Goal setting—We’ve all done it and it always seems so simple. Yet, for some reason, we fail more than we succeed. How does this happen?
There are many reasons for failure, but what it usually comes down to is improper planning.
A good action plan results from focusing on the how rather than the what. Though knowing your outcomes is important, you must have in plan in place on how you can actually achieve them.
That is not the only mistake people make, though. There are many more.
In this blog post, Geoff Seow—a life coach and NLP practitioner who helps millennials create an inspired vision for the future—will show you how to avoid the most common goal setting mistakes, and what strategies you can implement to achieve what you’re aiming for. You can learn more about his work on his website.
Table of Contents
- The 6 Most Common Goal Setting Mistakes to Avoid
- Mistake #1: Setting too Many Goals
- Mistake #2: Using the Wrong Goal Setting System
- Mistake #3: Having Vague, Unclear Goals
- Mistake #4: Setting Goals That Don’t Align With Your Values
- Mistake #5: Not Having a Prioritization Framework
- Mistake #6: Not Plotting Out Micro Goals
- Want to Avoid the 6 Goal Setting Mistakes? Play The Long Game
This Article Is a Guest Contribution
This article is a new installment in my Guest Post Series, where entrepreneurs of all sizes and from different backgrounds share insightful stories and valuable lessons.
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The 6 Most Common Goal Setting Mistakes to Avoid
As a life coach, I get to help people turn their long-term vision into a reality. I’m able to do this because I’ve observed countless of goal setting mistakes over the years.
It’s not that people fail to see the bigger picture or don’t have a clear understanding of what they want; What it usually comes down to is the planning process. Achieving any major goal will require you to design a detailed roadmap.
This also means that you can’t just write down your goals in a single day and trust that you’ll remember them. You know you’ve done proper planning when you find yourself reviewing your plan frequently.
Far too often, I see people write a list of goals into their notebook or journal, only for them to never look at their notes again.
Admittedly, I’ve been guilty of this too. For many years, I jotted down my New Year’s resolutions on paper without ever reviewing them. Making my notes look neat and pretty didn’t help.
Why do some people achieve all their goals while others simply dream of having a better life? With over 640,000 copies sold of this classic book on how to set and achieve goals comes the newest edition by bestselling author and motivational speaker Brian Tracy.
Does this sound anything like you? Do you feel like you’ve been setting weekly goals or annual targets, but for some reason you can’t stick with them?
If so, then you’re in the right place. In the upcoming sections, you’ll learn how to avoid the 6 most common goal setting mistakes when designing your goal strategy.
Mistake #1: Setting too Many Goals
Try to avoid setting too many goals at once. Having too many targets can be a mental burden, and it also makes it challenging for you to focus. Concentrate on one goal at a time, and only move on to the next one when you feel confident that you’re making good progress.
Mistake #2: Using the Wrong Goal Setting System
There are many ways to set goals. To avoid feeling overwhelmed by all the available options, pick one system and keep it consistent across the board. For best results, I recommend the S.M.A.R.T. goal-setting system. 1
Mistake #3: Having Vague, Unclear Goals
Avoid creating vague goals and design a specific, achievable, and time-bound metric that you can measure. Whenever you put pen to paper and brainstorm new goals, ask yourself, “Is this specific enough?”
Mistake #4: Setting Goals That Don’t Align With Your Values
Do your goals agree with your inner desires? Can you explain why you want to accomplish them? Make sure to base your goals around your inner sense of direction and not just around external sources, such as peer pressure.
Mistake #5: Not Having a Prioritization Framework
You’re less likely to forget about your goals if you make them your absolute priority. This is the key to increasing your chances of success.
How do you effectively prioritize something? Set a daily reminder to check on the progress you’ve been making, and you’ll find it easier to make them your focus.
Mistake #6: Not Plotting Out Micro Goals
Have you ever set overly ambitious goals that caused you to feel overwhelmed? Are your goals too broad? One of the most powerful ways to make progress is to divide your goals into manageable and actionable steps. With each small step that you take, you will feel a sense of accomplishment.
Want to Avoid the 6 Goal Setting Mistakes? Play The Long Game
I define success as living life on my terms. To me, it’s all about having a positive impact on the world and staying true to my morals, values, and ethics.
These things are reflected in my personal goals, too. It’s this framework that helps me stay on track and committed during difficult times.
If you follow the advice outlined in this article and set powerful goals for yourself, you too will be able to stay dedicated in the long-term. You decide how big you want to aim; It’s up to you to set the benchmarks.
Existence is precious, your vision is unique, and your goals will help you create the life you desire.
If you take one thing away from this article, let it be this: Achieving your goals is a game of strategy, mindset, willpower, and most importantly, commitment. How will you make a step forward today?
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References
- “SMART Goals: A How to Guide.” University of California, www.ucop.edu/local-human-resources/_files/performance-appraisal/How%20to%20write%20SMART%20Goals%20v2.pdf.