that you want to create. Vision is always a future-oriented program. It is not about an individual’s image, it is about what they want to become. Vision should be greater than goal and to have a vision, one has to visualize and imagine a lot of things.

The Greek word /horama/ means to supernaturally gaze at an object externally or have an inspired appearance internally. Each vision usually has its own purpose, but one general purpose is that it inspires the beholder.

Dictionary meaning of vision

The act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be: prophetic vision; the vision of an entrepreneur.

Vision is your why. Vision gives something direction. It’s your desired future. Your vision includes what you believe in (your core values) and what you want in your future (what you want to be). It’s the powerful reason why you want to do something;  your overarching purpose. It’s your passion and keeps you excited and motivated. It’s what inspires you to do whatever it is you want to do.

For money, business, or career, your vision may be very specific. For your life and relationships, your vision may be broader. In either case, your vision should be clear because it is the foundation on which you build (as shown in the fancy image I created for this post.)

To create a vision, begin by identifying your core values, your passions, what you believe to be your purpose, and how you envision your life. From there, be more specific and remember to be clear. Your vision should embody your values and your view of the future without being too generic. Your vision can also change over time. The point is to have one so you know why you’re doing what you do, and you’re happier doing it. The same process applies when you’re creating a vision for any other aspect of your life, such as your career or business.

What is a dream?

‘Dream’ is a state of being completely occupied by one’s own thought. It is also the thoughts and pictures in the mind that come mostly during sleep. Dream is something perfect or very beautiful. It is like seeing visions and pictures in the mind. Dreams are the number of images, ideas, sensations and emotions following one after another into the mind while asleep or during sleep. It is an unconscious stage. Dreams are of various categories like exciting, frightening, magical, adventurous, sad or sexual. The dreamer is never in control of his dream, as he is unconscious; his mind goes in some unique world. As the nature of the dreams vary, they sometimes affect individual’s personality either in a good or a bad way. Dreams can inspire and create new thoughts in the mind.

Dictionary meaning of Dream

A succession of images, thoughts, or emotions passing through the mind during sleep.

What is a plan?

A plan is typically any diagram or list of steps with details of timing and resources, used to achieve an objective to do something. See also strategy. It is commonly understood as a temporal set of intended actions through which one expects to achieve a goal. 

What is a goal?

A goal is a specific target to achieve something. It’s the strategy and tactics you use to move toward your vision.  A goal is an achievable aim or target in the future. You should set and achieve goals only that promote and are in line with your vision. This is why, if you don’t have a vision, goals alone can be defeating (i.e., without a vision, each goal is just something you’ve completed without a larger “why” in mind.)

      Examples of a goal.

•       To lose 10 pounds.
•       To buy a plot of land.
•       To run your own company.
•       To get out of debt.

 How to set a goal

The acronym S.M.A.R.T is a goal setting strategy:

1.          Specific (not vague)
2.         Measurable (detailed)
3.         Achievable (attainable given where you are now)
4.         Relevant (related to the area of your life that needs improvement)
5.         Timely (with a definite deadline)

Goals can be long term (over one year) or short term goals (less than one year.) A good way to know whether you are setting an appropriate goals is to follow Michael Hyatt’s advice by asking  A good way to know whether you are setting an appropriate goals is to follow Michael Hyatt’s advice by asking yourself these three questions:

1.       Are you staying inside your comfort zone (which is bad.)

2.       Are you getting outside your comfort zone (which is good.)

3.       Are you being delusional (which is bad.)

You should set goals that stretch you outside your comfort zone but goals which you can reach.

Our lives are basically partitioned into 8 categories:

1. Health.

2. Relationship.

3. Finance.

4. Career.

5. Personal /Spiritual development.

6. Recreation/Play.

7. Environment.

8. Contribution or service.

If all the 8 categories are a mess, then you might want to focus on the first 4 in the first half of the year and the remaining 4 in the 2^nd half of the year. But if you are struggling with one area of your life, it will make sense for you to focus on that category for the entire year, setting goals only for that area of your life until it has improved.

In setting a goal, follow these five steps:

STEP 1: CREATE VISIONS FOR YOUR LIFE

Before you set individual goals, consider the main eight life categories: health, relationships, finance, career, personal/ spiritual development, recreation/play, environment, and service/contribution.

In each area of your life, before you create goals, create a vision. That is to say, write down what you believe in (your values) and what you want for your future. It is fruitless to create a goal without having an overarching vision because you won’t know why you’re setting your goal, and when you reach it, you won’t feel as good about it.

STEP 2: TAKE INVENTORY OF YOUR LIFE (THINK AND REFLECT UPON WHERE YOU ARE NOW)

After you know what you want, you need to check in with yourself and “take inventory” of where you are right now.

