Bite-Sized Goals are More Achievable
I went on a work trip out of town last week with a few of my colleagues. Overall, it was a fulfilling trip. We visited to see how what we do within our office translates to what we do within the field. One of our office calls was with a trailblazer within our field. I asked her what advice she would give to more junior personnel about overcoming obstacles within their careers. What kept her and still keeps her going? She responded that we often focus too much on the future and what life would be like years later. We need to focus on what we are achieving right now.
Her response led me to think about how I can put this into perspective for someone who feels their goals are lofty and unattainable. Below, I will share with you ways I believe are helpful when you feel like you have a lot to do to achieve your goals or when you feel like nothing is going as planned.
- Write you goals somewhere you’ll see them and revisit them quarterly. Too often, we either don’t write down goals or we don’t put them into a format that is well thought out and makes sense. Try developing goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Click here for an excellent SMART goal template.
- Break your goals into bite-size achievable goals. You’ve written down a goal, and you stare at it because it’s a big goal, and where you are right now in life makes achieving that goal seem impossible. Break it down into the most minor possible goal. For example, if you want to be a lawyer, you know there are steps to becoming one. Break down those steps and write them where you can see them to check them off.
- Celebrate small wins. Everyone celebrates significant achievements, but hardly anyone celebrates the small ones. Now that you have broken your goals into bite-size ones, you can also have bite-size celebrations. You are not only celebrating wins; you are motivating yourself to move on to the next one.
Recap: all I’m asking you to do is focus on right now. Seeing the big picture is fine, but what small thing can you accomplish that will contribute to your goal? What small accomplishment can you celebrate that will keep you motivated? What can you focus on right now to get you to your next chapter? You will change so much between now and then, and some of your big goals may not be what you want to do in the future. Try focusing more on right now and focusing less on what is next. I bet you’ll start feeling better about where you are in life because you’ll start feeling a bit more accomplished.
