The Importance of Goals
“A goal is a dream with a deadline.” – Napoleon Hill
A new year is upon us, and for a lot of people, this means New Year’s resolutions. However, many people do not make it past week two with their resolutions.
The reason for this, in my opinion, is that people do not properly set/prepare for their goals.
I learned many years ago the importance of dreams and goals.
Dreams give you things to look forward to. Things to move towards in life. Things to accomplish in life.
Goals help you reach those dreams.
Napolean said it well when he said, “A goal is a dream with a deadline.” And for most dreams, there are many goals that have to be accomplished to reach your dream.
People often think of goals in 12 month periods of time – such as New Year’s resolutions. This is where I have learned to rethink goals.
Yes, long-term goals are important. However, I highly recommend setting shorter goals as well. This is why I set monthly goals that help me reach my yearly goals and dreams.
I set yearly goals to help me ensure I am reaching my dreams – but I need to take monthly steps to get there.
Yearly goals can also feel overwhelming – which can cause people to give up or even forget. Monthly goals break it down into more manageable steps.
I also encourage you to write down your goals. Get them down in front of you, and put them someplace where you will see them often. I am personally motivated when I review my goals every Monday morning. It helps me stay focused on what truly matters each week.
How about you – do you set goals?
What strategies for goal management work for you?