Take a minute and reflect about where you are starting. What are your goals right now? I needed to know where I was starting, to know where I was going.
My goals used to be vague and short sighted. I thought that if they were small goals my chances of failure were smaller and if I did fail, the goals were so vague, no one would notice. Let me address why both of these tactics do not work.
1.) Vague goals: a goal that doesn’t have a clear vision doesn’t give you much to look forward to. When your goals are specific you can see them more vividly and imagine what your life will be like once you’ve achieved your goals. For example: my old goal used to be “to have a lot of money.” Good thing to strive for? Eh. Not really. How much is “a lot?” What do I need “a lot “ of money for? Do your research. Not only is this good for goal setting, but it is a lot of fun! How much is the car I want? How much will the insurance be? How much will the wardrobe I want cost? How about the engagement ring you want to buy? I had to do my research because I truly didn’t know what the Audi Q8 cost, or how much a 4 karat solitaire diamond on a platinum band would cost. But in doing this research it allowed me to visualize possessing these things and what it will actually feel like to be able to give my girlfriend the ring she really wants. I can’t yet tell you exactly how much money I need because I’m still doing research. I’m currently working on my chef’s kitchen in my 4 bedroom house on 3 acres of land.
2.) Small/tiny goals: lets say my goal was to get out of bed everyday. Again, good goal to go for. But honestly, who can you celebrate that with? And then what? How is setting out of bed going to make you life any better or different than it is now? Sure! That’s a great start! But if I set a bigger goal, I have to get out of bed everyday to reach it. 2 birds, 1 stone. When accomplishing my goals will be life changing they are wildly more important to complete.
I think instead of SMALL goals we should set goals with SHORTER timelines. One very important goal for me is to pay off my credit card debt I built up in my early twenties. My Goa is to be debt free by January 2020. But for instance, it is my June goal to to set aside an extra $300 to my debt (besides what I already pay monthly). My short term goal is important to getting me to my longterm goal, but it also provides encouragement when I am able to reach it in a shorter period of time.
Another key to goal setting, I’ve found, is to write your goals down. I’ve been writing them down and editing them and perfecting them. Spending time focusing on my goals, brings me more desire and more dedication to accomplishing them. Writing them down makes them feel more real. And sharing them with other people (like you guys) makes me accountable. It’s hard to share you dreams and goals with other people, it makes you feel super vulnerable. It has made me feel like I’m inadequate almost. Admitting that I don’t like the way my life is now and that I have something in mind that I have not yet been able to accomplish. But if you think about all the people you admire most in your life, don’t you think they are striving for something better in their lives, even if from the outside it seems perfect. I have reached expert level in sharing my goals. I share them on social media, a lot. For beginners, write down your goals in a journal, tell your best friend, or your sister, or mom. Say them out loud, for you or someone else to hear. Solidify what you are going after.
To the Limit 