How to set goals in life
If you want to achieve any level of success in life, I believe that you must first learn how to set goals in life.
After all, if you don’t know where you are going then HOW are you going to get there?
If you don’t start to design your own life, then you are not in control of your own destiny.
You will get trapped in your comfort zone, and one day you will wonder where your life has gone, and why you feel bored and directionless.
Setting goals is the first step to a successful, happy, fulfilling, abundant life.
I also believe that life is all about balance, so you should start by setting goals in three primary areas.
- Your Health
- Your Wealth
- And your Relationships
Just about everything in life comes back to one of these three “big rocks”.
So set aside an hour or so, find some sheets of paper, a pen, and a nice quiet spot where you won’t be disturbed, and start designing your life.
If you don’t design your OWN life, then someone else will design it for you.
Some tips you may want to consider when writing your goals are that they are specific, measurable and timely.
Be Specific
Describe in detail your goal, what will it look like when you have it?
What will you be saying to yourself?
How will you be feeling?
Make it Measurable
How will you know when you have it?
Give it a TimeFrame
Ensure you have a date for when this goal is to be achieved by.
Let’s get started!
Step 1 – Brainstorming
Start with a sheet of paper and write Health at the top, then draw three columns, and write be, do and have at the top of each column. (See below)
HEALTH
Then start brainstorming some ideas on what you want to be, do and have in your life in the area of health.
Under the health category could come your general fitness, your weight, mental health, spirituality, lifestyle goals, contribution goals, etc.
For example you may have a goal to “be” healthy, fit and energised.
“Do” a five Kilometre fun run.
“Have” a Health and fitness blog.
Spend ten minutes or so and brainstorm some goals you want to achieve over the next several months to five years.
Dream big and shoot for the moon, this is no time to be “realistic”.
Write down anything that enters your mind.
Even if you miss you will land amongst the stars!
Next, you can do the same thing with your wealth and relationship goals.
In the area of Wealth, think of income goals, net worth goals, asset goals and business goals.
In the area of relationships, consider the relationships with your spouse, children, family, friends, the community and even the relationship you have with yourself.
Now you have a list of goals we can proceed to step 2.
Step 2 – Create a timeline
Now go through your list of goals and select a timeline of 1, 3 or 5 years for each one and write that number next to each goal.
5 year goals are generally far enough into the future that we can still comprehend the timeframe and set defined action steps.
Step 3 – Pick out your number one goal
Now pick out your number one goal that you absolutely MUST achieve in the next three to five years.
What is going to have the biggest impact on your life and for the people around you?
Now write it down.
For example in the area of wealth, your goal could be: “By December 31 201… (3 Years time) I will create time and financial freedom by becoming debt free and having a residual business income of $20,000 per Month”
Do the same for your health goal and relationship goal.
Step 4 – What is your “Why”?
Not only do you need to know what it is that you want, you have to know “why” you want it.
The bigger the why the easier the how.
Below each of your goals write a statement about all the reasons why you absolutely MUST achieve that goal.
If your why isn’t strong enough you will give up when things get tough, or not even get started in the first place.
If you can’t find a big enough why, then maybe you need to find another goal.
Remember: The bigger the “why” the easier the “how”!
Another good thing to do is called the rocking chair test.
Just imagine that you are an old man or women sitting in your rocking chair, and imagine that you have already achieved the goal.
Imagine what you would have experienced by achieving it and how that would make you feel.
Then imagine how you would feel if you DIDN’T achieve the goal.
What would you have missed out on, and how would that make you feel about yourself now that your days are nearly over?
Do you regret it?
Remember: The bigger the “why” the easier the “how”!
Now that you have decided on your three long-term goals in the three main areas of your life, and you know WHY you want them, we need to chunk them down so that it doesn’t become so overwhelming.
Step 5 – Chunk it down!
Now you have worked out your big vision, it is now important to chunk it down into smaller, achievable action steps.
Start by working out want you want to achieve in the next twelve months.
Decide on three to five goals that you want to achieve in the next year that will progress you towards your three to five year plan.
It is important to do this initially, but once you have been goal setting for a while, you also may like to do this at the end of December to work out your goals for the following year.
Next, chunk your goals down even further and set in place a 90 day or three Month action plan.
Then you can chunk them down further still to a weekly action plan, with what you need to do each week to take you a step further towards your goals.
What are the daily and weekly actions you need to do that will lead to achieving your ultimate goal?
Chunking your goals down like this eliminates overwhelm and frustration.
All you have to do is concentrate on the next step.
And you can always see the next step.
Below is a free downloadable example that you can use to create your own action plan – no opt-in required.
WEALTH TARGET STATEMENT Example
Once you have completed your goal target statement, print it out and read it daily.
The best times are as soon as you wake up and right before you go to bed.
Also pin it up where you will see it several times a day, on your bathroom mirror or the fridge
Keep your goals in the forefront of your mind and visualise yourself as if you have already achieved the goal.
What would you be experiencing and how does it make you feel?
It works!
Step 6 – Take action
Now you have the plan, it is time to take action.
In the words of one of my mentors, Tony Robbins: “Never, ever, ever EVER leave the site of setting a goal without doing SOMETHING towards it’s attainment!”
Take action NOW!
Whether it’s making a phone call, researching something, opting in for some training, making an appointment, hiring a coach, whatever it is, do something NOW towards achieving your goal!
Action leads to momentum which leads to results.
Inaction leads to doubts, fears, worries and procrastination.
DO SOMETHING NOW TO REALISE YOUR DREAMS!!
The power is in the NOW!
Everyday, do something that moves you closer towards your goals.
Unleash your power and live your dreams!
Step 7 – Measure, monitor and adjust
Awesome!
You have set your goals for life and started taking action, but something isn’t working.
Measure, monitor and adjust!
Your going to mess up!
Your going to fail!
Things won’t work or it takes too long!
This is all part of the process.
At the end of every 90 days you will need to review the action plan.
What worked, what didn’t and why?
Whatever worked, keep doing it and step it up!
What didn’t, discard it or do it differently.
What else can you do this next three months?
What other resources or help do you need?
Setting and achieving goals is a work in progress.
Continually measure, monitor and adjust along the way.
This is why I call this a goal target statement.
You line up the target, fire, then keep readjusting your aim until you hit it!
Remember, you only ever really fail if you quit!
This is why your “why” is so important.
It will keep you going through the inevitable ups and downs.
Never give up on your dreams!
The most important thing to remember is that the purpose of the goal is not to get the goal, it is what it makes of us in the process that is what really matters.
So enjoy the journey along the way!
Learn how to set goals for life and set yourself up for success!
If you have any questions or comments, leave them in the comments section below.
To your success,
John W. Newman
Lifestyle Entrepreneur and Online Business Mentor
Dream It, Believe It, Then Achieve It!
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