The hierarchy for successful goal “setting” starts with a focus on the Four Priorities of Life, then setting meaningful and realistic goals, and finally mapping out the milestones pivotal to ensuring successful completion. The ten tips below cover this process in more detail.
Keeping life’s four priorities front and center
When setting goals ensure the Four Priorities of Life (finances, career/business, relationships, and health) are rooted in your planning effort. The goals you set should span across all four areas evenly, so you live a well-balanced life. Focusing on any one area and ignoring others will create imbalance. These priorities encapsulate life and all of them are equally important.
Laying the groundwork
Over the years you’ve likely documented to-do lists, journal ideas, goals and dreams in various locations: on your computer, in journals, on scraps of paper, or even on your phone, to name a few. Consolidate all of these into one “master” list and save on a single file in your computer. Delete any items that are now obsolete and prioritize the ones that are still relevant. Make sure you categorize them under the Four Priorities of Life discussed earlier.
Set goals judiciously—plan thoroughly
Most people do not take the time to think through their goals thoroughly. Don’t just set goals arbitrarily without assessing your strengths, weaknesses and current lifestyle. Also, every goal needs to be planned thoroughly based on the following criteria:
How long will it take to accomplish?
What will I have to sacrifice?
What other areas of my life will this impact?
Do I have a realistic chance of accomplishing this goal?
Do I have the bandwidth?
What other obstacles could prevent me from accomplishing this goal?
Your answers will determine whether or not you should proceed in establishing that particular goal. There are no right or wrong answers. Everyone’s lifestyle and characteristics are different.
Plan for worst case scenarios
Unfortunately, emergencies happen without advance warning. Incorporating the appropriate safeguards when setting goals will help improve your chances of accomplishing your goal on time regardless of any unforeseen emergency. Consider factoring in some cushion time for the following emergencies when setting your goals:
Someone in your family will have severe issues to deal with
You and your significant other will have a major fall out
You will have legal issues
You will have major financial issues
You will be laid off from work
It’s not if¾it’s when! You know some if not all of the above issues will occur in your lifetime¾so be prepared and buffer in extra time for these emergencies. Plan ahead and assume they will occur! If these issues never happen, you’re that much further ahead to achieving your goals. Planning for worst case scenarios is crucial for goal success!
A catastrophe is only one if it has never been planned for. Don’t let yourself be surprised and thrown off guard. A word of caution: Continue to be aggressive and remain focused on accomplishing your goals as quickly as possible.
Don’t depend on others
You should never set goals that depend on someone else to help you accomplish them unless it’s for guidance or an occasional helping hand. Please do not take this the wrong way: you still need experts (contractors, professionals, etc.), you will also need colleagues, friends and family occasionally, but you shouldn’t depend on these people to accomplish your goals. For example, let’s say one of your goals is to build your own home. You will need specialists along the way and perhaps occasionally a helping hand from a friend. However, don’t rely on that friend to always be there to help you accomplish that goal, after all they have their own life challenges and obligations. That responsibility falls squarely on your shoulders. Placing dependencies on others could increase your odds of failure as you cannot control or manage the actions of others. You must own the goal. Sure, it is a lot of weight to carry on your shoulders, but if something goes wrong, there is no one else to blame.
Set minor (short-term) and major (long-term) goals
What is the difference between minor and major goals? That is for you to decide. Everyone is different. You have to consider the complexity, the magnitude and your current lifestyle before deciding which goals are minor and which ones are major. Some of my minor goals could be considered major to someone else.
Typically, minor goals are: (1) short-term—can be attained in less time than a major goal (they take days, weeks or a few months to complete), (2) simple (a few easy steps), and (3) require few resources. Of these goals, those that take a few months to complete could also be considered a major goal, however, they are branded as minor goals because they are not as impactful as major goals. Below are a few examples of minor goals associated with the Four Priorities of Life:
Finances
Open a savings account and automatically transfer a set amount each pay period
Establish and maintain a simple budget
Monitor your expenses daily
Career
Organize your workspace
Never be late to work
Review work-related emails three times a day
Relationships
Go on a date night every other week with your significant other
Go to a house of worship every week
Health
Lose ten pounds in one month
Hire a trainer
Major goals are typically long-term (require over six months and up to several years to complete), require more resources, and will have life-altering effects. You may forget a few short-term/minor goals, but you will never forget a major goal! Major goals are always a priority. Also, minor goals can occasionally be cast aside in order to focus on a major goal, which is usually time dependent. Below are a few examples of major goals associated with the Four Priorities of Life:
Finances
Purchase a home
Have a million dollars in total assets
Career
Get promoted in two years
Attain the largest bonus possible every year
Relationships
Get married
Start a family
Nurture a minimum of one relationship per month with key colleagues and management
Health
Exercise daily
Lose 50 pounds
Major goals, if accomplished will help you master your life and solidify your legacy.
Goals should be realistic (in scope and due date—initially)
At this stage of your development, the more you take on the greater the chances you will fail. Set realistic minor goals that have attainable due dates and concentrate on doing whatever it takes to complete those goals. It’s critical to get accustomed to success with a few quick wins before taking on too much. Possessing a mindset based on accomplishments is crucial for continuous motivation. Once you’ve instituted structure and developed your self-discipline skills, you can gradually take on more.
Keep goals simple
Your life is already complicated and busy with obligations. When establishing goals keep them simple, straightforward and easy to remember. In other words, minimal milestones and administrative overhead. Do not complicate life further with cumbersome and outlandish goals. Avoid complicated goals that take years to accomplish, have numerous milestones, and require you to depend on others along the way. People fail because they set goals that are outlandish and impossible to accomplish.
Never set goals on impulse
Many individuals set goals on impulse or momentous occasions. Establish goals regardless of a symbolic date on the calendar. Every goal should be extremely important and thought through carefully with time and resource considerations at the forefront, not the momentous occasion. Contemplate on what you care about and only set goals that add value to your life.
Set milestones
Milestones are the stepping stones needed to help you achieve your goals. For example, if your goal is to lose fifty pounds, what steps do you need to take to help you achieve this goal? If you focus on completing those steps, the goals take care of themselves. In this example health is the priority, losing fifty pounds is the goal and the milestone could be to lose two pounds a week via exercise and meal management. The more detailed the milestones are the better your chance of completing your goal. Don’t forget to utilize your calendar to mark deadlines for these milestones to help you keep pace and maintain accountability.
