10 Keys to Set and Achieve Your Goals

There is a lot of frustration for people around goal setting. Many people even question if it is really worth it to set them. The issue is that people often aren't using the right strategies.

For me goals, provide two major benefits! 

*Give you clarity on what you want to achieve.

*Something to strive for. Goals provide motivation that can lead you to accomplish great things. 

With your goals, you want to make sure that you are doing everything you can to set yourself up for success.

Here are my top 10 keys to achieving your goals.

1. Know why you want to achieve them - These are your reasons and motivation that will keep you going even when it gets challenging.

2. Use the SMART goals framework - This means making them specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based. 

3. Write them down - Researcher Dr. Gail Matthews found you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals simply by writing them down.

4. Make it visual - Put your goals somewhere that you will see them daily. This keeps it top of mind and will bring your focus to it. 

5. Use visualization - Visualize yourself achieving your goal or doing the steps necessary to achieve it. Your brain treats what is visualized very similarly to what actually happens throughout your day.

6. Have the right mindset - Have the mindset that you truly believe that you will achieve it. Develop a level of certainty as well as resilience. 

7. Develop a plan - Make sure to do research and talk to others who have achieved this or something similar to it. Write your plan down and make it detailed. Be willing to adjust it as you go. 

8. Take consistent action - For most goals you need to be working on them daily or at least several times per week. Having a plan is great but it is consistent action that will lead to the results.

9. Have a benchmark leading up to your goal - If your goal is to run five miles by March 31st then have something before this to see if you are on track. For example, you may say that you will be able to run 2 miles by February 20th. This allows you to adjust your plan as needed. 

10. Accountability - One thing that is often missing from people is accountability. Having a friend, family member, or coach to hold you accountable will increase your chances of achieving the goal. You can also use your calendar and reminders to further this accountability.

Make sure to put these ten keys into practice as you set your next goal!