Do you regularly set goals? How does reaching your goals impact other areas of your life? If you’re like some, once you set a goal, it can be hard to focus on anything but achieving that goal. Although there’s no dispute that setting goals is important, you want to be sure that you aren’t neglecting other key areas of your life.
Zig Ziglar, an American author and motivational speaker, outlined seven key areas of your life, to which he referred to as this Wheel of Life. These areas include financial, spiritual, physical, intellectual, family, and social factors along with your career.
Let’s say you set a goal to become more financially stable by getting a promotion. Although you might be hitting on two areas, you neglect the other five. This can lead to unsatisfactory feelings when you reach your goals.
By showing up in all areas of your life, you can set yourself up for long-term success and satisfaction through stability and meaningful change.
To help you create a balanced life, let’s break down Zig Ziglar’s recommended 7-step process for completing goals and outline common pitfalls when it comes to reaching your goals.
Why Do So Many People Fail at Goal Setting?
There’s a reason that so many people fail when it comes to their goals. Most of the common pitfalls stem from a lack of preparation. How can you expect to succeed if you don’t put in the work planning out the timeline and specifics of reaching your goals? Here are some other common goal pitfalls that you should avoid.
- Hoping and Not Doing – Although hope is great, it isn’t the only thing you should rely on. You need to put in the work to reach your goals.
- Unclear Goals – Without a detailed analysis of your goals, they can get jumbled up.
- Talking Without Doing – Too often individuals proclaim their goals to start a weight loss journey and become financially stable, but never do anything past that point. Being all talk won’t get you any closer to your goals. Instead of wishing, get to work!
- Lack of Support – A support system can make all the difference. You’ve probably heard the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child.” This is true for your goals as well. Having the proper support to lean on when times get tough is important.
Setting Your Goals
There’s a difference between setting and reaching your goals. Countless people set goals, but how many of those people are successful in achieving those goals? Would you be surprised to know that 92% of people who set New Year’s resolutions never actually achieve them? By following this 5-step process, you can set yourself up for goal success:
- Create Your Goal – What are you trying to accomplish? Identify both short-term and long-term goals.
- List Your Why – What are the benefits of reaching your goals? Is it financial stability, more flexibility, or freedom? Outlining the benefits can motivate you to put in the work.
- Outline the Challenges – Odds are there are some challenges to reaching your goals. List each of the obstacles you expect to experience. Remember that you won’t be able to predict the future. Keeping an open mind allows you to overcome unexpected challenges.
- List Resources Needed – Do you need a certain skill to reach your goal? This could be passing a test for a promotion or money for your startup. Also, consider the groups of people that can help you along the way. Think of a financial advisor to help you with a budget or a support group to help you reach sobriety.
- Create a Road Map – Put your thoughts to paper and create a plan. Having your goals written down and the steps needed prioritizes staying on track. Your plan should include a reasonable deadline, giving you motivation.
Ideally, you want to go through this process for each of the seven components in the Wheel of Life. This ensures you are working towards a well-balanced life.
Setting Yourself Up for Success
By understanding common challenges individuals face and the proper goal setting steps, you can set yourself up for success. Although there are bound to be obstacles along the way, just remember that you are working toward a better future.
