Goal Setting for Success is essential in achieving both personal and professional objectives. At Hiring & Empowering Solutions, we understand the power of setting clear, actionable goals and how they can drive your success. Mission statements, business plans, life statements, strategic plans, 5-year, 10-year, lifetime goals—it’s no wonder many of us feel overwhelmed and over-committed! At Hiring & Empowering Solutions, we’re passionate advocates of Goal Setting for Success and purposeful planning. We believe in the power of putting pen to paper and regularly revisiting what you want to achieve.
Why Goal Setting for Success is Crucial
Goal Setting for Success isn’t just about making lists; it’s about creating a roadmap that guides your daily actions toward your long-term vision. Our lifelong mentor instilled in us the importance of goal setting, and without it, we wouldn’t be where we are today or have a clear vision of where we want to be five years from now. However, life has a way of throwing curveballs, and our never-ending “to-do” lists can often leave us feeling drained.
Simplify Your Approach
While it’s crucial to continue creating your future and mapping out your goals, once you’ve done that, put them in a place where they are out of sight. Revisit them on a quarterly basis or during downtime when you can truly reflect. Schedule time in your calendar quarterly to “revisit long-term goals”—that’s it. You don’t need to do much more. The act of writing down your goals and taking the time to plan them out is powerful in itself.
With your long-term goals safely tucked away, it’s time to adopt a simple, fun process for moving forward with your short-term goals. This approach is not only manageable but also highly effective.
Steps to Achieve Goal Setting for Success
What You Need for Goal-Setting Success:
- Pen
- White Index Cards
- A box or container for “Filing”—choose something interesting or fun, like a pretty vase or an old cigar box.
How to Get Started
The process is straightforward. The “FAR” method—focused, accountable, and relevant written goals—will take you far in achieving success.
F = Focus. Be as specific as possible, stay positive, and write in the present tense.
A = Accountability. Placing your written goals on your desk where you can see them increases the likelihood of taking action.
R = Relevance. Ensure your goals are important and include both business and personal objectives.
Steps to Follow
- Schedule: Start each day by scheduling 5 minutes before you begin “work” or “life” for a dedicated “FAR” session. Do this for the next 30 days.
- Write: Take an index card and, using only one side, write your FAR goal. Place it on your desk where it will be visible all day.
- File: At the end of the day, file the card in your box or vase. Molly, one of our team members, uses a beautiful tall vase on her desk where she files these every afternoon.
- Repeat: Continue this process every morning for the next 29 days. Trust the process.
Examples of Goal Setting for Success
- 9/7: “From 12-12:30, take Finn (the dog) for a walk and recite out loud 5 things I am grateful for today.”
- 9/8: “Surprise Aidan by picking him up from school today—just because.”
- 9/9: “Take 3 deep cleansing breaths before my Toastmaster speech and speak from the heart with no notes.”
- 9/10: “Register and pay for the Parenting with Love and Logic class that I have been meaning to do for 2 years.”
Why Goal Setting for Success Works
This process is simple and fun, setting the tone for your day with intentionality. By incorporating Focus, Accountability, and Relevance into your daily routine, you create a powerful habit that aligns with your long-term goals.
Final Thoughts
Don’t overcomplicate this process, and don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t complete your goal by the end of the day. Simply say, “Maybe tomorrow.” Or maybe you’ll realize that it wasn’t something you were truly committed to—it was just something you thought you “should” do. Writing down your goals daily forces you to ask, “How am I doing?” It brings your current reality into focus, ensuring that your actions align with your true priorities.
We challenge you to try this process for one month (it takes 30 days to create a habit, right?). You’ll be amazed at the results! We would love to hear what comes out of this for you, so feel free to share your experiences with us.
P.S. Check out our free resources on our website, fire.h50.us/~hrgnmpwr/dev2/, for more tips on Goal Setting for Success.
Champions of Your Continued Success,
Molly
