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How to Set Goals and Achieve Them

<http://www.wikihow.com/Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them>
Three Parts:Setting Goals <#Setting_Goals_sub>Getting Started
<#Getting_Started_sub>Reaching Your Goals <#Reaching_Your_Goals_sub>
Few things are better in this world that setting a goal and achieving
it. Just like when athletes experience a type of "runner's high" after a
race, so too does completing any goal produce a sense of elation and
pride. This article explores many ways of setting and pursuing goals.
Goals won't just complete themselves. You need to be regimented in your
pursuit of them. Get started. Keep going. Achieve your aspirations.
Ad

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Setting Goals

1.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 1 Version 2.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-1-Version-2.jpg>
1
*Decide what you really want to achieve.* Don't be concerned about
what others want for you. Make your goals for yourself.^[1] <#_note-1>
* Oftentimes, this is the hardest part of the goal-making and
fulfilling process. What do you want? The answer to this is
 often a mixture of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Buzz
phrases like stay true to yourself clash with familial and work
obligations. Find goals that promote a balance in your life -
goals that make you happy and benefit your loved ones and others
that depend on you.
Ad
2.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 2 Version 2.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-2-Version-2.jpg>
2
*Set specific goals.* Be specific and realistic about what it is
that you want to achieve. "I want to live in a nice house," is an
open-ended dream compared to, "I want to own a three bedroom house
with two bathrooms in Orange County." The more detailed you can be
about what it is that you want to do or have the better.^[2]
<#_note-2>
* Sometimes your goals evolve and change. That's okay. Make the
necessary adjustments.
3.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 3 Version 2.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-3-Version-2.jpg>
3
*Write out your goals.* Be detailed, be clear, and include your
deadlines. Writing them down tends to make them feel a little more
real. Keep your list in a place where you can reference them
frequently. This will help keep you motivated.^[3] <#_note-3>
4.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 4 Version 2.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-4-Version-2.jpg>
4
*Make sure your goal is measurable.* How will you know when youve
completed a goal? If your goal is to move to a new house, youll
know based on when you sign on the dotted line of your new lease or
title papers. Other goals arent measurable at first glance. If your
goal is to become a better singer, then how will you know when
youve reached it? Set measurable goals instead.^[4] <#_note-4>
Memorize and perfect a single song. Learn to play an instrument
while singing. Hit a new note. Measurable goals give you a sense of
completion when youve finished them as you work towards a larger
goal.^[5] <#_note-5>
5.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 5 Version 2.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-5-Version-2.jpg>
5
*Create a realistic schedule.* Your deadline doesn t have to be
exact, but it should be your best guess. Your deadlines must be
realistic based on your goals. If you re a part-time worker making
minimum wage, don t make your goal to have earned a million dollars
by the end of the year. Give yourself enough time to accomplish
what you ve set out to do.^[6] <#_note-6>
* Brainstorm ways of attaining your goals. Are there different
ways to reach your goal? Write everything down that you can
think of in three minutes, no matter how silly or impossible it
may seem. If your goal is to get in shape, you might try joining
a gym, eating differently, adjusting your daily schedule to
 incorporate more walks, riding a bike to work and back, making
your own meals rather than eating a fast food joints regularly,
or even taking the stairs rather than the elevator. There are
often multiple routes to the same destination. Think about your
goal as a final destination. What route or routes can you take?
* Set a deadline. We all procrastinate. It almost seems like a
natural human quality, but when a deadline is approaching,
youll work harder to obtain your goal. Think about being in
school. When a test was coming up, you knew you needed to study
and you did. Setting goals for yourself should work the same way
too.^[7] <#_note-7>
* Set a deadline for yourself and have consequences if you dont
meet it. Reward and punish yourself if you meet or fail to meet
your own deadlines otherwise, theyll be arbitrary and wont
have any effect. If your big goal is to read more. Assign
yourself a book a week. If you dont finish a book say Homers
Iliad by the end the week, you wont let yourself go out to
eat, watch your favorite television show, spend time with
friends, or go to the movies.
6.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 6 Version 2.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-6-Version-2.jpg>
6
*Tell people about your goals.* Some people shy away from letting
others in on their life goals. They fear that if they fail, theyll
be ashamed. Dont think of it this way. If anything, the fear of
being ashamed may push you to succeed. More importantly, others can
help you reach your goals, can offer physical assistance, or just
give you the necessary moral support.
* Others may not react as enthusiastically to your goals as you
hope. What is important to you may not be as important to
others. Recognize that there is a difference between
constructive feedback and mean-spirited commentary. Listen to
what they have to say, but in the long run, youll have to
decide how important your goal is to you.^[8] <#_note-8>
7.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 7 Version 2.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-7-Version-2.jpg>
7
*Find a community of like-minded people.* Chances are you arent the
only one with this goal. Find others who have the same aims. You can
get started together and benefit from each others knowledge and
experiences. When youve reached your goal, youll also have someone
to celebrate with.
* Go online, utilize social media, and visit local places that
cater to your goals. In our digital age, there are many ways of
connecting, staying connected, and forming a community.
Ad

