We All Have Goals. Use These 3 Statements to Make Them Stick.

If you don’t have a goal, then you really don’t know what you’re doing.  And if you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re probably just busy and not actually being productive.

You’ve already heard that writing your goals out increases your chance of reaching them.  But it’s more than just writing them down.  It’s about how we write them down.  So, to make your goals stick, always include the following three statements.

I will:

What exactly are you going to achieve?  Be so specific that you could explain it to a stranger and they would know precisely what you are trying to do.  Vague goals lead to vague outcomes.  Write out your goal with the end in mind so that you’ll know when you’ve reached it.

By this date:

If your goal doesn’t have a due date, don’t be surprised if it never gets done.  Whether it’s personal or professional, including an end date helps keep you focused on the task at hand.  Be realistic with the date you choose and never forget to add this as a part of your goal planning.

By doing:

The first two statements may come easy.  But how you are going to reach the goal may be the most challenging to determine.  Too many people stop after the what and the when.  But it’s the how that makes your goal a reality.  Identifying the steps you will take will be the single biggest key to reaching your goal.

You’ll never reach your goals by hoping and dreaming.  So make your goals stick by always answering these three statements.