Do you want to achieve a big goal but don’t know where to start? Frustrated because you’ve tried to set goals in the past but struggle to reach them? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. A lot of people have trouble setting and achieving their goals. It’s no secret that succeeding in achieving your goals requires more than just a little effort.

But did you know that there is a science to setting goals and systematically achieving them? By following a few simple steps, you can set yourself up for success. And today, we’re going to show you the 10 simple steps to set and achieve your goals.

Let’s get started!

1. Define Your Goal (SMART)

When it comes to setting goals, it’s important to be clear about what you want to achieve. A good way to do this is to use the SMART goal setting framework. SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. This means that your goal should be something that you can clearly articulate and have a plan for accomplishing.

S: Is it specific?

For example, a goal like “I want to make a lot of money” is not specific. But a goal like “I want to earn an annual income of $100,000” is much more specific. And because it’s specific, it’s also easier to measure whether or not you’re on track to achieving it.

M: Is it measurable?

In order to measure whether or not you’re making progress towards your goal, it needs to be something that you can track. Going back to the example of wanting to earn an annual income of $100,000, you could measure this by looking at your monthly or yearly earnings. This would give you a good indication of whether or not you’re on track to hitting your goal.

A: Is it attainable?

Your goal should also be something that is realistically achievable. If your goal is too big or too small, it’s going to be harder to stay motivated and see it through to the end.

R: Is it relevant?

Your goal should be something that is important to you and aligns with your values. This will help to ensure that you’re more likely to stick with it, even when things get tough.

T: Is it time-bound?

In order to keep yourself accountable, it’s important to set a deadline for your goal. This will help to ensure that you don’t get sidetracked and give up along the way.

So, to recap SMART = Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. And if you walk away and forget everything else that you’ve learned today, but you remember SMART goals, you’ll be just fine.

2. Set a Deadline

As we just mentioned, setting a deadline is an important part of goal setting. This is because it’s much easier to achieve a goal when you have a specific date that you’re working towards. When you set a deadline, you’re more likely to stay on track because you have a specific day that you’re aiming for.

It’s also important to note that your deadline doesn’t have to be set in stone. If you find that you’re not making as much progress as you’d like, you can always adjust your deadline accordingly. The important thing is that you have a date to work towards so that you can measure your progress.

Some people find it helpful to set mini-deadlines along the way. For example, if your goal is to earn an annual income of $100,000, you could set a deadline of earning $10,000 next month. This would give you something to work towards on a more regular basis and help to keep you accountable.

3. Make a Plan of Action

Once you’ve defined your goal and set a deadline, it’s time to make a plan of action. This is where you’ll figure out what steps you need to take in order to achieve your goal.

To do this, you can start by breaking your goal down into smaller goals. For example, if your goal is to earn an annual income of $100,000, you could break this down into monthly or even weekly goals. This will make it much easier to track your progress and stay on track.

Once you’ve broken your goal down into smaller goals, you’ll need to figure out what steps you need to take in order to achieve them. For example, if your goal is to earn an annual income of $100,000, you might need to find a job that pays you a salary of this amount. Or, if you’re self-employed, you might need to figure out how to increase your rates or find more clients.

The important thing is that you have a plan of action and you’re taking small steps towards your goal. By doing this, you’ll be much more likely to achieve it in the end.

4. Tell Someone About Your Goal

When you’re working towards a goal, it’s important to have someone to hold you accountable. This is why it can be helpful to tell someone about your goal. When you do this, you’re more likely to stay on track because you don’t want to let them down.

It’s also important to note that you don’t have to tell everyone about your goal. In fact, it might be better to only tell a few people who you trust and who will support you. This way, you’ll have the accountability that you need without feeling like you’re being judged.

Whether it’s a friend, a spouse, a mentor, or someone else, make sure that you have at least one person who you can rely on for support.