Part 2 of 3: Getting Started

1.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 8 Version 2.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-8-Version-2.jpg>
1
*Start working toward your goals today.* One of the hardest steps to
 achieving your goals is taking that first step. Begin immediately.
Even if you dont know what your exact course of action is going to
be yet, just go with your gut. Do something that is geared towards
your goals. When you complete that step, recognize that you are on
your way.^[9] <#_note-9>
* If you want to learn any new skill, you have to start
practicing. Strum a guitar and practice basic chords, if you
want to become an excellent musician. Start reading self-help
books designed to help beginners develop new skills. No matter
what your goal is, there is a way that you can start immediately.
2.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 9.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-9.jpg>
2
*Develop and follow your plan of action.* Think about what you need
to do in order to make it happen. If your goal is to buy that three
bedroom house, set up an account for a down payment, figure out how
much you need, and start saving. Go to real estate websites and
look around for houses that meet, (or are close to) the criteria of
what you want.^[10] <#_note-10>
3.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 10.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-10.jpg>
3
*Visualize achieving your goal.* Imagine yourself accomplishing your
goals. How did you do it? How good is it going to feel when youve
finished? Will people congratulate you? Will you take pride in it?
Visualization is a great trick to help you process your actions and
to keep you motivated towards your final goals.
4.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 11.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-11.jpg>
4
*Keep a list.* Review your goals daily. Read over your goals at
least once a day. The more often you do, the better. Read your
goals when you get up in the morning and before you go to bed at
night.
* When youve completed a goal on your list, dont scratch it out
entirely. Create another list of accomplished goals. Sometimes,
we focus on what we havent achieved and forget about all the
goals weve met. Keep this list around as well. It will be a
goods source of motivation.
5.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 12.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-12.jpg>
5
*Ask for guidance.* Find a mentor or someone who has achieved your
goal to give you advice. Theyll have insight into ways that you can
achieve your goal or things to avoid if you want to succeed. Listen
to them carefully. Consult them regularly.
* Just like in school, you wouldnt necessarily choose to teach
yourself advanced mathematics. It is far easier if you have a
teacher someone who knows the formulas to success to help
you along the way, to explain ways of overcoming obstacles, and
to celebrate with once youve succeeded. A good mentor will be
just as proud of you for achieving your goal as youll be of
 yourself.
Ad

Part 3 of 3: Reaching Your Goals

1.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 13.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-13.jpg>
1
*Learn from your mistakes.* Dont waste time beating yourself up for
little mistakes here and there. Value your mistakes for what they
are learning experiences. What did you do wrong? Why was it wrong?
What can you do in the future to make sure it doesnt happen again?
2.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 14.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-14.jpg>
2
*Acknowledge every victory.* So much of achieving goals is a matter
of perception. Celebrate small wins. If your goal is to make
straight As and you do well on an exam, celebrate it. If you goal is
to become a lawyer, celebrate every hoop you successfully jump
through like getting into law school, doing well in a course,
passing the bar, and finally getting a job.^[11] <#_note-11>
* Celebrate benchmarks or milestones. Some goals will take years
if not longer to accomplish. Recognize and celebrate the amount
of time that youve spent doing something. The greatest chess
players spend years of their life practicing their craft. They
also will brag to anyone who asks about how long theyve been
playing. Practice takes time and effort. Recognize and be proud
of the amount of time youve put into something.^[12] <#_note-12>
3.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 15.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-15.jpg>
3
*Be passionate.* Whatever your goal is, it is a goal for reason. It
is something that you want for yourself in the future. Let that
passion and drive show. Get excited. Think about what you are
working towards and not what you are doing at that moment, if you
are unhappy with your situation. Sometimes, the best destinations
force you to take the roughest trails.
4.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 16.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-16.jpg>
4
*Revise your goals if necessary.* Life is filled with lemons that
dont make very good lemonade. Sometimes, unexpected things happen
that will affect your plans. Dont be afraid to recalibrate, think
of new plans, set new goals, and in some cases through out old goals
that you might not care about any more.
* Setbacks are natural. They shouldnt automatically deter you
from your ultimate goals. Recognize why you are facing a
setback. Is it something you could control or not? Move forward
accordingly.^[13] <#_note-13>
* Consider new opportunities. There is a reason that people
believe in fate. Some of the best things in life arent planned.
 Say yes to new opportunities if they help further your own goals
or present new, better goals.
5.
Set Goals and Achieve Them Step 17.jpg
<#/Image:Set-Goals-and-Achieve-Them-Step-17.jpg>
5
*Persevere.* Have a thick skin. You might not get what you want
right away. Hard work and determination can produce results.
Ultimately, believe in yourself. If you have faith in your abilities
to attain a goal, youll get there.^[14] <#_note-14>
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Sources and Citations

1. <#_ref-1>
http://strengthofus.org/pages/view/164/setting-and-achieving-goals
2. <#_ref-2> http://topachievement.com/philhumbert.html
3. <#_ref-3> http://topachievement.com/philhumbert.html
4. <#_ref-4>
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay/201004/what-are-the-most-popu
lar-goals-in-the-world
5. <#_ref-5> http://topachievement.com/philhumbert.html
6. <#_ref-6>
http://www.forbes.com/sites/glassheel/2013/03/14/6-ways-to-achieve-any-goal/
7. <#_ref-7>
http://www.forbes.com/sites/glassheel/2013/03/14/6-ways-to-achieve-any-goal/
8. <#_ref-8>
http://www.forbes.com/sites/glassheel/2013/03/14/6-ways-to-achieve-any-goal/
9. <#_ref-9> http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/228279
10. <#_ref-10> http://leavingworkbehind.com/how-to-set-goals/
11. <#_ref-11> http://leavingworkbehind.com/how-to-set-goals/
12. <#_ref-12>
 http://www.success.com/article/1-on-1-how-to-set-a-goal-and-achieve-it
13. <#_ref-13>
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/motivation_articles.asp?id=113
14. <#_ref-14>
http://www.actionforhappiness.org/take-action/set-your-goals-and-make-them-h
appen

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</Category:Goal-Realization-%26-Problem-Solving>
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