Last week, my article revolved around why shouldn’t one depend only on New Year’s Eve for their new resolutions, and plans. This week, my article focuses on an effective system that one can follow in order to ensure their goals actually work, both at personal and professional level. Yet first, let me illustrate a typical challenge that majority of the people encounter, including myself at some point of my life, where goals remained unfulfilled.
You have lot of ideas, aspirations, goals and plans set for the year, yet you don’t seem to find the time, motivation and the urge to achieve them. Does this sound familiar, to you, a friend, co-worker or a family member? You or they are not alone.
Studies and surveys have shown that many people face similar challenges in realising their goals. Reasons for the same include lack of clarity in setting goals, inadequate planning, external circumstances and the likes. Despite the apparent achievement attained over the past 35 years, I can attest that I have gone through lots of ups and down, primarily for not having an effective goal setting system in place. Let me share with you this week a system that I personally continue to use till date, which I am confident will help you too, achieve profound results.
First, clearly define your intentions as a form of goals, making it specific, achievable and most importantly time-bounded. These can include but is not limited to your personal or professional development, health and fitness, side-hustles, business endeavors, relationships and the likes.
Avoid having many, and ensure they are well-defined. Prioritize quality over quantity goals. I can confidently tell you that too many goals may end you with none at the end of the term achieved. For those who do it once, every year, and depend on New Year ’s Eve, can now see and understand what I mean, and attest on the success rate which is closer to nil. Yes, I have achieved many thing in life, but have also lost and missed many opportunities too. Lesson learnt was prioritising a few over the many goals.
Secondly, be consistent and ensure you follow-up periodically on each of the goals.
Daily (as soon as you wake up or before you go to bed), weekly (over a weekend), and monthly (for the annual goals you have set for the year(s)). Many well-defined and time-bounded goals fall short due to not having a systematic follow-up in place. I do them daily, as soon as I wake-up in the form of to-do-lists, and again in the evening before going to bed as a follow-up on what has been achieved, what has not, and what is it required to ensure it is progressed.
Lastly, make sure you celebrate after you achieve your goals. Believe me, the satisfaction that one receives after celebration is astounding for they act as a great source of motivation. When you make the necessary time to celebrate your achievements, you reinforce the idea that the efforts you have done are worthwhile. Furthermore, such an act helps you to continue creating and achieving goals, knowing that there is a celebration at the end of the tunnel. I do this constantly, and have seen the effect it has on the goals I make.
To conclude this week’s article, I would like to emphasize that everyone can create effective goals provided they ensure the goals are defined clearly, timed, followed-up consistently, and always celebrated in any form or another. Try this simple yet effective system, but don’t forget to invite me on your next celebration date, especially when you see the productive results you attain from the same.
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