The 5 Mandatory Rules For Goal Setting That Always Work

Your rules for goal setting have to adapt to your situation but five rules never can be missing

You have probably thought about your rules for goal setting several times. No matter if you would like to plan what you want to be doing in five years´ time or if you would like to schedule what has to be achieved by the end of today. In both cases, you need to have a structure and specific rules for goal setting.

If you want to have success, you need to have rules for goal setting. Without goals, you will lack focus and will be running around like a headless hen.

The goals will be different for every new project and also for every individual. We can also use different methods to set the goals. In my case, there are two activities in my life I´m passionate about. One is my online business as an independent entrepreneur, and the other one is marathon running. Both activities require a lot of work, but also proper planning to reach the goals.

On the Internet, there is plenty of different advice about how to set goals, but in one way or another, they all come down to the same

Two so wholly different activities, like running and doing business online as an independent entrepreneur, will, of course, have two different goals. What is interesting, though, is that the method to set the goals is exactly the same.

The Mandatory Rules For Goal Setting Should Never Change

When the goal-setting hasn´t been done correctly, going out and running will quickly turn into a frustrating and demotivating thing. The excuses to not run will start to pop up in your head, and your “productivity” to find reasons not to run will soon take over. If you don´t take any measures, your running might soon only remain as a memory.

The same goes for your online business. With the constant flow of offers on the Internet, it´s easy to fall into the trap of trying all these “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunities or at least lose focus on your business.

With a well-established goal, the risk of deviating from the route toward the goal will be minimized if the rules for goal setting are correct.

Goal setting is a process that starts with careful consideration of what you want to achieve. Spend all the time you need before setting the goal because the goal will be your supreme leading star for all activities towards your goal.

In the following video, you will get to know how a marathon goal was achieved by applying the five mandatory rules for goal setting.

There are two important pillars to consider when setting your goal: your dream and your accountability to make it happen

We all have different styles and habits in life. How to achieve goals should always follow your way of working and thinking. However, experiences show over and over again that the following five rules for goal setting still must be in place to accomplish your goals.

Rule #1: Motivating goal

Maybe it seems unnecessary to tell you that it’s essential that the goal really motivates you. However, often we just follow the general trends among friends and set goals according to the environment where we hang out.

Perhaps the goal doesn´t fulfill your sincere desire but instead follows the general trend among your friends. Motivation is key to achieving goals. Avoid all common traps when setting up your goals.

To assure that your goal really is your real motivation goal, try to find your “why.” Why is it important to you?

Rule #2: S.M.A.R.T. goal

Probably you know already what a S.M.A.R.T. goal is. The question would rather be, do you apply the rule?

Specific – a goal must be crystal clear. If your goal is vague, you will easily lose focus and direction toward the goal.

Measurable – a goal must be possible to express in numbers. To lose weight isn´t measurable, but to lose 10 kg is a number that you can relate to during the process.

Attainable – make sure that your goal is possible to achieve. Setting goals that aren´t possible to reach will only demoralize you and contribute to lost confidence. However, do not mix up attainable with challenges. A goal should be challenging and attainable at the same time

Relevant – setting relevant goals goes hand in hand with setting motivating goals. To establish a relevant goal, you should have a burning passion for really making it happen. During the journey, you will have to challenge different obstacles. That is normal. But if the goal isn´t relevant to you, it will be problematic to overcome the obstacle you will come across during the process.

Time-bound – in the same way that you need to set specific and measurable goals, they also need to be time-sensitive. You should set time frames for all the sub-goals as well as the primary goal. Without a time-bound, the whole process can easily run into a never-ending story, where you, step by step, also will lose motivation, focus, and direction.

Rule #3: Write it down

By writing down your goal, you will make it tangible. There will be no excuse to forget what your goal really is. Believe me; it´s easier than you can imagine to lose focus on your goal and forget the goal or substantial parts of it.

According to an article by Mary Morrissey in the Huffington Post, you become 42% more likely to achieve your goals simply by writing them down. 

When making an audit of where you are standing in the process, view the written goal and use it as the frame to follow. When making to-do lists or whatever method you are using to plan for the daily work to do, it´s a good idea always to have the written goal in front of you. By never forgetting your goal, it will happen more than once that you might reprioritize working plans for a specific day.

Rule #4: From goal to an action plan

This part is often missed out. I include myself in this. Your focus is so concentrated on getting results as fast as possible that you easily forget to plan the different steps in the process.

Having a specific action plan will be your roadmap toward your final goal. Sometimes during the journey, you just get lost for any reason, and then you need to consult your action plan to get on track again.

Rule #5: Stick to the plan

Setting goals is not a static thing but an ongoing activity. Revue your goals, and you plan now and then. Maybe the plan or even the goal will be in need of some kind of adjustment.

You need to keep your goal relevant, challenging, and motivating the whole time. Therefore, your plan always has to be optimized. Remember that your goal will be accomplished. Quitting is not an option!

If you, like me, are a person who likes structure and discipline to achieve your goals, then you will love this business opportunity to work on your own. You love to have the freedom to plan your life the way you prefer. You are searching for something that you can combine with your other passions in life.

Curious?

Click the box below and try it yourself. It changed my way of living. Will you be the next to start living life on your terms?