7 Things to Know About Goals

Research consistently shows that most individuals do not achieve their New Year's resolutions.

Why? Because they’re setting goals completely wrong!

And, if you keep reading, you'll learn the seven biggest reasons why most goals fail and how you can fix that.

Reason #1: Your goals are too vague

Most people say something like: “I want to advance my career” or “I want to make more money.” But those are vague goals and don’t give your brain much to work with. Without clarity, your brain doesn’t know what to focus on.

When your goals are too vague, 

• You procrastinate because you don’t have a clear mental picture.
• Your goals feel overwhelming and unachievable, and this feeling can lead to demotivation.
• And you end up with weak results.

The solution is to set specific, clear, bold goals.

State your goal specifically and clearly in the present tense: For example, if you want to achieve a promotion at work in the next twelve months, state your goal as. “I am a Senior Vice President by March 31, 2026”  or if you want to grow your revenues, state your goal as “I drive revenue growth of 20% annually.”

And set time-bound goals that are 12-months to 3-years out. I like to use the term keystone goal which I learned from organizational psychologist Dr. Benjamin Hardy. This is a single, impactful goal that, when achieved, triggers a ripple effect and positively impacts other areas of your career and life. Think in terms of a big, bold goal that is what you really, really want. It’s bold, so you might not be sure how you’ll achieve it. But you know you can and it comes from inside of you. Be as specific as possible.

Then, set a short-term goal this quarter that moves you in the direction of your keystone goal. 

Reason #2:  You don't connect your goals to a bigger purpose

If your goals don’t align with your values or what’s meaningful to you, you’ll lose interest. When you’re enthusiastic about your goals - you’re inspired from inside of you and this is called intrinsic motivation - you’ll stick with your goals.

There’s a cost to misaligned goals.  Maybe you achieve the goal but you feel unfulfilled. Or you lack the deep emotional drive and inspiration to stay committed, especially when challenges come up. You end up chasing external rewards that don’t really satisfy you.

The solution is to find your “WHY?”

An important question is to ask yourself,  “Why is this goal important to me?” When I think about my goals, one of my “Why’s” is impact on others. It’s deeply purposeful for me, knowing that my work positively impacts people’s careers and lives. As you clarify your goals, think about WHY it’s meaningful to you.

Reason #3: You set too many goals at once

The reason this backfires is because overloading yourself can lead to burnout, failure or a loss of enthusiasm.

And when you set too many goals,

• You spread yourself too thinly and risk making no real progress. 
• Or maybe you feel overwhelmed and end up quitting everything. 
• Your brain struggles to focus which can lead to poor performance.

The solution is learning to say “No.”

Steve Jobs believed that focusing on a limited number of things is crucial for success, and that means rejecting many other potentially good ideas. He said, “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully.”

Focus is essential for success. I recommend you select ONE professional keystone goal and ONE personal keystone goal.  Keep in mind, your keystone goals will have a ripple effect on other areas of your life.

Reason #4: You prioritize action over mindset

Action is essential to achieve your goals. And taking action feels fantastic in the beginning. But high-achievers don’t rely on action alone, they build the right mindset  

If you ignore having the right mindset,

• You might have a strong start but over time it feels like a grind. 
• Your progress depends on how you feel that day. 
• You lose motivation when challenges come up. 
• Or maybe your strategy isn’t working and you get discouraged.

The solution is to take action AND build a winning mindset.

Developing a winning mindset means being aligned - everyday  - with your goals and values, and having an excellent attitude. An excellent attitude - that’s key to a winning mindset - is vital to get you through all the mundane activities and challenges that will come up to achieve your goals. Stanford professor Carol Dweck found that students with a growth mindset bounce back more easily from challenges, stay more motivated to learn, and end up doing better in school overall. 

Reason #5: You neglect to build new habit

Your results are always a reflection of your habits. Habits are small, repeated, unconscious thoughts, beliefs and behaviors that impact your results. Most of your behavior is habitual. To achieve your goals, you must build new habits.

If you neglect to build new habits,

•  You’re going to stay stuck at your current results. 
• You’re going to hit a wall when it comes to moving forward.

The solution Is to build new habits aligned with achieving your goals.

Begin to build a clear picture of your future self. Your future self is the version of you who is achieving your goals. This starts in your imagination. And look closely at your future self to identify your new habits. For example, maybe you’ve got to develop the habit of self-promotion or the habit of claiming your achievements at work if your goal is to land the next level leadership position in your organization. Or maybe you’ve got to develop the habit of asking for a sale if you see yourself running a business with higher revenues.

Keep it simple and focus on taking small steps consistently to build new habits. James Clear, author of the best-selling “Atomic Habits” teaches that real change comes from focusing on what he called: identity-based habits - for example, shifting from “I want to run a marathon” to “I am a runner.” This mindset change helps you align your habits with your future self who is achieving your goals.

Reason #6: You’re not willing to do what it takes

To reach your goals, you’re going to have to do what it takes like building new habits and learning new skills. But maybe you’ll face rejection or criticism, maybe you’ll face challenges or obstacles you’ve never experienced before.

If you’re not willing to do what it takes,

• You’ll stay stuck where you are. 
• You’ll give up when challenges come up - and they will. 
• You’ll never know what reservoirs of talent and ability are inside of you. 
• You’ll  miss the opportunity to grow into the next best version of you.

The solution is to commit to doing what it takes.

Ask yourself these two questions:  1) “Am I one hundred percent committed to my goals?” And 2) “Am I willing to do what it takes?” To achieve your goals, give yourself a resounding YES to these two questions. And then put your heart and soul into achieving your goals!

When Jensen Huang was building NVIDIA, the company faced numerous challenges in the first fifiteen years of business.  But as the leader, he was committed. He persevered and "did what it takes." Today NVIDIA is a global leader in technology as the engine of AI.

Reason #7: You don't have an accountability system

Most people quit because no one is watching. According to the Association for Talent Development, you’re 65% more likely to achieve a goal if you have an accountability partner and that jumps to 95% if you schedule regular check-ins.

In the absence of accountability: 

• You might make excuses and delay action. 
• You lack external pressure to stay consistent. 
• You might even quit silently because there’s no one checking in on you.

The solution Is to build accountability into your career and life.

One of my personal growth teachers, Bob Proctor, called accountability a “success insurance policy.”

Build accountability by scheduling weekly check-ins with a coach, mentor or an accountability partner. Joining a Mastermind group that meets weekly is another excellent way to build accountability. One of my keystone goals is to become a published author. And last month, I took a major step by submitting my book proposal to a publisher. Sharing that milestone with my accountability partners and Mastermind group played a huge role in making it happen!

Set goals the right way.

In this article, we covered the seven biggest mistakes people make when setting goals and how to fix them. The key? Set clear, meaningful goals; develop an excellent attitude; build new habits; be 100% committed; and stay accountable.

If you’re serious about achieving your goals, sign up for a complimentary strategy call with me. You’ll find the link in the description below.