Successful goal setting, part 2

Bradley Foster

This is Part 2 in a 2-part series. For “Successful Goal Setting, Part 1″ please click here.

Step 7: Stay Focused

By staying focused on your goals, you manifest. You may not know how you’ll reach your goals but when you make a daily practice of focusing on your goals, they become easier to reach. The more you focus, the more people and things will come into your life that help make your goals a reality. Having your goals written down somewhere where you will see them each day is a good idea. Your mind will notice that there is a discrepancy between where you are now and where you want to be which will create pressure. Pressure is motivation to change. If you lose focus you can always bring it back. Without a regular practice of focusing on your goals you will get distracted by something and your goal will disappear.

Step 8: Create a Plan of Action

The next step is to create a plan of action. Being really clear about what you want, knowing your purpose, writing your goals down, committing to them, and staying focused gives you the power of clarity to write down a list of action steps the need to be executed over the year. You may not know all the steps ahead of time but you will know the next steps that take you in that direction. Even if you don’t know how you are going to do something, write it down and when the time comes, you will be surprised at the options that may appear. Having goals without a plan of action is like trying to complete a complex project without a project plan. There is too much going on, it’s too disorganized, you miss deadlines and you don’t have priorities. Eventually you get frustrated and the project/goal fails or collapses under it’s own weight.

Step 9: Do Something Right Now

To show how committed you are to your goals, think of something you can do right now that will get you moving toward fulfilling your goal. Even if it’s just making a phone call, do it now. You will be surprised how this simple step reinforces all the previous steps and gets you motivated and moving toward what you desire. Why wait? If you are not motivated to so something right now, how are you going to get motivated tomorrow?

Step 10: Be Accountable

To push through when things get tough, you will have to hold yourself accountable unless you bring in outside help like a coach. It makes sense to have someone besides yourself who can provide valuable feedback at critical junctures, like in the visualization stage. Some people tell their friends and family about their goals which gives them the accountability they need to stick to it. Once you start to achieve some success you will find it easier to keep motivated. Consider having a backup plan. What can you do if you get stuck for too long?

Step 11: Review

Make it part of your day to review your goals and take action. This will keep your goals alive and top of mind. By following these steps and practicing your goals each day, you have all the elements you need to succeed and achieve your goals. It isn’t always easy to push through. Some days will be easier than others but if you keep focused on your goals you will be amazed at the progress you will make. Remember, almost everything begins as a thought. You can be what you imagine if you follow these simple goal-setting rules.

About the Author:

Bradley Foster is an experienced executive, career and transition coach known for his keen insights, clear perspective and intuitive interventions which have helped hundreds of his clients reach a deeper understanding of themselves and set their sights on and achieve their goals. 

He has several years experience coaching mid-career executives of Fortune 500 companies, CEO’s and lawyers in leadership and communication skills that have helped them excel both personally and professionally. He brings a balanced perspective, creativity and judgement to his clients. He strongly believes in producing actionable steps and practical outcomes for his clients that they can do something with. 

Widely published, he is sought out for his knowledge and experience in the coaching area. He is the author of Deep Coaching: A Guide to Self Directed Living and featured in a popular monthly career coaching column called Ask the Coach in Job Postings magazine.

This post was written by Bradley Foster. Bradley is an experienced executive, career and transition coach known for his keen insights, clear perspective and intuitive interventions which have helped hundreds of his clients reach a deeper understanding of themselves and set their sights on and achieve their goals. You can email Bradley here, or visit his website at www.giantstepscoaching.com.