Why Is Goal Setting Important?

I would answer that it is essential if you want to achieve true success in any walk in life.

Not being able to clearly visualise your future hinders your progress.

However I would also say that it is the kind of goals you set that is equally as important.

Goal setting is an art form in itself.

Setting goals well is the difference between success and failure.

It actually takes practice to set achievable goals.

As we grow as human beings, our capabilities and options at any one time are not the same.

For example, take a financial goal. If you're currently in a 9 to 5 job that you hate and you set a goal to set up a business and be earning $250,000 per year within 12 months, you might be stretching yourself a little.

Of course, this can sometimes be achieved, but not in the majority of cases.

Trying a different course may prove more achievable.

Keep the long term $250,000 per year goal but…

Perhaps say to yourself instead, "I will set up a part time business working around my hobbies or passions, dedicate a certain number of hours a week to work on it and have a target of say, $500 of extra income per month in six months time".

Why is goal setting important in this case?

As I mentioned before, it's not just picking a goal out of thin air that matters.

Setting the right ones for your current circumstances is more important.

So for the above example, it's extra dough in your pocket to help you with some of the necessities in life and you may even exceed the goal and that is tremendous incentive to continue.

The dream of $250,000 a year is still there, but by following the second route and actually hitting the target, you'll be one hell of a sustainable step closer to achieving the larger outcome.

As you reach one milestone, in this case $500 per month of extra income, you can now set your next six month goal of say, doubling that target to $1000 per month.

You can see that by following this step by step process and sticking to it you'll gradually move towards your final destination, avoiding wishful thinking along the way.

Why Is Goal Setting Important - Step By Step

It doesn't matter.

The route is the same: step by step, persistently acted upon, re-evaluated as necessary and, repeated.

Don't worry if you fail to hit your goals sometimes.

Failure is a part of success.

You may have set an unreasonable target or you might have lost focus and dedication along the way, we're only human!

Don't dwell on it.

But not actually trying in the first place is far worse.

If your goal was to lose a certain amount of weight by a certain time and you missed the goal, but lost some weight anyway, pat yourself on the back for actually losing some weight (you're lighter than when you began!) and re-set your goals at a more sustainable but at the same time, challenging rate.

Goals must still stretch you somewhat but they can't be ridiculous and out of reach in too short a time frame.

You're growing as a person and this takes time.

Steady On Her Way - Why is Goal Setting Important

On the other hand, if you exceed the goal; great!

It could be that you applied yourself with formidable vigour, if so, congratulations.

Alternatively it might be that you set it too low so just re-set, but this time stretch it a little. It will be fun to see if you can hit the new target this time!

The route to success is to set long term goals and achieve them using gradually ever more demanding short term goals.

Why is goal setting important? Because it gets you to where you truly want to be.

Without goals we just drift.

However goal setting itself has to be learnt, you'll find out about yourself along the way and you can re-evaluate in accordance with your own progress.

Best of luck!



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