Creating Goals With A Plan Of Action

If you have ever set goals before, but failed to achieve them, it may have been because you did not create a specific plan of action to accomplish those goals.

Taking the time to set goals is only part of the process of goal setting, and many people often overlook the other part, creating a plan!

Without a plan your goals remain incomplete. It’s like having a destination but without a map. Your goals tell you where you want to go in life, and your plan tells you how to get there.

A goal plan is simply a list of scheduled activities that you will do sometime in the future. These may include activities done over a series of days, weeks, months or even years depending on the type of goal you set for yourself.

Your plan does not have to be completed perfectly the first time. Usually you will find that your first attempt at creating a goal plan will be vague and incomplete. Don’t worry this is ok. Plans should be flexible and so are likely to be constantly updated as you move towards completing your primary goal.

In your plan you should therefore create a series of steps, you think you need in order to accomplish that goal. So think of it like baking a cake. Your ultimate goal is to make a cake (and eat it!), but the ingredients and the things you do with those ingredients are your plan. Once you complete the plan, you complete your goal.

Creating a goal plan is frequently overlooked, and many people discipline themselves to write their goals every day but create no plan! So make sure you take the time to decide where you want to go (your goals) and then create a plan that will tell you how to get there!

In addition to your goal plan it is also a good idea to use visualization to help clarify in your mind exactly what you want to achieve. This can simply involve thinking about your goals, and imagining them as completed when you go to bed. You can do this for about 10 minutes (or longer if you want) before you fall asleep, and you will be surprised at what a difference it makes in achieving your goals. One of the main reasons visualization before sleep is so effective, is that it provides easy access to the subconscious mind. Thereby allowing you to program your goals into your mind, increasing the likelihood you will accomplish them.

Now that we know why creating goals with a plan of action is important, lets talk about some of the ways that can help you achieve your goals

1. Know exactly what you want

This may sound obvious but unless you know exactly what you want, how can you achieve it? The more details, numbers, dates you can plan the better. You need a very clear focus of what you do want in order to receive it.

2. Write down your goals

This is one technique that sorts out the people who succeed and the people who fail. We are constantly reminded how important it is to write down your goals yet very few of us do it. According to research you are 95% more likely to achieve your goal if it is written down. Enough said. Do it!

3. Believe

If you try and achieve a goal that you don't truly believe in, your subconscious mind will not allow you to achieve it. You'll only succeed in tearing yourself up inside. As Napoleon Hill said, "Whatever the mind of a man can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

4. Remind yourself constantly of the goal

The more you repeat it to your subconscious mind, the more it will be programmed in. There are a variety of techniques you can use including repeating affirmations or using subliminal software. If you spend a lot of time on your computer I recommend using software that flashes messages on your screen that only the subconscious can pick up.

5. Be passionate about your goal

You're far more likely to achieve your goal if it excites you. Think about all the benefits for you once you have achieved your goal. Imagine how you would feel, how would your life be different.

6. Break it down into bite size chunks

If you have really big goals then great. The only way you'll be big is to think big. However sometimes you may need to break it down into smaller intermediate goals. It makes it easier for you to believe it's possible and it helps you organise yourself on a short, medium and long term.

7. Reward yourself along the way

Every Time you have some success make sure you reward yourself. It will help keep the desire and enthusiasm burning. It will also tell your subconscious mind you're achieving your goals.

8. Stay positive at all times

Ultimately the only person who can stop you achieving your goals is YOU. Fear and self doubt are common enemies but are only created in your mind. You must also make sure that you are concentrating on what you do want, not what you don't want