How to Accomplish a Goal
Goals are dreams with deadlines." Taking the time to set your goals can give you a new sense of direction and purpose.
Steps
- Set a realistic goal. Take a big dream, like "I want to be famous", and break it down into smaller, more manageable steps, like "I want to star in a science fiction movie", "I want to go to three auditions a week", "I want to move to L.A." and "I want to save $5000 so I can move."
- Brainstorm ideas. Are there different ways to reach your goal? Write everything down that you can think of in three minutes, no matter how silly or impossible it may seem. For example, you could go to acting school, or maybe you could land a spot in a reality show that would get you started.
- Be as specific as possible about what you want and how you could get it. Ask who, what, when, where, and why?
- Visualize. Close your eyes and imagine yourself accomplishing your goals. Where are you? How did you get there? How do you feel? Do this often.
- Write it down. Putting your goals on paper is a powerful form of commitment.
- Create benchmarks or milestones. A benchmark is something you can use to measure your progress and know you're on track. For example, you can write "The first stage of reaching my goal will be done when I'm in the Entertainment section of the newspaper!" or "I'll know I've reached my goal of being famous when I'm a guest on Oprah."
- Make a timeline. Draw a horizontal timeline with a dot at each end. The left end represents now, and the right end represents a point in the future. Specify what you want to happen and when, from now until then.
- Revisit, evaluate, and if you need to, adjust your goals. Keep a written record of your goals in a place where you'll remember to read them every day. They'll change and adjust over time as your life does, so keep them up-to-date.
- Be realistic about the time things will take. Many people don't allow themselves enough time, and give up too soon.
- Consider new opportunities and options that come your way. Sometimes things have a way of unintentionally leading you exactly where you want to go.
- Start working towards your goals today. Ask yourself, "What can I do today to get one step, however small, closer to achieving my goals?"
- Be passionate. Striving towards a goal without passion is like a fire which slowly runs out of fuel to burn. Get excited, this will mean that you will love what you are doing.
- Stay true to yourself. If you let yourself down, you will falter.
Tips
- You just fulfilled the last step in the list by reading this page. Congratulations, and keep going!
- Think of the big picture, and don't get discouraged - roll with the punches and keep your eye on the mark. It sounds cheesy, but it's true.
- Remember that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. Read inspirational stories of people who have achieved extraordinary things.
- Don't forget the words of Lao-Tzu: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Warnings
- Things don't always work out as you had planned. Stick to your goals, but be flexible.
- Don't share your goals with people who might tear you down. This is very common, even amongst friends. Keep your ideas to yourself, and share them only with people who you think you can count on to be positive and supportive. However, be willing to accept criticism when it is constructive, as learning to challenge yourself in new ways can help you to improve and get closer to your goals.
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