Top performers, world-class athletes, and successful people all set goals.
Michael Phelps (competitive swimmer and most decorated Olympian of all time), Kobe Bryant (NBA star), Malala Yousafzai (youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize), Venus Williams (champion tennis player and four-time Olympic gold medalist), and Elon Musk (CEO of SpaceX and Telsa Motors) all set goals.
That’s because when you set goals, you have a vision to work toward.
“A goal is a dream with a deadline.” –Napoleon Hill
How Goal Setting Helps You Succeed
1. Provides a clear path to success- When you set a goal, you develop specific prioritized steps that allow you to spend more time and energy on the next step in achieving your goal rather than identifying and tackling steps as they are needed.
2. Teaches time management & preparedness- Goal setting helps you develop organization, planning, and time management skills that you will use in the classroom, at home and on the job. Goal setting also reduces procrastination.
3. Increases motivation- Developing your goal with small steps allows you to feel satisfied by completing each step which increases your motivation to reach your goal.
4. Measures progress- Setting clear goals makes it easier for you to track your progress. Seeing how far you have come and how much is left to do motivates you to continue working toward and achieving goals.
5. Gives focus & purpose - Setting goals determines a clear pathway to success, allowing you to focus on what needs to get done. This prevents you from becoming overwhelmed, frustrated, or discouraged even when things get challenging.
6. Provides a challenge - When you accomplish a goal, it feels great and empowers you to keep learning and growing.
So, where do you start?
If the big picture seems too overwhelming, break bigger goals into short-term goals. This separates long-term goals into smaller, more manageable steps so you don't get discouraged and quit.
Long Term and Short Term Goals
Complete the following activity to help you identify your long-term goals and the short-term goals that will be needed to achieve each of them.
First
Start with the big picture setting lifetime goals.
To do this, think of a variety of areas of your life in which you can set goals. Use the list of topics and questions below to get you thinking. For each topic, write down your answers.
- Career- What type of career or level do you see yourself at in 10 years?
- Financial- How much do you want to earn, save, spend?
- Education- What type of training, certificate, or degree do you want to have?
- Family- Will you have your own family? Will you be supporting your parents or siblings?
- Leisure- What will you do for fun, entertainment, hobbies, etc?
- Attitude- Will your attitude keep you from reaching your goals? How can you improve your mindset?
- Physical-How important is health to you? Are there specific health related habits or outcomes you would like to achieve?
- Public service- Do you want to give back to your community? How will you do this?
You may use the Goal Brainstorming Worksheet provided below to get started.
Second
Select one of your answers to develop a SMART goal. Watch the video below for more information on this process.
You may use the Printable SMART Goal Worksheet provided below to set your SMART goals.
The graphic below demonstrates a SMART goal with several subsequent (smaller) goals. Can you think of the steps it would require to meet one of the smaller goals?
Goal-Setting Activities
You can do these activities to start developing your goals today.
Create a Vision Board
Make a Family Bucket List
Gather your family together, grab a piece of chart paper and some markers, and start brainstorming. Discuss what you would like to do, experience, and achieve over the next 12 months as a family. Once you're done brainstorming, put this list up somewhere where everyone can see it often. Throughout the year, check off items as you accomplish them.
Send a Letter to Your Future Self
Use this website to send a letter to yourself one year in the future (or customize the timeframe) to help with your goal setting.
“Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No Excuses.” — Kobe Bryant
Explore the K12 Career Education Navigator
The K12 Career Technical Education (CTE) Navigator helps you explore high school courses and career pathways offered across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Browse by industry sector, county, school district, and more to find options that match your interests and career goals and see how these pathways can prepare you for college, certifications, apprenticeships, or the workforce.
Credits:
Created with images by Tierney - "Goals with woman using her smartphone on a couch" • Benjamin Davies - "Reach out to the world" • Ian Stauffer - "Heavens thrown room" • geralt - "board school forward" • Unknown - "Startup words illustration | Free stock vector - 457413"