5 Proven Methods for Effective Goal-Setting

Goal-setting is critical for anyone wanting to grow and change their lives. Using effective goal-setting methods helps to organize your goals, break them down, and create actionable steps to achieve them. So, keep reading to uncover the 5 Proven Methods for Effective Goal-Setting to help you crush your goals and become the best version of yourself!

“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes.” —Andrew Carnegie

Effective Goal-Setting Methods

#1 Creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals

S.M.A.R.T. Goals turn abstract goals into actionable steps by defining specific criteria for achieving the goal.

Criteria for S.M.A.R.T. Goals:

S – Specific: Your goal must be specific to achieve it. This criterion answers the 5W’s – Who, What, When, Where, and Why.

M- Measurable: Creating measurable goals makes tracking your progress and receiving tangible results easier. This criterion uses numbers or percentages as measurements.

A – Attainable or Achievable: It’ll be challenging to achieve your goal if it isn’t attainable for your lifestyle. This criterion requires that the goal be realistic. The best way to figure out if the goal is realistic is to ask, “Is this goal something I can realistically accomplish?”

R – Relevant: Your goal must be relevant to your overall larger goals for your life or business. You don’t want to set goals that have nothing to do with the big picture.

T – Time-Bound or Time-Sensitive: S.M.A.R.T. Goals must have time limits to keep yourself accountable, stay on track, and achieve the goal in a reasonable amount of time.

Example

Let’s say your overall goal in life is to start an online business. Here’s what a S.M.A.R.T. Goal would look like:

S – I will start an affiliate marketing business.

M – I will work on my business for 1 hour a day and make my first commission within one month.

A – I’ve watched several videos on starting an affiliate marketing business, so I think I can do this.

R – I want to quit my 9-5 and become my own boss.

T – I will take one week to set up my business and make my first commission within one month.

#2 Write Your Goals Down

Many people talk about their goals but rarely ever write them down. Although writing your goals down doesn’t seem like it would make a difference, studies have shown that writing down your goals makes you 42% more likely to achieve them. That’s almost half!

Writing down your goals turns an abstract idea into an actionable plan to follow. In addition, writing down your goals provides clarity, allowing you to define your goal(s). Writing down your goals also prevents you from forgetting them among the vast sea of thoughts swimming in your head.

“You become 42% more likely to achieve your goals and dreams simply by writing them down on a daily basis.”

#3 Make Your Goals Visible

Once you write down your goals, it’s important to keep them where you can see them. You might forget about your goals if you don’t see them every day, despite writing them down. So, put them in a place you regularly visit, such as your desk, mirror, kitchen, etc., as a constant reminder.

#4 Break Down Your Goals Into Actionable Steps

Sometimes, large goals can overwhelm us, leading us to ditch the goal altogether. However, breaking down your goals into small, actionable steps can ease the complexity of the goal and make it more attainable for you.

For example, let’s say you want to start exercising. Instead of going to the extreme and exercising daily, which can be overwhelming for many people, try 2-3 times per week. Exercising 2-3 times per week is much less intimidating than every day. As you build this habit, you’re more likely to add more days because you’ve already achieved the first step.

#5 Implement Your Goals Into Your Daily Routine

Achieving goals is much easier when you make them part of your daily routine. Let’s use the S.M.A.R.T. Goals example from above. Your overall goal is to start an affiliate marketing business. So, you could block off an hour each day, whenever is most convenient for you, to work on your business.

The purpose of making your goals part of your daily routine is that they become habitual. Thinking of your goals as habits forces you to rely on discipline instead of motivation, creating consistency. In addition, making your goals part of your daily routine gets you into a rhythm, creating momentum you can use to propel yourself forward.

Thinking of your goals as habits forces you to rely on discipline instead of motivation, creating consistency. Click To Tweet

Benefits of Setting Goals

1. Keeps You Accountable
2. Helps You Develop Discipline
3. Gives You Purpose
4. Allows You to Achieve More
5. Organizes Your Dreams
6. Teaches You New Skills
7. Provides Clarity and Aligns Your Focus
8. Gives You a Sense of Self-Mastery

Why Goal-Setting is Vital for Entrepreneurs

As an entrepreneur, you must use effective goal-setting methods to build your business and keep it running smoothly. Without goals, your actions don’t have a purpose. Creating goals allows you to grow and improve yourself, your business, and your employees (if you have any).

In addition, goal-setting helps create short-term and long-term goals for your business. Setting these goals early in your business creates clarity, allowing you to place your focus only on those goals and blocking out anything that doesn’t align with those goals. Doing this process will make you more organized, productive, and less stressed.

Challenge

Now that you’ve learned about the 5 Proven Methods for Effective Goal-Setting, I challenge you to create a goal and implement it using one of the methods above. The goal could be as large or small as you like, as long as it’s attainable for your lifestyle. After you’ve created your goal and implemented it, leave a comment below stating your goal, the method you chose, and the results!

Investing in Your Future

Want to learn more about how to set and achieve goals to create an online business that gives you control over your time, life, and income? Click here ↴