Five simple yet effective ways to achieve your goals

by Personal Growth Coach, Diane Corriette

When I first started working towards my dreams it was a real hit and miss affair, sometimes I got things done and sometimes I definitely didn’t! So eventually I had to start by setting myself achievement targets, which are more popularly known as goals.

Goal setting for me was an absolute essential because I knew if I didn’t write down what I wanted to achieve then chances are nothing would get done. I also knew I worked better with deadlines and if I didn’t set a date for something to be completed then it probably would drag on for years!

I remember setting myself a goal of completely decorating my house within 3 years, which included some building work. What I didn’t do was set the date for completion so each year I would keep talking about how great my house will look in three years time!!! It took me two years before I realised that I needed to set the end date and of course hardly anything had been done in those two years!

Once I told myself “It is 1999 and by 2002 I will have completely redecorated my house and converted my garage into an office” it became easier to work towards and I achieved that goal (and am sitting in my office now!)

I have put together five easy goal setting tips that helped me stay focused on goal setting and achievement.

1. Break Your Big Goals Down Into Smaller Pieces
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!
Trying to eat a whole elephant or trying to look at and achieving your whole goal in one go will become overwhelming so break it down into smaller targets and celebrate each time you achieve one. Each small step brings you closer towards your bigger goal.

2. Write your goals down and read it every day
It’s important that you not only write down what you goal is, when you will achieve it and who will help you achieve it but it is also important that you read it every day. Not only does that help to keep you motivated but it also sends out a message to the universe about what you intend to achieve and you will find that doors magical open for you.

Bob Proctor said that he went from earning $4,000 to making a huge $175,000 in a year thanks to the book “Think & Grow Rich” which told him to write his goal down on a card, carry it round with him and read it every day especially in the morning and at night.

You can read a free report where he talks about that during an interview with Stephen Pierce here http://www.inspirationalguidance.com/attraction.pdf

3. Get an accountability partner or keep yourself accountable
The best way to keep yourself accountable to achieving a goal is to tell others about it. Publicly declare your goals to those around you but watch out for the people who will try and keep you down. Be strong in your resolve to succeed no matter what others say.
It will also help to get yourself one person that you use as a partner (and you can do the same for them). Together you tell each other what you will achieve that day/week and motivate each other to stay on track.

4. Be ready for change and flexible enough to let it happen
Once you have set your goals it does not mean that they are set in stone and cannot be changed. If you allow yourself to be flexible and change your direction (even slightly) you may find your results are far better than you had even imagined. Circumstances change, things go wrong, people leave and shift happens so be willing to bend a little.

5. Do whatever it takes to stay motivated
How many times have you set goals and not achieved them? It happens and it’s important that you come up with ways to keep you motivated. Remember what I have suggested above like reading them every day, celebrating each smaller goal achieved and getting yourself an accountability partner and come up with your own ways to stay motivated too.

One of the ways I keep myself motivated is to constantly listen to self help material, especially when things are not going the way I planned, because I find it inspires me to move forward. I particularly love listening to anyone who achieved against great odds.

Those are the five simple yet effective ways to achieve your goals that I recommend and as always I encourage you to create your own because that’s far more powerful than anything handed to you.

If you are just starting out or if you have never been successful with goal setting I promise you that by simply following the five steps of breaking down your goals, writing them down and reading them every day, keeping yourself accountable, being willing to change and finding ways to stay motivated you will achieve them.

One of the products I have used to help me define my goals clearly (which is very important) is Goals by Zig Ziglar. During these audios you are guided through a ’success trip’ during which you learn techniques for finding extra time you didn’t think you had. He also takes you through how to cut down your big goals into easy-to-handle smaller ones, which was my first tip. I love this audio program and highly recommend it and you can get yourself a copy by visting http://www.inspirationalguidance.com/loves/ziglargoals/

Awaken to your Life Path at http://www.succeed.lifepathunlimited.com/ and discover empowering information for women looking to re-connect to passion and purpose. Visit http://www.inspirationalguidance.com