How to achieve all your goals

Having goals is great, but achieving them is even greater. A goal that goes unfulfilled remains just a dream; a figment of your imagination.

Start with a clear vision

The word vision comes from the Latin word visio, derived from videre which means ‘to see’.

In order to achieve your goals, you must first have a clear vision of what it is that you would like to accomplish.

• What is the final outcome you seek?
• What does the end result look like? (Try to engage as many of your senses – sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing – as possible)
• What is the impact that will be made (in your life, in the life of others, in your community, in the world) when this goal is accomplished?

For example, say your goal is to build a clothing store:

• The final outcome: a thriving clothing store in the heart of town with X amount in monthly sales.
• The end result: visualize your store, set up and operational – what do you see? Think about the layout, the colors, the quality of products on the shelves, the smell in the air, the sounds of people moving around the store or music playing in the background, etc.
• The impact: financial growth for you, employment opportunities for others, a community of well-dressed people, etc.

You need to know where you are headed so that you won’t miss your stop when you get there.

Some techniques you can use to help you refine and remember your vision include:

• Writing: make notes of what it is that you want – the perfect outcome, not the doubt-riddled version.
• Using imagery: you can create some yourself (drawing, digital art, photography, etc) or you can find some online.
• Creating vision boards: vision boards are collages of images and words showcasing your goals/objectives. They are useful visualization tools that will help remind you of where you are headed.
• Creating Prototypes: prototypes are samples or models of products. They are useful for testing, inspiring, and visualizing. You can use digital tools to create prototypes or get some physical items, e.g. if your goal is to buy a plane, you can get a model plane that looks like what you’re praying for, and place it somewhere like on your desk where you can look at it every day.
• Research: you can gain greater insights about any topic by conducting proper research. As you do, make notes of the lessons you learn and let them serve in expanding your vision.

Believe in the vision

Whatever you set your mind to, you can achieve as long as you believe and don’t quit. Leave no room for doubt in your heart, all it brings about is discouragement and despondency.

When you set out to achieve a goal, keep your eye on the price and enjoy the journey as much as possible. It may not always be challenge-free but don’t let anything discourage you, believe in the vision you have. 

“Whatever Your Mind Can Conceive and Believe, It Can Achieve.”

Napoleon Hill

Steer clear of anyone who tries to bring doubt to your mind

Not everyone will believe in your vision but that’s okay, the one person that needs to stay convinced is you. Avoid sharing your goals with people who will try to discourage you. Instead, connect with people who will encourage and support you.

Don’t give up when things get tough, find strength to keep going inside of you

even if no one cheers you on, you owe it to yourself to remain your number 1 cheerleader. Tough times don’t last, tough people do.

What motivates you? Tap into it and let it inspire you to keep on moving. 

Hold on to your vision and don’t stop believing. Whenever necessary, go back to your vision board (used here as a generic term for anything you came up with during your visualization phase) and remind yourself of the vision that you conceived.

Create an execution plan with goals and milestones

Now that you have clearly outlined the vision and you know you can achieve it, work on an execution plan: how do you plan on going from where you are now to where your vision leads? What steps and actions do you need to take to get from here to there?

• Carry out extensive research to educate yourself on the process and the requirements.
• Outline the different steps, preferably in writing. Try to break it down as much as possible, into the smallest actionable steps (sub-goals) to make it less overwhelming.
• Create a strategy to go through all the outlined steps. Include as many details as possible (time, locations, people, activities, paperwork, etc.).

You can use the SMART approach to define your goals.

S -> Specific: don’t be generic or ambiguous, clearly state what exactly you want (e.g. “To get a 2024 Grand Highlander Hybrid XLE AWD in December” instead of “To try and find a mode of transportation someday”). Being specific helps you focus your efforts and know exactly what you are working towards.

M -> Measurable: define what standards and metrics you will use to evaluate success (e.g. “To have X amount in savings by December 1st to put towards the car payment. That means Y amount saved monthly”). This helps you track your progress.

A -> Achievable: while it is great to challenge yourself, setting goals that are not achievable can lead to frustration. Instead, set goals that you know you can achieve or are at least ready to figure out how to achieve. (e.g. if the goal is to save $500 every month be sure that your Monthly income – Monthly Expenditure > $500 or at least be willing to either cut down your expenses or find a way to increase your income).

R -> Relevant: ensure that your goals are relevant to the vision, don’t forget the big picture. (e.g. “Getting this specific car aligns with my vision of having a big family because it is a family-friendly vehicle with lots of sitting space and ample storage”).

T -> Time-bound: set a timeframe and completion deadline for each goal, don’t just leave it open-ended. This helps create a sense of urgency and discipline. (e.g. “I will get my license on June 3rd” instead of “I will get my license sometime in the future”). 

Milestones are significant events in the lifecycle of your specific goal. They help you evaluate and appreciate progress.

Example: using the case of purchasing a 2024 Grand Highlander Hybrid XLE AWD, some milestones could be:

• Research the car (features, options, specs, pricing, etc.) ➡️ Week 1
• Create a monthly savings plan with specific targets for each month ➡️ Week 2
• Have 25% of the total cost saved ➡️ Week 19
• Have 50% of the total cost saved ➡️ Week 36
• Have 75% of the total cost saved ➡️ Week 55
• Have 100% of the total cost saved ➡️ Week 74
• Purchase the new car ➡️ Week 75

Make sure to set milestones that are specific to you and your situation.

