While I’m all for speaking dreams into existence, I like to do so with a side of tangibility. After all, creating goals and accomplishing goals are two different things. We all know what happened to those New Year’s resolutions, right? Yeah, gone till December. 

So how do you turn your goals into accomplishments? The difference is how you approach your goals and how you work towards them in your day-to-day activities. Distractions will always present themselves, but these three tips will ensure your goals continue to make their way to the top of your to-do lists.

1. Ensure each goal has a "why.” 

Your “why” acts as a driving force that minimizes the risk of giving up on your goal. The “why” motivates you towards the goal because it involves an emotional connection. Let’s say your goal is “secure a promotion.” That’s great. But honestly, it’s vague.

Dig deeper and ask yourself, “why is this goal important to me?” Maybe a promotion means you can officially lead the team you’ve been inspiring and coordinating over the past few months. Or, a promotion means new challenges and a chance to utilize the new skills you’ve acquired. Whatever the reason, make sure it’s something that connects to you. The more personal and detailed you get with your goal, the more likely you will stick with it. 

2. Write them somewhere you will see them often. 

Maybe they need to be your phone or laptop’s screensaver. Perhaps they need to be at the front of your daily planner. Pick a spot you’ll see throughout the day. As the old saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind.” Keeping your goals in your sight keeps them in your focus. And focus is a major component of accomplishing our goals. 

Plus, according to Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University in California, writing a goal down makes you 42% more likely to achieve that goal. That’s because writing down your goal brings clarity and motivation to what you want to achieve. So when you see your goal each day, it will bring focus back to what you’re working towards and motivation to your actions. 

3. Ensure you set weekly tasks that get you closer to achieving your goal. 

Many people never achieve their goals, primarily because most people don’t break their goals down into digestible pieces. Let’s go back to that goal of “getting a promotion.” Aftering finding your “why,” you then need to ask yourself “how do I make this happen.” Without a clear breakdown of the steps needed, you risk pulling at straws to see what works, which won’t produce the results you want, and then you’re unmotivated. 

Let’s hit pause right there. This is where my less stress, more strategy comes into play. When you break down that goal of getting a promotion into weekly tasks that are specific and measurable, you’re more likely to achieve success. 

Next Steps

If you’ve got some major goals you want to accomplish, you need to check out our learning and networking community, The Winner’s Circle. Together we clarify our goals and hold one another accountable for seeing them through. What are you waiting for?