4 Steps To Clarity On Goal Setting

When was the last time someone told you about something they wish to achieve?

Whether they are looking at doing something big or doing something minor, there is an underlying reason for wanting to achieve that goal.

At the end of the day, what most people seek is joy, fulfilment, pleasure, and a sense of achievement .

One thing that I am very emphatic on is clarity. So, the next time you wish to do something which will give you joy, fulfilment, pleasure, and a sense of achievement , please gain clarity on four things in particular.

And, here they are:

1. Why - why do you wish to do/achieve what you wish to do/achieve? Yes, you will gain joy, fulfilment, pleasure, and a sense of achievement . What else will happen when you do what you are planning on doing? There are many articles and books and speeches on goal achievement. They all (in some way or another) talk about the importance of the underlying reason for wanting to achieve that goal. Initially, I thought that the underlying reason could be a very simple explanation. For example, if someone wants to lose weight, their underlying reason could be “To look good”. When I was studying my Life Coaching course, one of my mentors taught me something very important. Every time, he asked me why I wanted to achieve something, his follow up question would be “For what purpose?” He would keep asking me that question until he got down to the underlying reason. So, in the case of the person wanting to lose weight, if you keep asking him/her “For what purpose?”, eventually, the underlying reason would surface. In 2010, I had a Life Coaching client who wanted to lose weight. As I kept asking “For what purpose?”, I discovered that she had deep emotional scars regarding people’s comments about her being overweight. So, in her case, losing weight would have helped in the healing of those emotional scars. Now, I suggest that you keep asking “For what purpose?” to gain clarity on why you wish to do/achieve what you wish to do/achieve.

2. When – do you have a timeline? It is said that a goal without a deadline is a dream. I remember hearing Tony Robbins say “A road called someday leads to a town called nowhere.” So, gain clarity on a timeline. Find out exactly when you are to do/achieve what you wish to do/achieve. Having a timeline is a good way to give yourself a reality check. If you have a timeline, you can assess your progress on regular intervals by asking “How am I going so far? I have come this far, and I have that far to go. Am I on track? Do I have enough time to make this happen?” Without a timeline, you will be like a ship without a sail or a motor, just drifting at sea. So, please create a timeline, and stick to it (all else being equal).

3. How – do you have a plan, a support team, and a strategy? This is where dreams are separated from turning into reality. It is all good and well to have a dream, a wish, or a goal. If you do not have action steps in place, you might as well stay at home and talk to yourself! Do you have action steps in place? Will you stick to those action steps? Do you have a support team? I am a very big advocate on having a support team. Now, I am not referring to a professional team of people supporting you. Your support team could be your family and friends (people who believe in you). It also helps to have a professional who could support you in the capacity of a mentor or a coach. Also, ask yourself if your plan is aligned with your strategy. If you are sitting on a tropical island, and your plan is to see a beautiful sunset, your strategy should be to face towards the west. So, have a look at your plan, your support team, and your strategy.

4. What – what will you become, how will you create a positive impact, and what will you contribute to the world? Jim Rohn said that what you become is more important than what you get by achieving a goal. Sometimes we are so attached to the end result that we completely overlook the result of the journey that we went on, or the effort that we put in. I remember getting disheartened after not winning public speaking contests. When most audience members would tell me that they were deeply touched by my speech, I would remind myself of who I became as a result of having such a positive impact on the audience. In life, there are things that are sweeter than trophies and medals. So, please ask yourself “What difference would there be in my character as a result of this achievement?” or “How will my personal growth be impacted as a result of this achievement?” In my opinion, the positive changes in your inner world are more important than the results in your outer world.

Quote: “Life is a journey, with problems to solve, lessons to learn, but most of all, experiences to enjoy” - Ritu Ghatourey.

I hope that I have given you a simple insight into gaining clarity on achievement and fulfilment.

Inspiring you towards your excellence,

Ron Prasad (Author, Speaker, Life Coach & Executive Coach )

PS: To order my book, please go to www.WelcomeToYourLifeBook.com . For $19.95, you get the book, thousands of dollars in bonus gifts from some of the best personal development experts in the world (such as Bob Proctor, Marci Shimoff, Dr Joe Rubino), and you get to give back to the community by supporting my charity ! I appreciate your support.