Set realistic objectives and timelines

It is wonderful to be enthusiastic and optimistic. However, it is important to set realistic objectives and timelines.

Example: say you plan on starting a lemonade business. If you plant a lemon seed today and expect that by tomorrow or in a month’s time the tree will be producing the lemons for your lemonade, that is an unrealistic expectation.

When you set unrealistic objectives and timelines like that, you may get discouraged when the things you planned don’t happen.

It is perfectly okay to dream big and aim high but it is also important to remember that there’s a time for everything.

“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once”

Albert Einstein.

When setting objectives:

• think about the variables (things that are prone to change) and constants (those things that don’t change),
• think about your role in the achievement of the outcomes and what you are willing to do,
• consider the factors external to you that will play a role on the outcomes.

Example: if your objective is to graduate from a 5-year program in just 3 years, think about what that will entail (the variables and constants) and your willingness to commit to it (your role). Find out the program rules and who/what else needs to be involved for you to graduate early (the external factors).

When setting timelines, it helps to give yourself some wiggle room to account for any delays that may happen e.g. if you plan on opening a clothing store and the merch you ordered is supposed to arrive in 2 weeks, you may not want to schedule your release date right on that 2-week mark. Allow some extra time in case the shipment does not arrive on time or in case the wrong package gets delivered.

By adding some wiggle room to your timelines, you alleviate potential stress associated with missed deadlines.

Be consistent

Achieving results requires discipline and consistency.

Someone who is consistent always behaves in the same way, has the same attitudes toward people or things, or achieves the same level of success in something

Collins Dictionary

Being consistent means maintaining a steady and persistent effort towards your objectives. It means not making excuses to justify performance gaps, but finding reasons to keep showing up and striving to do better.

Why is it important to be consistent?

1. To build momentum and establish a pace: by consistently taking small steps or making progress regularly, you get a sense of progress and accomplishment. There is a concept known as inertia which is defined as reluctance to start moving or reluctance to stop moving it. The law of inertia (Newton’s first law of motion) suggests that when something or someone is in a position of rest (no movement) they will be reluctant to get moving (and so will require an external force to get moving), but once they are set in motion they won’t want to stop moving (and will require external forces to stop the motion). Once you build momentum and establish a pace, it will take a lot to stop you, you start to feel more motivated, enthusiastic, and even protective of your goals and progress.
2. It helps you establish positive habits: when you consistently work towards your objectives, you reinforce behaviors that contribute to your success. Over time, these habits become a part of you (ingrained in your routines), and they start to come to you more naturally. You will begin to experience ease in your flow, making it easier for you to stay on track.
3. Consistency increases accountability: Being consistent holds you accountable to yourself and others. When you commit to a regular schedule or routine, you’re more likely to follow through on your plans. This accountability helps you stay focused and committed to your goals.
4. Builds trust and credibility: When you stay consistent, you build trust and credibility with yourself and others. Consistently delivering results or making progress towards your goals, demonstrates reliability and dedication. This can enhance your self-confidence and reputation. A good example is social media, content creators who are consistent often amass a huge following because their audience learns to trust them, knowing that they can always expect new content on specific days or at specific times from those creators. 
5. Consistency overcomes resistance and procrastination: By committing to regular action or a regular schedule, you reduce the likelihood of putting off tasks or making excuses. You become more disciplined and focused on your goals. Additionally, you are not constantly faced with the questions “What to do when?” and “When to do what?” which are usually huge driving forces for laziness and lack of motivation. 

How to be consistent

To achieve consistency in pursuing your goals, you can employ the following strategies:

1. Set clear and achievable goals: define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that are aligned with your long-term objectives as discussed previously.
2. Create a routine: Establish a regular schedule or routine that includes dedicated time for working towards your goals. For example: if your goal is to walk for 30 minutes every day, allocate time for it in your daily schedule and commit to it. Consistency in your daily or weekly activities will help you stay on track.
3. Track your progress: Monitor your progress towards your goals regularly. This can help you stay motivated and identify any areas where you may need to adjust your approach.
4. Stay flexible: While consistency is important, it’s also essential to stay flexible and adapt to changing circumstances. Be willing to learn, and to adjust your plans or strategies as needed to maintain progress towards your goals.
5. Stay positive and motivated: Maintain a positive attitude and stay motivated by focusing on the benefits of achieving your goals. Celebrate small victories along the way to keep your momentum going.

By being consistent in your efforts towards achieving your goals, you can increase your chances of success and make steady progress toward realizing your dreams.

Take the first step

Every perfect plan needs an execution time. The first step is usually one of the hardest ones to take but it is a necessary one.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”

Chinese proverb.

No step is insignificant no matter how small it may seem. If you consistently and regularly put tiny drops of water in a bucket, it will eventually fill up. Vast bodies of water like oceans and seas are composed of small tiny droplets. 

Keep going, don’t stop

To achieve your goals you can’t afford to give up, even when things get tough.

“If you can’t fly then run,
if you can’t run then walk,
if you can’t walk then crawl,
but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Remember tough times don’t last, tough people do.

“But what if I get discouraged?”

If you get discouraged, revisit your vision board. Go down on your knees and pray, cry if you have to but don’t give up.

I find that reminding myself of where I am headed, how I will feel when I get there and the impact of my achievement, keep me inspired and motivated to keep going.

I also like to think about challenges I have overcome in the past, objectives I have attained, and how far I have come… and then I say to myself “Just like before, I will overcome any obstacles that stand in my way. I will achieve my goals.”

Cheers to achieving your goals! 😊🥂