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Your Goal Timeline is Not Realistic 
The Reason Behind your Goal Has Not Been Established
Life Creates a Distraction
There is No Plan to Meet your Goal
No Accountability

Mistake #1 Your Goal Timeline is Not Realistic

It is important to set realistic time frames for your goals while also considering what works for your life circumstances and ability level.

For example, scheduling a daily writing session at 11 pm may not be reasonable if you have small children. You will be exhausted by that time. Similarly, if you are new to running, then setting a goal of running a marathon in 3 months may be a stretch. 

Solution #1

Create simple action plans for large goals. In fact, splitting goals into monthly or even weekly action steps lead to more success because micro-goals are more achievable. Secondly, adjust goals according to your current life circumstances. A well-intentioned goal set at the beginning of the year may need to be tweaked mid-year due to life changes.

Mistake #2 The Reason Behind Your Goal Has Not Been Established

Goals must have a foundation to stand on. Without it, they just sink, like quicksand. Your WHY is the foundation for your goals. Having a firm WHY gives you 3 things during your journey:

1. Meaning;
2. Motivation to start the journey; and,
3. Momentum to continue despite setbacks.

Solution #2

Find your WHY. In his best-selling book, Start with Why Simon Sinek explains how a company’s WHY inspires employees and customers. This concept can easily translate to your personal life. Specifically, a well-established WHY will inspire you and better connect you to your goals.

There are 3 questions to ask yourself to determine if your goals have a solid foundation:

1. Why is achieving this goal important to me?
2. Does the result align with the person I want to be?
3. Will I enjoy going through this process?

Mistake #3 Life Creates a Distraction

While some distractions are great and create precious moments, making time for YOU and your personal development is also essential.

Goals are not something you find time for…you make time for your goals. Or your goals will just fade away. Thus, make time in your life for the things that are important. And trust me, your goals are important.

Solution #3

Set an appointment with yourself at least twice a month to review your goals. Weekly is ideal however life can get really busy with work, family, and personal demands. Setting time regularly to focus on your goals will improve your chances of meeting them.

Mistake #4 There is no Plan to Meet Your Goal

A goal without a plan is a wish. A plan is a set of steps which must be completed to meet a desired end. Without a plan, it is difficult to reach your goals. The plan is imperative to get to where you want to go.

Solution #4

Plan, plan, plan. Start from the desired goal and work your way back to where you are now. To ensure that no steps in the process are being missed.

For instance: The goal is to save $600 for Christmas to avoid credit card debt and you will be able to start saving in January. Therefore, saving $50/month will get you the desired amount of money. We take the end goal of $600 and divide it by 12 months (Jan-Dec) to determine how much money to save monthly. Simple enough eh?

Mistake #5 No Accountability

Life is not meant to be lived alone. For this reason, it is imperative to have a group of like-minded individuals to assist you along your goal success journey. We all need the love and support of others to achieve our dreams.

Solution #5

Do not be worried if you are guilty of indulging in one (or five) of these goal-setting mistakes. You still have time to turn things around. So implement one of the solutions today to get back on track. Then, incorporate more solutions as you feel comfortable and before you know it, you will be consistently smashing your goals.

I hope this article helps you overcome your goal-setting and implementation mistakes. Check out last week’s blog post for more inspiration to achieve your goals. For additional enlightenment, inspiration, and tools/strategies to improve your life, subscribe to our email list. If you need a personalized goal action plan and a dedicated accountability partner, schedule a session today.