5 Steps for Goal Setting and Achievement


We've all done it. We've all set out to do something important - to conquer mountains big and small. Maybe it was a life long dream, or maybe it was something new and we were just discovering the true breadth of our passion for it. And we've all felt those dreams slip away only to be revisited years later when we realized there hasn't been any forward movement on them.

Here are 5 steps to help you make and reach your goals:

1. Make sure it's actually a goal.
Not every idea that pops into your head is a goal. In order for it to truly be a goal it must pass the "SMART Test".


  • S – Specific (or Significant).
  • M – Measurable (or Meaningful).
  • A – Attainable (or Action-oriented).
  • R – Relevant (or Rewarding).
  • T – Time-bound (or Trackable).

If your idea passes the "SMART Test" then you are safe to treat it like a goal and move on to the next step.

2. Make sure it's what you really want.
Once you've decided an idea is a goal it's important to decide if it's a goal you are willing to pursue. You can't pursue every goal in life at once or you would get nothing done. You need to decide if you are going to go for it and, once you do, where it will fall on your priority list. In other words, which, or how much, of your other goals are you willing to sacrifice in order to pursue this new goal? Not all goals need to be your top priority but you do need to define their priority so when you move to the next steps you know what you can realistically accomplish.

3. Break it down.
Beginning the path towards a lofty goal can be intimidating, especially when you don't quite know where to begin. If you break the goal into smaller, manageable mini-goals you are more likely to succeed in attaining the larger goal. Say you have a goal that you think will take three years to complete. First, you should break that down into mini-goals you would like to achieve each year towards your larger goal. Then, you should further break it down semi-annually or quarterly, then monthly, and maybe even weekly. The mini-goals for the weeks in the near future should be well defined while those near the end of the path can be less defined until they are closer.

4. Set hard and soft deadlines.
Once your goal has been broken down you should set tangible deadlines. I mean actual dates! Some of these deadlines need to be hard and some can be soft but either way they need to be written down and trackable. That way you can check them off as you go and see if you are keeping on schedule. Hard deadlines are deadlines that can't be negotiated. They are used for actions that must be done before others can begin. Soft deadlines are reserved for actions that will help the process if they are completed earlier but won't derail the entire project if they're not done exactly on time.

5. Be open-minded to changes
As important as it is to figure out a goal and a road map to get there, it is equally important to realize things can change. Maybe you decide you're not willing to sacrifice as much as you thought for that particular goal. Or maybe a totally new and exciting goal has been put on the table that you would rather pursue. Or maybe it's not that drastic, maybe you are still in love with this goal but over time it has been tweaked and developed into something slightly different but even more enticing! Whatever the case may be, all you can do is realize it might (read: probably will) happen and that's OK. As long as you have a plan it's OK if the direction changes. As long as you are steering towards something you are passionate about the hard work will be so worth it!

With the help of these five steps you will be able to define and follow a path toward achieving your goals.

Taya de Baat
Owner
Taylynn Bookkeeping
 
Taylynnbooks@shaw.ca
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