Here’s My Exact Guide To Goal-Setting

Do you have something in the back of your mind that keeps popping up, nudging you when you least expect it? A dream or goal that sneaks up on you when you’re tossing and turning in bed or sitting in the pick-up line at school? It was starting a business where I could elevate others while creating, collaborating, and building community.  As a young girl, I would dress up in my finest clothes to host imaginary events to talk about flowers and paperwork (I used to think business = paperwork, and was I wrong?). 

I’m far from that little girl playing in my grandmother’s living room, and I no longer respond to those nudges with a “not now” or a “hush, I can’t do that.” My ability to chase down goals is owed solely to my goal-setting framework, which I’ve used dozens of times to achieve my dreams.  In this post, you will learn how to create a step-by-step strategy to achieve a goal you never thought possible. You will understand where to start and what to do next, and best of all, you’ll be able to begin immediately and see measurable results fast. Get ready to set your sights on your goals!

My 5-step strategy to achieve any goal, big or small:

1. DEFINE: Clarify your goal
2. GATHER: Identify necessary conditions
3. CREATE MILESTONES: Work backwards
4. SIMPLE AND SCHEDULED: Break milestones into steps
5. FOCUS ON EFFORT: Control what you can

DEFINE WHAT: Clarify Your Goal

The first step towards achieving your goal is to be clear about your goals. Define the desired results you want to see and let go of the limitations of how to get there. By focusing on the “what,” you open yourself up to new and creative ways of achieving your goal that may have previously gone unnoticed.

Open a fresh page in your journal, a Google doc, or my free WLC Guide to Goals, and define the WHAT of your goal. Pro Tip: Create a SMAR (no T) goal that’s specific, measurable, attainable, and realistic. I purposefully leave out the T for time bound in a SMART goal because the time will come later.

Example:

• Goal: I want to be a Fantasy Romance Author.
• SMAR Goal: I will write a 70,000-word fantasy romance novel set in a magical realm with intricate world-building, compelling characters, and a captivating love story by writing 500 words daily. 

GATHER: Identify Necessary Conditions

To make your goal a reality, you must identify the conditions that must be true for its achievement. Take the time to create a comprehensive list of these essential factors. This exercise will help you gain clarity and build a solid foundation for your strategic plan.

This is one of my favorite parts because I become that little girl again and imagine a world where my audacious goal is already true. I ask myself, where am I? Who am I with? What have I learned? What resources did I need?

The answers to these questions are the action steps for the next part of the journey.

CREATE MILESTONES: Work Backward

You’ve identified what action steps are necessary to achieve your goal. Now, it’s time to turn that into actionable steps. Visualize your end result and work backward. With input from the last step, break your goal into four to five key milestones that will guide you to success. These milestones will provide a clear roadmap, helping you navigate your journey and track your progress.

KEEP IT SIMPLE AND SCHEDULED: Break Milestones Into Steps

Once you have established significant milestones, it’s time to dive deeper into each. Take every milestone and further break it down into two to three clear and concise steps. This level of granularity will guide you through the process efficiently and keep you focused on the immediate tasks at hand. Then, schedule all of these steps for Milestone #1 directly in your calendar. Scheduling is a promise to yourself and will allow you to hold yourself accountable.

All that is left is showing up to your appointment with yourself and consistently taking steps towards your goal. Pro Tip: Consistency creates confidence. Choose to work on something that consistently makes you light up inside, and you’ll be stunned at the results.

FOCUS ON EFFORT: Control What You Can, Let Go of the Rest

It is so easy to get caught up in the expectations. You have a long list of them if you’re anything like me. Do any of these sound familiar: what people will think, what we want to happen, and how long will it take us to achieve our goals? Instead, understand that you have put in the work to feel confident in your plan, trust the process, and focus on the only thing we can control – your effort. Commit yourself to follow your plan, show up with the focus and consistency your goal deserves, and let go of what the results should be!

I can’t wait to see what wild and audacious goal you go after first! Remember, you don’t have to do this alone; with personalized goal coaching, we can create a path that puts you in the guaranteed-to-win territory (check out ways we can work together here). If you found this helpful, join our online community and be the first to know about more goal-setting strategies that will make your goals your reality.