Look at each area of your life and write down the status of where you are. Be honest with yourself. If you’re in an unhappy relationship, write that down. Being honest with yourself will help you make the necessary changes in order to move you toward the life you want to live. Do this for every area of your life.

STEP 3: CREATE AN OVERARCHING PLAN FOR EACH CATEGORY

With each life category written down, decide on one big, overarching plan to lead you toward your vision for that category.

For example, if your financial vision is to become financially free and be an example to your children, your corresponding, overarching plan could be to become debt free (and stay out of debt) and build wealth.

The vision is something that is a way of life; it’s your legacy. The overarching plan is the biggest goal you set to get there — it’s something that is attainable. After you set your overarching plan, you’ll then be able to set smaller goals that are measurable and attainable.

 STEP 4: SET YOUR GOALS

After you know what you want (vision), where you are (inventory), and your main plan of getting to where you want to go, you are ready to set goals.

This means that when you create goals, they should be narrow, in writing, achievable, and have a deadline. Goals can be long-term goals (over one year) or short-term goals (less than one year). You can do this for all areas of your life, or you can focus on a few areas that you want to change the most. Examples of long-term benchmarks are: 5 years out, 10 years out, and 20 years out. Short-term benchmarks for goals include anything less than 1 year, such as one week or 12 months.

A good way to know whether you’re setting appropriate goals is to follow Michael Hyatt’s advice and ask whether you are 1) staying inside your comfort zone (bad), 2) getting outside your comfort zone (good), or 3) being delusional (bad). You want to set goals that stretch you outside your comfort zone (i.e. that are a reach for you), but not so far of a reach that they’re delusional.

Decide what categories you want to create goals for (as little as one category up to all categories), and get to writing. Keep in mind that the more goals you have at one time, the harder it is to focus. It may be more effective for you to focus on 1-4 goals for the first half of the year and the remaining 4 life categories in the second half of the year. Or, if you are only struggling in one area of your life, it may make sense for you to focus on that category for the entire year, setting goals only for that area of your life until it has improved. Only you know where you stand, so choose your goals wisely. Use your inventories from above to determine where you should focus your energy.

I also recommend using tools that will help you ensure you’ll achieve your goals. The best tool I’ve seen for this (and I’ve tried a lot of them), is The Freedom Journal. It’s a journaling book that teaches you how to accomplish your goal in 100 days. I use it and find it very easy and helpful.

Examples of two bad goals:
1. Get on track financially this year.
2. Be more careful with my credit card.

Examples of two good goals:
1. Create monthly budgets the first of every month for the following month with my husband.
2. Pay off my credit card every month and stop using it for everything except groceries.

In the bad set of examples, you can see how the goals are vague and do not have deadlines. In the good set of examples, the goals are specific and timely. Both of these goals are written down which is incredibly important, too.

If you want more of a detailed guide for setting goals, download my Goal Setting Action Plan.

STEP 5: IMPLEMENT YOUR GOALS

Implement your goals by taking action. This may seem obvious, but I believe implementation and planning needs to be a separate step because it is the difference between success and failure.

The reason I am so productive and accomplish my goals is because they are concrete and always on my calendar (I use gmail’s calendar and always have it in the month view so I can visualize what is coming up in the next week and month). If I don’t use my calendar to plan my goals, I have about a 20% success rate. I have found it is the little things (habits and systems) that make success possible (and almost guaranteed) for me.

Whatever calendar you use, put your goals on it as deadlines. Also, put a weekly “goals check-in” on your calendar. Your deadlines will keep you on track and focused. Your weekly check-ins will allow you to make changes and plan accordingly with respect to your deadlines. Perhaps this means that every week you put on your calendar “work on goals” on Saturday morning at 10am. Whatever works for you, the key is to plan it. If you plan it, it will happen. If you don’t check-in with yourself, you won’t give yourself the opportunity to make changes based on your circumstances. For example, if you plan to train for a marathon and put deadlines on your calendar but you’re injured two weeks into training, it doesn’t make sense for you to keep those goals on your calendar. You need to make changes accordingly.

STEP 6: THE 4 R’S — REWARD, REFLECT, REVISE, AND REPEAT

As I alluded to above, you are going to need to make changes. As much as you try to plan your life, you can only do so much. There are circumstances that are beyond your control that will happen. And there are circumstances that will lead you to change what you want. While you may think you know what you want in 5 years, you may end up being way off.

Enter the 4 R’s. First, you should reward yourself after accomplishing any goal. We’re creatures of positive reinforcement and you’ll have more success if you reward yourself. Second, reflect on your progress and think about the journey as time passes. Without reflection it will be hard for you to learn and grow. Third, revise your visions, plans, and goals over time. As you change, so should your goals. Revision can take place during your check-ins so that you keep moving forward in the direction you want as things change. Finally, repeat the process by continuing to make and write down new goals as time goes on