7 Deadly Sins of Goal Setting

1. Not putting goals in writing

"Out of sight, out of mind" is the best way to explain why goals and the supporting action plans need to be put in writing. The best way to reinforce key concepts and your commitment to your goals is to have them written down where you can read them regularly [daily!]. This is also the reason that new-years resolutions don't work - they are rarely written down. Out of sight, out of mind!


2. Being unrealistic

Just because you've written down a goal doesn't mean it is just going to magically happen. You need to take action to achieve your goals, and the only way you'll be able to get there is if the goals are reasonable and realistic in the first place. If you set unrealistic goals, you are just setting yourself up for failure.


The biggest culprit here is setting unrealistic deadlines for achieving goals. We all know for example that you can't lose 10 kg (20 pounds) overnight [unless you get liposuction], but most people are really optimistic about achieving other goals.


How long do you think it takes to learn a new skill? Develop a new habit? Quit an old one? - probably longer than you think, so be realistic. The other culprit here is taking on too much at a time - remember how to eat that elephant?


And finally, there are just some things that we really can't do - not everyone can be a prima ballerina or world-class athlete. We are all limited by our own predispositions and natural abilities.


The key is to focus on your natural abilities and motivations, and use this to drive your success. This is fundamental to the goal setting process.


3. Motivations are unclear

Goals must be personal and meaningful, otherwise you'll have no reason to achieve them. In other words, the "Why" is more important than the "What".


Just think about the popular goal of "making more money". This goal is baseless and meaningless unless you have a reason driven by your inner-most desires and needs. You need to ask yourself "Why do I want to earn more money?" - to keep up with the Brown's is not a meaningful reason. To pay for private education for your kids, or to live in a safer suburb, or to buy a new car because the old one is on its death-bed - they are all meaningful reasons, because they are personal to you.


4. Not having a plan

Having a meaningful goal in writing is only half the story - you need an action plan to tell you how to get there. Back to the analogy of the map - the goal is the destination, the map is how to get there. All successful missions have had a plan or strategy, so be patient and don't just rush in, but take the time to plan the journey so you take the best route.


5. Not taking action

Having a flawless plan aimed at getting you to that dream destination is not worth the paper its written on if it just sits in your draw - you must ACT on your plan! The plan will guide you and tell you what to do, but you still need to get off the couch and, in the words of Nike%u2026Just Do It!


Of course, the action plan (and your goals) will be dynamic - they will change as you progress through life either as you come across road blocks and detours, or as your life changes course. This is all OK and perfectly normal, so don't be concerned if you do make changes or even throw out your plan and start again.


6. Losing Focus

Success at achieving your goals requires focus, commitment and persistence. Sometimes your energy may be low and you'll lose this focus, but it's important not to give up - get back up on that horse, visualize the outcome of that dream goal and continue on your way.


To help keep you focused, try enlisting the help of a close friend or loved one or even a personal mentor to confide in through the process. You can share you successes [and failures] with them to help you grow from these experiences.


7. No Flexibility

Goal setting is an on-going process and needs to be flexible enough to allow for interesting detour and opportunities discovered along the way.


Your priorities and therefore your goals may also change from time to time (for example if you start a family) and if this is the case, its important to sit down and go through the goal setting process again to make sure your goals still have that personal meaning to make you WANT to achieve them.


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