If Your Goal Isn’t on Your Calendar, Then It’s Only a Dream
One of the biggest difficulties in achieving goals is getting them out of the purely mental world.
When you have a good customer asking for something from you, you promptly do it, don’t you?
Of course, because you will be making a deal with this client, who will reward you for your work with a payment.
So why when that best customer is yourself you do nothing?
If you want to achieve your goals, you need to treat them like a real priority.
That means putting them on your calendar and making time for them in your schedule. It may seem like a hassle, but research shows that written goals are more likely to be achieved.
So how do you go about setting up a goal achievement schedule? We’ll walk you through the steps below!
Written Goals Are 42% More Likely To Be Achieved
It’s no secret that goal setting is an important part of achieving success.
But what many people don’t realize is that simply having a goal isn’t enough — you also need a plan for how to achieve it.
According to this research, one of the best ways to increase your chances of success is to write down your goals.
When you write down your goals, you’re committing yourself. You’re saying that you’re serious about achieving these objectives and you’re going to do whatever it takes to make them happen.
Having a written goal gives you something to aim for and helps keep you focused on what’s important.
Every Objective Must Be Accompanied by a Completion Calendar
One of the best ways to make sure you’re on track to achieve your goals is to create a completion calendar.
This is simply a timeline that lays out when you plan to complete each step necessary for goal attainment.
For example, if one of your objectives is to write a book, then your completion calendar might look like this:
- Research and outline book by February 15th.
- Write the first draft by April 15th.
- Revise and edit the final draft by June 15th.
- Publish book by August 15th.
Obviously, these dates are just for illustration — you’ll want to customize them based on your specific goal.
But the point is that having a completion calendar keeps you accountable and ensures that you’re making progress towards your goal.
Goals Must Be Clear, Doable, and Defying at the Same Time
Another key ingredient for goal setting is making sure your objectives are clear, doable, and defying at the same time.
“Clear” means that you have a good understanding of what it takes to achieve the goal and can articulate it easily.
“Doable” means that the goal is something you’re capable of accomplishing.
And “defying” means that the goal pushes you out of your comfort zone a bit — it’s something you wouldn’t normally do but want to accomplish anyway.
When all three of these qualities are present in a goal, it’s more likely to be successful.
That’s because having clarity ensures that there’s no ambiguity about what needs to be done, being able to do it makes sure you’re physically capable of reaching the goal and defying means you’ll have to put in extra effort to achieve it.
You Must Divide It Into Smaller Chunks
Another key to successful goal setting is breaking your objectives down into smaller chunks.
This makes them more manageable and helps you stay on track.
Again, if one of your goals is to save $20,000 in the next year, then you might break it down as follows:
- Save $1000 in the first month.
- Save $2000 in the second month.
- Save $3000 in the third month
- Etc.
This approach makes it easier to see progress and keeps you from feeling overwhelmed. It’s also helpful to have a specific goal for each month or week, as this can help keep you focused.
You Must Have Leading Indicators
A leading indicator is something that tells you whether or not you’re on track to reach your goal.
For example, if one of your objectives is to get in shape, then your weight would be a good leading indicator.
If your goal is to save money, then the amount of money in your bank account could be a leading indicator.
When you have leading indicators, it’s easier to make course corrections if necessary. This means that you can adjust your plan as needed so that you stay on track to achieve your goal.
You Must Block Time for Dedicating Yourself to Your Goals
The final key to goal setting is making sure you block time in your schedule specifically for working on your objectives.
This might mean setting aside certain days of the week or hours of the day, but whatever works best for you is fine. The important thing is that you make a commitment to yourself and stick to it.
When you do this, it’s easier to stay focused and motivated.
And since goals rarely happen without effort, dedicating yourself to them in this way is essential for success.
If your goal isn’t on your calendar, it’s not real — so be sure to include everything necessary for goal attainment when creating your timeline!
Having a completion calendar, breaking it down into smaller chunks, having leading indicators, and dedicating time to goal achievement are all crucial aspects of successful goal setting.
There’s no reason not to start right now. Good luck!
