If only 12% of people who set goals actually reach them, then why set them in the first place? If this thought has ever crossed your mind, then you are not alone. However, to progress, you have to work towards something. So why do all these people, who have good intentions and motivation, fall short? The reality is that there are many reasons why people do not achieve their goals. Everyone wants to grow and everyone wants to improve their lifestyle, but few do. Here is a list of 5 things that the 12% of people who DO achieve their goals do militantly.
1. You can’t hit what you can’t see
Growing up playing minor league soccer, I was lucky to have my father as my coach. Of course, at the time, he didn’t seem so good because he attacked me more than any other player, but nevertheless, I’m very grateful for that now. One of the fundamental principles in football is to keep your head up. My dad always told me that “you can’t hit what you can’t see.” He was correct. I had to keep my eyes on the player with the ball to make the tackle. That seems like a blinding flash of the obvious, but it’s 100% true. If he ducked his head or lost his concentration, he would surely lose the entrance and, worst case scenario, break his neck. What does this have to do with business? As a business owner, salesperson, or anyone with goals, you need to see your goal. You have to visualize the process of reaching your call. You have to keep your goal in the forefront of your mind every day, so that you stay focused. By the nature of setting a new goal, you are not tuned to think all the time. You have to proactively take steps to force yourself to think about it. Make it your computer background, write it on your bathroom mirror, or post it on your refrigerator. Do something that forces you to look at it every day so you can focus long enough to work on your plan and reach your goal.
2. Shape the path
This thought process comes from a great book called Switch. When you start something new or set a new goal, your natural tendencies will be to deviate from your plan of action. Eventually, when you do something with enough repetition, you’ll form a habit that propels you toward your goal. But how do you get over the initial bump? This is where you have to shape the path. Shaping the path is the process of making it as easy as possible to execute your plan. For example, if your goal calls for you to make 50 cold calls per day, shaping the path might include closing your email and turning off your cell phone during the time period set aside to make those calls. Because, remember, your natural habit would be to reply to that text or respond to that email as it comes. But by shaping the path, you remove those distractions entirely to increase your chances of completing the tasks needed to reach your goal. This could also be seen as the elimination of excuses.
3. Start with the end in mind
One of the biggest reasons people don’t achieve their goals is because they get caught up in the here and now. They set a goal to lose 50 pounds by the end of the year. They sign up for the New Years teaser fee at the gym. They buy the clothes and clothing necessary to exercise. You see them in the gym for two months, then in March, they’re gone. What happened? His goal was to lose 50 pounds by the end of the year. They didn’t lose everything in the first two months, so they got discouraged and quit. It’s called a New Year’s Resolution, not a New Month’s Resolution. People who stop working on their goals after a short time suffer from short-term thinking. It is imperative to keep your eyes on the prize. Don’t think about the pain of working out or the fact that you’re not where you want to be yet. Think about the end result. Think about the future. If you stay focused on achieving the goal, the work in between becomes just part of the process.
4. Plan your attack
We have avoided working on a plan, but how do you put a plan into action? For one thing, I would suggest working with an unbiased coach or friend who will hold you accountable for your plan. Meet with that person for lunch once a month so you have someone to report your progress to. To plan, you’ll need to start big and then refine the details. Set your annual goal and then ask yourself what quarterly milestones need to occur to reach the goal. Then find out what monthly results you need to achieve to reach those milestones. Then find out what weekly activities you need to do to reach your monthly results. Break that down into daily activities. The trick is knowing the cost of not doing that daily activity. If you miss a daily activity here or there, they eventually add up and you’ll be way off track. At this point, you’ll begin to rationalize why you should change the goal to fit your lazy, committed attitude. It is a very slippery slope. Refresh your mind each morning and refocus on the importance of completing those daily tasks.
5. Be nimble
Perhaps one of the most important things to remember is that nothing ever goes as planned. You’re probably thinking “What the hell have you been talking about then!?” No plan is flawless and if it is, then your goal is probably not worth it and the plan is too easy. The key point is that you have to be agile. You have to be quick on your feet and quick to adjust, when necessary. You can start working on your plan and then be surprised by a change in legislation or market dynamics that throws you a curve ball. Success comes to those who are most willing and quickest to change. Stick to your plan, if your metrics show you’re on track to reach your goal. Otherwise, make quick changes to get back on track.
