12 Goal Setting Mistakes in Five Minutes or Less

Goal Setting involves establishing specific, measurable and time-targeted objectives. On a personal level, setting goals is a process that allows people to specify then work towards their own objectives -which range from financial or career-based goals to personal development goals. When setting goals, there are a series of 12 mistakes commonly made that can hinder the goal setting process:

Mistake #1: Not focusing on Your Most Important and Audacious Goal
While it may be comforting to set small, easily-achievable goals instead of big audacious ones, this will work against you in the end. This is because setting large, seemingly impossible goals spurs your mind to think differently.

Mistake #2: Not having a clear timeframe or deadline

Deadlines are a great way to focus the mind and force yourself to make things happen.

Mistake #3: Not defining a clear measurement for achieving your goal

If you don’t measure how well you’re progressing toward your goal, you may never know how well you’re doing.

Mistake #4: Not defining your Compelling Reasons for wanting to achieve your goal

A common mistakes people make when forming their goals is to never ask themselves why they really want to achieve it. This is vital, because once you put your subconscious motivations into words, it often sheds new light onto which approaches are best for achieving it.

Mistake #5: Not defining the Benefits You Expect to Gain
Mistake #6: Not defining the Consequences of Not Achieving Your Goal

In addition to making a list of the good things you’ll get from achieving your goals, also write down a list of the bad things you envision if you never achieve it.

Mistake #7: Not pre-defining the Obstacles to Achieving Your Goal

Obstacles are unavoidable. If there aren’t any obstacles to reaching your goal, it’s probably not a goal worth having. But you can get around these obstacles if you plan for them in advance.


Mistake #8: Not enough focus on the Solutions to Overcoming Your Obstacles

If you have defined the possible obstacles to your goal, your mind will suddenly perceive solutions where none existed before.

Mistake #9: Trying to do it all alone

Most goals we have are social goals that involve other people. Call upon family, friends, professionals, and anyone you think can help you reach your goal.

Mistake #10: Not setting clear milestones on your path to success

Break up large goals into a series of milestones. Otherwise, you may have problems assessing your goal, determining your progress, and taking corrective action.

Mistake #11: Not sharing your goal widely

If you keep your goal to yourself, then you’ve only got one person motivating and cheering you on to victory.

Mistake #12: Not visualizing with clarity what Your Goal will Look Like, Feel Like, and Sound Like

You will find that visualizing success as vividly as you can is a vital step to achieving and exceeding your biggest goals.

Question of the day for our viewers:
What is your one, big, audacious goal in life? Share it in the comments below.