We all have goals. Some are more concrete than others. Do you track your progress? Do you set benchmarks that help you to know when the finish line is approaching? Or are you just stumbling through, hoping that you will be guided somehow towards the path to accomplishing your goals?
I know that I get more done when I have concrete targets established for any goal I’m pursuing. When I was writing my book, the goal was a minimum of 4 pages a day. The target wasn’t always met, sometimes I fell short, other times I surpassed the daily goal. Not only did I have daily targets, but I had also set a deadline for when I wanted to have the first draft of my book complete. The daily targets and checking in to see where I was at the end of each week, kept me motivated and focused.
We hear so much about success factors to making our goals a reality. Accountability partners, writing them down, and setting targets are all things we are told will help us to make our dreams come true. But what happens when we put all these things in place and then never review the plan to make sure it still makes sense? What if we get so caught up in being “busy” that we forget to measure if our business is translating into productivity?
Everyone’s talking about how busy they are, but shouldn’t we be talking about how productive we are? I don’t know about you, but I can be busy all day and not have anything meaningful to show for it! If you’re busyness isn’t get you closer to achieving your goals, then you might as well be spending your time sleeping or watching television. If the journey to achieving your goals was a road trip, you may be stuck always taking the scenic route, stopping at every fruit stand and antique shop along the way rather than taking the quick bathroom break and getting back in the car. If you’re not in any hurry to achieve your goals, there’s nothing wrong with the scenic route. If the achievement of your goals is just a means to something bigger, then enjoy the ride, but remember to stay focused on the destination.
You may be thinking that it’s too late to get your goals back on track and make them happen this year, but it isn’t! You just have to get clear on what you want to get done by the end of the year and break it down into monthly, weekly and even daily targets! Once you know your numbers, you’ll have a clearer idea of what you need to do to make it happen! If you’re not clear on where to start, I can help!
Clarity on the checkpoints makes the journey more enjoyable. Regardless of how ineffective you may feel like you’re being at times, you have tangible evidence that illustrates just how far you’ve come! Sometimes, that is just the motivation we need to keep the momentum going, even when it feels like we’re running on fumes. The good news is, at least you’ll know when you’re next service stop is coming so you can refuel 🙂
Sandra Dawes is a certified life coach specializing in helping women who feel unfulfilled with their 9-5 follow their dreams and pursue their passions. She holds an Honours BA, an MBA as well as a certificate in Dispute Resolution.She has completed her first book,Embrace Your Destiny: 12 Steps to Living the Life You Deserve!
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www.facebook.com/embraceyourdestinythebook
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