Why Set Goals
I have heard the question, why set goals, many times. Goal setting has many benefits. You may ask, what's in it for me, well here are some great reasons to set your goal.1. You are focused on what YOU want to achieve. - By setting goals, you have clearly stated what you want, not what someone else desires.
2. Your self-confidence increases as you reach milestones along the way. - As you complete each action step towards your goal, your self-confidence grows because you can see the concrete results of your efforts.
3. You are no longer confused about what action to take. - Rather than starting many different projects and failing to accomplish any of them, goals direct you to take action in specific areas that will move you closer to achieving your desired result.
4. You are able to prioritize your time. - Your action plan, with its associated time frames, is a commitment you make to yourself. With this commitment, you will be able to more easily prioritize your available time because you know to do otherwise is only cheating yourself. Goals help prevent you from using available time for unproductive purposes.
5. You can see hope for better things. - Goals let you design your future. You may not be where you want to be today, but you are able to see what tomorrow can bring.
7. You are able to accomplish more in a few short years than most people do in lifetime. - You will find that once you accomplish your first goal, you will be motivated to set new ones. You now know how, and what to do to reach a goal. You will be able to move forward with a clearer purpose where each new accomplishment provides a greater incentive to achieve even more.
8. You have a clear vision for your future.
Once you have defined a vividly clear picture of what you want, how you will get it, and when you will achieve it, your goal will help keep you on track.
9. You are able to focus your energy.
Rather than wasting your energy on areas that are unproductive, or unmeaningful, you are able to focus your energy by taking action towards a specific, and worthwhile result.
10. You are able to eliminate the feeling of having no control, or being subject to someone else's control.
Remember that goals are your goals! As you work towards their achievement, you are in fact controlling what you want to do, not dancing to someone else’s fiddle.
11. You can defeat procrastination.
You are actually procrastinating when you dream or wish for something without ever having set a goal and developing an action plan. Once you have determined what you want to achieve and outlined a detailed action plan, you have no excuse left to delay taking action. You know exactly what steps to take to realize your dream.
12. You are enthusiastic about life.
Imagine being able to work on what you want to achieve. As you work towards what can become an attainable reality, you can’t help but be enthusiastic about life.
13. Your outlook changes.
You will find your outlook on life will change significantly. I find that people without goals expend the majority of their energy whining and wishing. Whereas, when you have a specific purpose, your outlook becomes positive and expectant. If you expect great things, you will achieve great things.
14. You experience a new level of success, and accomplishment.
What was once only a dream has become a reality. It is not only pleasing and exciting when your goal is achieved, but it also generates renewed self-worth and personal growth.
I dream of things that never were and say, why not?"
Robert F. Kennedy
Set goals? Why Bother!
Food for thought on why bother to set your goals.
Why bother looking at a road map when you travel to another city?
Obviously, you look at a road map to determine where it is you want to end up. You want to know what road to get on, or what exit to take. What happens when you don’t bother to check your map? You could waste a lot of time because you could end up taking a wrong turn. Or, you could end up going in circles never reaching your destination. You may also find yourself getting frustrated and increasing your stress levels because you are not sure you are heading in the right direction.
Similarly, you can also waste your time, frustrate yourself, and raise your stress levels by having no clear goals. Goals give you direction. They show you the way so you end up exactly where you want.
Why bother making a grocery list before you go shopping?
Your grocery list keeps you focused on purchasing items that you need. If you don’t make a list first, or if you don’t check to see what you need, you could end up buying a lot of items that you don’t require. Or, you could end up not buying the items that you really want.
Similarly, by writing down your goals and creating an action plan, you have a list of what you need to accomplish. You, therefore, eliminate unnecessary actions, or actions that do not contribute to the attainment of your goal.
Why bother filling your gas tank before you begin your journey?
If you don’t fill up your gas tank, you could run out of gas and be stranded, and never reach your destination.
The same is true of goals. Without taking the time to identify where you want to go, you may remain stuck where you are today, never accomplishing or attaining what you are capable of doing, or having.
Well, why bother setting goals?
Goals give you a compass in order to direct your path through life. Goals focus your thoughts and actions on areas that have precise purpose and meaning. A clear direction can help reduce your stress. Why? Because you not only know exactly where you want to end up, but you are also working towards an achievable goal without wasted or misdirected energy.
Goals will help you to use your time both efficiently and effectively. People without goals usually accomplish much less than they are capable of achieving. I am not suggesting that they have no accomplishments. What I am saying, however, is that if they had set goals, they could have accomplished a lot more. They could have attained what they currently have with fewer detours, false starts, misdirected motion, wasted resources, and a lot faster.
not a lack of strength,
not a lack of knowledge,
but rather a lack of will."
Vince Lombardi
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