It’s important to set goals for ourselves. And it’s even more important to set goals when you’re in business for yourself. But as with most things, setting goals is one thing – and achieving them is another. Often we take on too many goals at once and then are surprised when we fall short. Here’s how to avoid some common goal setting mistakes.
Mistake #1: setting small, insignificant goals
A common mistake people make is not dreaming big enough. Instead of thinking about what they really want, too many people play it safe. They settle for small goals.
However, good goals are meant to stretch us. They’re supposed to help us develop our untapped potential and move us closer to becoming the people we’re meant to be.
So when you start thinking about goals for your life and business, think about what goals will cause you to stretch and become better? What goals will help you create the life you’ve hardly even dared to think about?
You might start by thinking about the values that are most important to you. Then let your dreams and goals come from there. After all, goals that are tied to your big values are goals that you’re going to have a greater connection to.
Finally, write them down. Yes, I’m serious. Write them down. You’ll need to refer to them frequently.
Your goal statements don’t need to ramble on and on. In fact, it’s better if you keep your goals short, sweet, and to the point. One concise statement does the job just fine. You’ll be amazed about how having clarity on the big picture will help you sort through your goals and find the ones that matter.
Mistake #2: Not Taking External Factors Into Consideration
Another common goal setting mistake is not taking things like your monetary constraints into consideration. For example, if you work a traditional 9 to 5 job with a median salary range, saving up a million dollars in one year is not feasible (probably).
Now I’m not saying that you need to scale your goals down because of your current financial situation. That would actually be the opposite of what I suggest you do. But here’s the deal – we need to dream big for the long term while being realistic in the short term.
That means that some goals are going to take a bit longer to achieve…and that’s okay. You’re more likely to eventually reach those goals if you’ve set realistic timelines instead of getting frustrated and giving up because you expected miracles.
So instead, set that goal aside for the future, and instead pick something more reasonable like saving up a few thousand dollars. Money is not the only factor you need to consider; time and physical limitations are also important to consider…which brings us to our next point.
Mistake #3: Not Taking Your Health Limitations Into Consideration
Think about your health. If you have a work-related goal—say, to hit six figures or something similar—and your doctor has also told you that your health is in trouble, it may be time to set aside your money related goals and focus on your health.
This has been a hard one for me personally. Since I’ve gotten my cancer diagnosis I don’t have the energy that I had at one point. And it’s been a personal struggle to admit that I don’t have the energy of a 22-year old graduate student who can work 12-hour days any more.
But knowing my limitations has given me permission to take the time that is needed for rest. After all, if I hit a wall because I’m continuing to abuse my body, then I’m not likely to achieve any of the goals I’ve set for myself anyway.
This is a case where it’s much more efficient to work with your limitations and make realistic progress than to fight against them and always come up with the short end of the stick where you achieve nothing.
Mistake #4: Forgetting The Other People & Obligations In Your Life
Don’t forget about the people around you. If you’re in a situation where other people are dependent on you, say a family or colleagues, you may need to set aside some of your personal goals for a bit in favor of meeting their needs.
For example, if you’re a member of the sandwich generation and are helping see to elderly parents, then you’ve got to allow for time spent helping them instead of working on your business. You can still achieve your business goals, but it may take a bit longer because of your other (important) obligations.
If you’re like most people (including me!) you’ve probably set some goals that you didn’t reach. However, that doesn’t mean that you won’t reach goals in the future. And the more you avoid these common goal setting mistakes the more likely you are to achieve success.
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