Proper Goal Setting – How to Turn Dreams Into Reality – Part 1

We all have dreams.

But why don't we pursue them?

Why do we go on doing what we don't like to do just because we're supposed to?

Why don't we do what we really want like travel the world, start our own business or write that book we've tried to find time for?

Is it because it's not realistic, practical or feasible?

The short answer is ...

... no.

The long answer is no, but we are frozen by doubt in our abilities and we fear the consequences of failing and being wrong.

If you are not convinced that you can achieve your dream, I recommend that you take 5 minutes to empower yourself forever and then continue reading.

If you are afraid of risk, then you should also read this short article on why it is risky to be stable.

When you are ready to turn your dreams into reality, read on.

Most people fail to achieve their dreams because of four reasons:

1. They don't believe they can (If you took those 5 minutes to empower yourself earlier, you should be ok.)

2. They set poor goals

3. They don't have a plan

4. They don't execute their plan

Reason 2 is the focus of this part. Reason 3 and 4 will be addressed in later parts of this series.

So how do you set proper goals?

Be Specific

Your goal must be clear and more importantly measurable. How will you know when you've reached your goal? Engage all your senses. What are you going to see when you've reached your goal? How will you feel? What will you hear? You should be able to vividly imagine yourself reaching this goal. When setting goals, it is more important to focus on WHAT you want and not HOW you are going to get it.

State in the Positive

If you've ever told yourself not to screw up but you ended up screwing up anyway, then you know why you should state your goals in the positive. Our subconscious has problems recognizing the word "don't" and that's why "Don't Panic!" is the same as "Panic!". Whether you believe in the subconscious or not, it is more beneficial to you to set a goal like "I want to make money in my investments" as opposed to "I don't want to lose money in my investments". For more on this topic, check out Why Telling Yourself to Stop Bad Habits Never Work.

Make It Relevant

Make sure your goal is aligned with your purpose and passion. When your goal is relevant it becomes easier to stick to your goals. An effective method I learned from Tony Robbins is to first understand WHY you want to achieve your goal and then associate reaching your goal with intense pleasure and not reaching your goal with intense pain. This towards and away from motivation really works wonders.

Set a Deadline

When you set a deadline, a dream becomes a goal. To effectively achieve your goal, it is important to break down your goal into smaller chunks where each chunk can be finished within one week. For example, if your dream was to visit Nepal within one year, your chunks would be to research flights and hotel in Nepal, calculate how much you need to save per month, apply for a visa, etc.

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with one step."

- Lao Tzu

Make Sure Its Attainable

Any goal is achievable if given enough time. With that said, make sure that your goal is attainable within the time restriction that you've set. The goal should be a "reach". It should not be so easy where success is guaranteed without much work but it should also not be too difficult where you are overwhelmed and success is borderline impossible.

There is one more thing you need to do that is vital to achieving your goal ...

... and I am not referring to How to Always Achieve Your Goals (although it is worth reading if you haven't done so already)

The one thing you MUST do that will make all the difference is ...

Writing Your Goal Down

I wish I could show you statistics for goals achieved when comparing those who write their goals down and those that don't because I am sure it would be staggering.

Before you do anything else and if you haven't already, I strongly encourage you to set a proper goal right now. It'll take at 3-5 minutes.

Just follow these simple steps:

1. Think of one thing you really want to achieve within one year.

2. Make sure it is specific, stated in the positive and measurable. How will you know that you've achieved it? How will you measure it?

3. Write down WHY you want to achieve this goal and make sure you understand how it fits in your life's purpose. Clearly list the pleasure you'll receive from attaining your goal and the pain you'll get if you don't achieve it.

4. Set a reasonable deadline for achieving your goal.

5. WRITE DOWN your specific goal, why you're going for this goal in particular and when you expect to achieve it. Keep it where it is visible every day.

6. You now have a properly set goal. All you have to do is create an effective plan (Part 2) then successfully execute (Part 3).

To help you move one step closer to your dream, I will review your goal to make sure it is a proper goal. All you have to do is share your goal in the comments section.