What are your goals for this month? You might be one of those people with answers on the tip of your tongue. You could be someone who hasn’t given much thought to monthly goals. In reality, there’s no difference between people who set goals and those who don’t. Having a goal doesn’t mean anything if it doesn’t inspire action.
Don’t get me wrong…it is important to set goals. But you can’t stop there. For goals to become reality, you must execute a plan. This is what separates the dreamers from the achievers—dreamers have ideas; achievers have plans.
Turning goals into action steps takes a little work, but it is worth it. Here are six steps that will help you achieve your goals.
- Make your goal specific. It’s one thing to say “I want to lose some weight;” it’s another to say “I want to lose five pounds” or “I want to save $500.” Avoid generalities and make your goals as specific as possible.
- Set a deadline. “Someday” isn’t on your calendar. If you really want to achieve your goals, you must give them a specific deadline and put it on your calendar. Do you want to lose five pounds by December 31? Would you like to save $500 before Thanksgiving?
- Identify incremental steps. You can’t wait until the week of the deadline to start working on the goal. You need to break the goal down in to smaller monthly and weekly goals. If you want to save $500 before Thanksgiving, you need to set a weekly goal of around $100.
- Create accountability. Whether saving money, losing weight, or growing your business, you need someone or something to help hold you accountable. Your spouse, a friend, the mastermind group, and so forth can all serve as the accountability partner.
- Celebrate progress. It’s important to keep up the momentum. So, identify something you will do to celebrate each incremental step. Maybe you’ll go to your favorite coffee shop once you hit the goal. If that’s the reward, then don’t go unless you hit the goal. It’s that simple.
- Reset and keep going. You might not hit your incremental goals. If that happens, reset the goal for the coming week and keep going. Don’t let anything keep you from continuing your progress.
In the Iron Sharpens Iron Community we have lots of men who are working hard to identify goals and make steady progress. It is exciting to celebrate achievements with these men to are moving from success to significance. If you need that kind of support, why not join us?
Live on purpose,
Aaron Walker
