Learn To Set Goals You Can Actually Achieve

By Author: Brent Riggs
Total Articles: 22
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Most people, when looking back at their lives, see a disappointing trail of unfulfilled dreams and goals scattered along the wayside. Can you relate?

This time is going to be different, we think to ourselves. We come up with a great game plan and conjure up as much willpower as we can so that we can finally �score� and make our dreams a reality.

Then, before we know it, after a short amount of time, we are back in the same rut of doing what we were doing before, and another set of hopes and dreams are out the window. Of course, we thought it was going to be different this time. We were sure that this time, this mother of all goal setting time would finally be the one we stick to. But�here we are again, disappointed and discouraged. This last set of goals is down the drain, and you are wondering how you are going to keep that from happening again.

The good news is, YOU CAN! How do I know that? How can I promise you this? How can I guarantee it? Because I've been down that road. I've done that, and like you, have been through the same pattern over and over and over. Not anymore though... ...
... well, not nearly as often, that's for sure. I can't say "never", but I can say "rarely". I cannot say that I honestly keep every goal and every resolution, but I can tell you that for the most part I set goals, take massive action, and do what it takes to make sure they come to fruition.

I want to share 10 secrets about how YOU can set your goals, whether personal, financial, or spiritual, and how you can keep your goals from falling apart like in the past.

Secret One: Establish goals that are actually achievable

Have you ever seen pictures of those people who put disks in their lip in order to stretch it out? Or, there are those folks who stretch their necks by adding ring after ring on top of each other. Maybe you have seen those guys who stick swords down their throats.

Do you think they were able to do these things right off the bat? Did they just decide one morning to take the largest disk, the most rings, or the longest sword and get the job done. No. They started at the beginning with the smallest first and worked their way on up. One major reason that people fail to reach their goals is they have created goals that are too grand in scope. They are unrealistic and unachievable. Sadly, we are not taught to realistically assess our own abilities or determine our current level of discipline.

Think about it. If you gained 150 pounds over a ten-year period, do you think you are going to lose it all in six months? If you do not have a habit of eating healthy, it would not be a good idea to have the goal of never eating sugar again. It will take about three days to blow that one.

If keeping a rigid schedule or developing habits regarding your goals has been a stumbling block for you, don�t think you are going to be able to change that in one day. You won�t be able to. You must work up to big changes by setting smaller goals, ones that are actually achievable.

For example. You want to earn and save $200,000 in one year and be able to crank out 200 push-ups in one sitting. If you have not had a history of being a hard worker, if you are not disciplined and busy educating yourself about your business, you won�t be able to make that much money. Also, you are not going to be able to plop down on the ground and whip out 200 push-ups tomorrow.

If you want to get to 200 push-ups in one sitting, start with a goal of being able to do two. Once you can do a couple of push-ups, then set a goal of five. After you proven to yourself you can do five, shoot for 10, then 20, then 50. Plan achievable goals that will motivate you and keep you enthusiastic. Set goals that you know you can reach and that you know you'll keep rather than trying to impress everyone with your super goals that always fail.

Back to the goal of saving $200,000. Start by saving $20. Then, make $100 and save $100. Quit spending, stop eating out five times a week, get out of debt. Set a goal of saving $500. Once you achieve that goal, shoot for $1,000, then $5,000.

The secret to achieving your goals is taking baby steps. Underpromising and overachieveing will keep you feeling motivated and successful instead of feeling like a failure because you had unrealistic expectations. How do you begin a walk from New York City to Los Angeles? One little step at a time. You may even have to begin with one step a DAY. That�s the mentality you need to make your goals a reality.