I’m sure you hear all the time about the importance of setting goals. You’re more likely to achieve what you want in life. You’ll make more money. And you’ll become the kind of person you want to be.
But do you actually set goals? Or is it just a bit too scary and uncomfortable? So you put it off.
If that sounds familiar, you’re in good company. Research shows that less than 4% of people write down their goals. And less than 1% actually review then on an ongoing basis.
Goals are important to have and write down because they give you a glimpse into the future and keep you motivated to move forward. But if you’re envisioning the things that you want in the next year or so and you don’t put a plan in place to get there, the chances of you reaching those goals are slim to none.
“A goal without a plan is just a dream” ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Four steps to breaking down your goals into bite-size tasks
Goals sound scary when you look at them in the big picture. But I’m going to break that down for you into 4 simple steps so you can consistently be in action. You’ll be able to move forward toward your goals in a way that is best for you.
Step One: Define Your Goals
What is it that you want to accomplish in the next 3 months, 6 months, year? Take a piece of paper, or open an excel worksheet on your computer, and create a column for each of those headings. Now write down your goals under the most appropriate column heading. When do you really expect to reach your goals?
Related reading: 3 Reasons People Are Not Setting Goals and One Simple Step To Start
Step Two: Breakdown Your Goals into Projects
Now you’re going to look at each goal individually and see how you can break them down into projects. For example, if your goal is to save $5000 by the end of the year, break that down into the exact amount you need to save each month for the remainder of the year.
If your goal is to increase your income by $50,000 this year, how much do you need to earn every month from now till year-end?
Step Three: Breakdown Your Projects into Tasks
The final step is to breakdown your projects into tasks. So, continuing with the example above, if it’s May and you want to amass $5000 in savings by the end of December, you need to set aside $625 a month for the next 8 months. Breaking that down into tasks means deciding how you’re going to do that. So for example that might look like taking on a few small side jobs each month and putting the extra money directly into your savings. It could be a certain amount that you take out of your paycheck and direct deposit into your bank account.
If you’re self-employed it might mean reviewing your list of warm leads and checking in with people. Consider offering a special promo price – for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Groundhog’s Day, or your birthday – to help get people off the fence and encourage them to move forward.
Related reading: Why You Need to Set Ambitious Goals for Your Business
Step Four: Breakdown Your Tasks into Daily Action Steps
Once you’re clear on the tasks, break them down into even smaller daily action steps. That way you’ll be making progress toward your goal every day.
Your daily action steps might include making follow up phone calls to potential clients, creating flyers to post on social media for a workshop you’re running, posting signs around town if you’re looking for odd jobs, and contacting your HR department to request that they direct deposit a percentage of your paycheck into your savings account each month.
You get the idea right? When you take the time to break down your goals, they stop being scary. Instead, they become manageable. And they can even become something you get excited about!
The mystery behind how to reach your goals is gone. And in its place is a beautiful plan that enables you to consistently move forward and to stay in action. And who knows, you might even meet your goals early if you stick to your plan and keep going after them!
Wouldn’t that be exciting?!
On Tuesday, July 16th I’m running a free online training: Align to Your Audacious Goals. If you’re ready to achieve more in life and in money, sign up and join me. The training will be jam-packed with hands-on tools and exercises to help you oust the resistance so you can move forward with excitement, shine your light brighter and make more money. Click here to register.
