Importance Of Goal Setting – 4 Traps You Must Avoid
Let’s chat about the importance of goal setting. Here are 4 goal setting traps you really must avoid to succeed.
It’s time to talk about the importance of goal setting.
Do you find yourself ever struggling to achieve your goals? If so, you are not alone.
This post is all about identifying the common traps people face while goal-setting that could be setting you up for failure rather than success.
What to know how to beat those common goal-setting traps? I’m sure you do!
That’s because the first step to any goal-setting issues is acknowledgement.
FYI: You can only fix a problem that you are aware of.
Your goals are ultimately the roadmap that guides and shows you what is possible for your life but if you can avoid the common potholes it’s a good idea to know what they are!
There are four very common “goal setting traps” that you may be falling into.
FYI: These are pretty insidious mistakes that can make it very difficult for you to accomplish whatever you’re setting out to achieve.
Want to increase your chances of achieving your goals? Do your best to avoid these 4 goal-setting traps:
IMPORTANCE OF GOAL SETTING
TRAP # 1 – Your goals are too vague.
If your goals contain uncertainties, you’ll have difficulty attaining them.
Strive to create specific goals.
Determine exactly what you want to achieve and attach terms to your goals that are certain and measurable.
- Ensure that your goals are measurable and timely. There should be a specific point when you can tell that you’ve achieved your goal.
- “Lose weight” is not measurable, but “Lose 10 pounds” is. “Lose 10 lbs in 90 days” is ideal, because it’s clear, concise, measurable, and has a motivation-driving deadline.
- Remember your goals needs to be SMART – Specific, measurable, attainable/achievable, relevant/realistic and timely. Setting SMART goals is the first step to turning the invisible into the visible.
IMPORTANCE OF GOAL SETTING
TRAP # 2 – Your goals aren’t personal enough
You’re much more likely to reach your goals if they’re your own goals, speaking to your own desires, rather than being inspired by others.
While you can model your goals on the prior successes of others (if only because it serves to prove the goal is possible to achieve) your goals should be meaningful and personal to you in order to drive your success.
The perfect goal will command your thoughts, liberate your energy and inspire your hopes.
It should make you feel excited about life and your future and make you feel ALIVE.
The real value of setting goals is not the recognition or reward. It’s the person we become by finding the discipline, courage and commitment to chase our goals which light up our hearts.
You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you. Maya Angelou
IMPORTANCE OF GOAL SETTING
TRAP # 3 – Your goals are more difficult than you realized
Setting goals that are beyond your reach is simply inviting failure.
Instead, you need to set goals that you know are attainable, and break them into smaller, bite-sized stepping stones to enhance your ability for achievement.
- Follow the SMART strategy for goal setting, which we mentioned above. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable/achievable, relevant/realistic and timely and these make it easier for you to achieve them.
- Your goals don’t have to be far off or hard to reach – you can simply set new goals to replace the old as you reach each smaller goal.
- Goals that are too easy can also be detrimental. If you don’t feel motivated or challenged, you may not perceive that the goal is worth your time or effort.
- Choose goals and aspirations that drive you to achieve them. You need to have goals that STRETCH YOU.
IMPORTANCE OF GOAL SETTING
TRAP # 4 – You’re keeping your goals a secret.
I know, I know, it can be tempting to hide your goals when you’d prefer people didn’t constantly ask you how you are going with them.
But if you keep your goals hidden, you’re more likely to abandon them.
Sharing your goals with people you trust will also help keep you accountable.
Your goals are nothing to be ashamed of.
They are worth honoring by speaking out loud about them.
They are worth acknowledging.
They are worth sharing and deserve to be shared, if only so others can help motivate you to achieve what matters to you most.
- Develop a support team of like-minded individuals to get the help and support you need. When you share your goals with others, they can build you up and help you find the drive that you need to fulfill all that you set out to do.
I believe the last thing I read at night will likely manifest when I’m sleeping. You become what you think about the most. Daymond John
The question I ask myself like almost every day is, ‘Am I doing the most important thing I could be doing?’ Mark Zuckerberg
IMPORTANCE OF GOAL SETTING
Although these are simple pitfalls, these 4 goal-setting traps can have an enormous impact on your ability to achieve what you want.
When you avoid these common traps, not only does it make it easier for you to attain your goals, it also helps you overcome challenges along the way.
In the end, you need to be stubborn about your goals and flexible about your methods.
Don’t think too small or set vague goals.
Create a deadline and write this information down.
Nurture your confidence and discipline and stay committed to the goal-chasing process.
If you follow these tips at long last your days of struggling to reach your goals can be a thing of the past.
Make sure what you do today matters because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.
Instead of looking at the past, I put myself ahead twenty years and try to look at what I need to do now in order to get there then. Diana Ross
Before You Go…
– See my EVERYTHING PAGE and grab a free gift > HERE
– Get instant access to EVERY COURSE I’ve ever created > HERE
– Listen to my INSPIRING LIFE PODCAST on Spotify or via Apple Podcasts.
– Or for biz owners, listen to LIFE COACH FOR BIZ MOMS Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.