5. Break Your Goal Into Smaller Goals

As we just mentioned, breaking your goal down into smaller goals can be very helpful. This is because it’s much easier to achieve a goal when you break it down into manageable pieces.

For example, if your goal is to earn an annual income of $100,000, you could break this down into monthly or even weekly goals. This will make it much easier to track your progress and stay on track. $100,000 per year is $8,333 per month, or $1,923 per week. And it’s a lot easier to start figuring out how you can make $2,000 than it is to come up with a grand scheme for making $100K. And once you have a few weeks or months of hitting your smaller goal, the larger goal will seem much more achievable.

6. Take Action

The most important part of goal setting is taking action. A lot of people struggle with this. We get caught up in planning and imagining the future. But if you don’t take action, then your goals will never become a reality. So, once you’ve defined your goal and made a plan of action, it’s time to get started!

And it’s important to note that taking action doesn’t have to be complicated. Remember, breaking your goal down into smaller goals will also help to keep you accountable. This is because you’ll have more deadlines and you’ll need to take more action in order to achieve them. 

One last thing to keep in mind is that you won’t always see results immediately. This is normal and it doesn’t mean that you’re not on the right track. Just keep taking action and eventually, you’ll start to see results.

7. Persevere When Things Get Tough

There will be times when things get tough and you feel like giving up. This is normal! But it’s important to push through these tough times and continue working towards your goal.

Remember, every goal worth achieving takes time, effort, and dedication. So, when things get tough, just remind yourself of why you’re doing this in the first place and keep going.

When you hit those bumps in the road, you can keep yourself mentally on track by remembering:

-Why you set out to achieve your goal in the first place

-What you’ll gain by achieving your goal

-How good it will feel to achieve your goal

-Who else you’ll be able to help by achieving your goal

8. Ask for Help When You Need It

There will be times when you need help in order to achieve your goal. And that’s okay! There’s no shame in asking for help when you need it. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It means that you’re willing to admit when you need assistance and that you’re not afraid to ask for it. 

So, if you find yourself struggling, don’t be afraid to ask for help from someone who knows more than you, who has achieved a similar goal, or someone who you just know will challenge and encourage you. This could be a friend, family member, colleague, or even a professional.

Whoever it is, just make sure that you’re asking for help from someone who is qualified and who you trust.

9. Celebrate Your Success!

At some point, after setting your goal, breaking it down into smaller goals, setting deadlines, persevering, and asking for help along the way, you’re going to realize that you’ve arrived. You’ve achieved your goal! And it’s important to celebrate your success! This is something that a lot of people forget to do. They focus so much on the goal itself that they forget to enjoy the victory and celebrate their accomplishments.

So, when you achieve your goal, take some time to enjoy it! Give yourself a pat on the back, take a break, and bask in the glory of your success. You’ve earned it!

And then…

10. Set a New Goal

Finally, once you’ve celebrated your success, it’s time to set a new goal and start the process all over again! Because if you’re not moving forward and setting new goals, then you’re not growing. And what’s the point of achieving success if you’re not going to use it as a springboard to achieve even more?

Setting and achieving goals is an ongoing process. It’s something that you’ll do for the rest of your life. So, once you’ve achieved one goal, set a new one and keep moving forward!

Final Thoughts

Setting and achieving goals is a process that anyone can do, as long as they have the right mindset and are willing to put in the time and effort. And it takes a lot of effort to achieve worthwhile goals. But by following the steps outlined in this article, you’ll be well on your way to setting and achieving any goal that you set for yourself!

To recap really quick, here are the 10 steps to set and achieve goals:

1. Define your goal (SMART)

2. Set a deadline

3. Make a plan of action

4. Tell someone about your goal

5. Break your goal into smaller goals

6. Take action

7. Persevere when things get tough

8. Ask for help when you need it

9. Celebrate your success!

10. Set a new goal

If you follow these steps, you’ll be well on your way to achieving any goal that you set for yourself! So what are you waiting for? Go out there and achieve something great!