Avoid Unsuccessful Goal Setting

Why are some people are unsuccessful in goals setting and achievment of their goals — avoid being one of them.

I have spoken with many people about setting goals. Some of these people have said, “goals don’t work”. When I discussed the reasons, I noticed a common theme running through them all.

Here are a few of the more common reasons:

Commitment

The person was not truly committed to achieve their goal. Although, the end product or result would have been nice to have, they showed a lack of commitment. They did not put in the necessary time, or effort, to achieve each step of their action plan. Even though their goal was something they wanted, they really didn’t want to work to attain it.

To be committed to your goal, you have to have a passion, a strong desire to accomplish it.

"No steam or gas ever drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. No life ever grows until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined." Henry Emerson Fosdick

Someone else's goal

The goal they had chosen was actually not their own. It was a goal that was adopted because of a desire of a spouse, mother, father, or someone else in their life.

Goals have to be your own. You have to own them. It has to be what you want.

"You can lead a boy to college, but you cannot make him think." Elbert Hubbard

Too quick to give up

Some people go through the entire goal setting process, start taking action, but then run into an unexpected obstacle. Rather than seeing the obstacle as a necessary stepping stone to ultimate success, they let the problem defeat them. They chose to believe that it couldn’t be done.

You need to believe that obstacles are necessary stepping stones to success. There are ways over or around the obstacle. You will undoubtedly run into obstacles, but your attitude will determine whether it will remain a permanent roadblock.

"The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail." Napoleon Hill

Time

We all have other demands in our life. If we allow these demands to control and monopolize our time, our goals will never become a reality.

Procrastination is one of the major reasons that prevents people from reaching their goal. They procrastinate by putting off what needs to be done today by letting everyday distractions become the priority. They talk about what they are going to do, yet they never take any action.

You are in control of your time. It is amazing where you can find the time if you are committed to the achievement of your goals. For those people who have a habit of procrastinating, remember that taking that first action step will move you forward, but talking won’t. Don’t allow everyday distractions to become your priority.

"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you." Carl Sandburg

Being closed minded, accepting defeat

As soon as you start to think you have failed, you are actually closing your mind to any success.

If your goal hasn’t materialized as you had originally planned, all is not lost. In unsuccessful attempts, lies great opportunity for you to learn. Review and identify what mistakes you made.

Applying new knowledge and insight from what you have learned from making mistakes leads to future success; it eliminates the “I am a failure” element.

"If I had permitted my failures, or what seemed to me at the time a lack of success, to discourage me. I cannot see any way in which I would ever have made progress." Calvin Coolidge

Vague, unspecific goals

Vague and unspecific goals do not provide any method for you to know whether they have been achieved or not.

Set specific, measurable goals.

Attitude!

Thoughts such as: I can’t; what will others think; what if I fail; will all have a negative affect on your self-image. Such thoughts dramatically reduce the possibility of ever achieving what you want.

In everything we do, our own thoughts can help us succeed, or they can help us fail. Maintain a positive attitude!

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal