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Goal Setting Success

What you Need to Know about Goals and Why they are Critical to Your Success 

Goal setting success starts with understanding goals and knowing why setting goals is critical to your success. Why is the word "goal" confusing and sometimes misunderstood? Its meaning can be unclear, leaving it open to interpretation. This is one of the top reasons people fail to set goals for themselves.

 It doesn't make sense to go after something that seems so elusive or uncertain. For this reason, it's important to take time to define what's meant by goals and what you need to know for goal setting success. 

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A Goal Versus a Plan - What is the Difference?

A goal is different than a resolution or a plan. A plan is a proposal for doing something. It's the idea or intent. Sometimes a plan can be more detailed, involving a thorough layout of how it will be achieved. However, the term itself usually refers to something broader in scope. 

A resolution is also extensive in its reach. It refers to an intention that is meant to be long-lasting or something you hope to adopt as a lifestyle habit. 

A goal is more specific and detailed. It has a set beginning with a foreseeable end. Goals can be part of a plan or resolution. In fact, they work well when used together. 

A resolution that consists of specific goals is far more likely to come to fruition than one simply based on hope or intent alone. 

For example, weight loss is something many of us strive for; it’s often a New Year’s resolution that gets dropped within a few weeks. 

If you want to shed pounds, create a goal with specific milestones and target dates that can be tracked completion. A goal to lose 25 pounds over the course of the first six months is realistic, measurable and finite. 

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Goal Setting Success - How do Goals Help You Grow?

Setting goals can enhance your life and help you to grow in some amazing ways. Even if fall short of a target, you'll still see results from your effort - you'll be further ahead than if you hadn't set a goal at all. 

One of the biggest advantages to setting goals is that they give you purpose and direction for your life. Knowing your purpose, or what guides you, can be a complex and intimidating pursuit. 

The creation of goals, along with reflection, helps you identify your purpose and what drives you to move ahead in life. Understanding your purpose instills a sense of determination and motivation. 

Goals are the road map of where you want to go and how to get there. 

You gain control through planning, establishing targets, and assigning due dates. Instead of living on autopilot and reacting to circumstances, goals allow you to design your life and experiences. A goal with a plan puts you in the driver’s seat and on-track for goal setting success.

Accomplishing your goals increases your confidence and instills the belief that you can set attainable goals. 

That kind of self-belief propels you forward in life, especially when you encounter obstacles or when times are hard. Each success builds on itself and brings you closer to the next. 

Developing firm goals allows you to prioritize and to focus on what you deem to be most important; ensuring goal setting success. 

Issues or activities that don't fit into the steps of your plan can be set aside for later or eliminated, as needed. Creating a design for your life allows you to easily identify what is important, as well as focus your energy on what matters most. 

Once you start the process, you'll soon experience unique directions your journey can take.

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Did you Know All Goals Are Not Created Equal?

One of the reasons so many people fail to follow through on their pursuits is because they set ineffective or vague goals. 

Be sure to set goals that align with your values, that reflect who you are and what you want. It's easy to fall into the trap of wanting what other people have or being influenced in some way by outside sources. 

Identify and overcome any fear or insecurities getting in the way of setting big goals. Keep in mind, large goals can be broken into smaller goals that are easier to plan and achieve. 

Set specific goals with a plan of action and timeframe. Vague goals without action steps and target dates diminish your chance of success. 

Understand your purpose. Lacking a clear sense of your purpose or reasons for setting a goal means you're more likely lack motivation and give up easily when you hit a road block. 

This isn't a character flaw on your part. It just means your goal is lacking substance. Avoid this problem by understanding your "why" of meeting the goal. 

What makes you feel so strongly about wanting to accomplish this feat? What will motivate you to keep going when times are tough, or when you have conflicting priorities?

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