One of the most common questions I am asked on a regular basis is “What is the importance of goal setting?” or “Is it really necessary to set goals?”.
I can personally attest to its importance in my own professional life, and I simply cannot overstate the fact that it always has been and remains one of the first steps you will take in your journey toward finding your true calling and unparalleled success.
To quote another expert on the subject, philanthropist, and author Tony Robbins, “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”
I like that, don’t you? I think it explains the importance extremely well, but to delve deeper into the topic and further explain the reason why I personally believe goal setting to be of paramount importance when attempting to achieve success.
Here are six reasons why setting goals is important.
1. Goals Give You Focus
Without a goal, your efforts can become disjointed and often confusing.
For example, a goal takes the flight of a hummingbird, which is chaotic and erratic and focuses it much like a hawk swooping down for its prey.
It allows you to zero in on each day’s tasks with laser precision, weeding out wasted effort and idle movement.
2. Goals Help You Measure Progress
Being able to keep track of your progress toward achieving a goal is only possible if you set one in the first place.
Being able to measure progress is extremely rewarding and will help you maintain focus, keep your head held high and your energy up. It will also keep you from getting down.
Sometimes, when working towards success, it’s easy to become discouraged because you don’t feel you have “arrived” yet.
However, when you measure progress while working towards a specific goal, you will be able to see that though you might not be where you are wanting to get, you have made movements in the right direction and are a lot better off than where you started.
3. Goals Help You Stay Motivated
It’s easy to put off work until tomorrow when there is no goal on the line.
For example, let’s consider the life of an athlete. If they have to get in shape for say an NFL combine, you better believe they are going to be working out each and every day, whether they feel good or not, whether they are sore or not, whether they are tired or not, whether they want to or not, because they have a goal.
They have a destination.
Their desire to achieve their goal keeps them in the gym when they would much rather skip.
In much the same way, having a goal will keep you motivated!
4. They Help You Beat Procrastination
Procrastination is something we all battle from time-to-time, myself included. However, when you set goals in life, specific goals for what you want to achieve, it helps you understand that procrastination is dangerous.
It is wasted time. It is another day you aren’t moving closer to that goal.
Consider this inspirational quote from Pablo Picasso next time you are thinking of putting off that next step towards your goal and rethink your stance: “Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”
5. You Achieve Even More
When you set a goal and reach it, it gives you the taste of victory. You will want to taste that again.
What does that mean? You push yourself towards the next rung of the ladder, challenge yourself to move past another ceiling, you achieve even more.
Working towards meeting and surprising goals help you achieve way more than you ever thought possible.
6. Goals Help You Determine What You Want In Life
The act of setting goals forces you to contemplate what you truly want out of life.
What is the level of success you want to achieve? What is the income level you want to have? What does your life of ease look like? What about your dream home? What do you need income-wise to achieve your dreams?
Once you set this end goal, you then break your desires down into attainable, measurable goals.
These goals keep you motivated, helping you avoid procrastination and keeping you laser-focused on achieving your dreams. It is, therefore, the act of setting, achieving and surpassing goals that make living your best life possible.
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