21 Key Principles to Achieve “Any” Goal

Do you want to start seeing changes in your life? I’m here to tell you that you can and that you will if you follow these simple principles. All I ask is that you dare to dream. Ask yourself, “If I knew I could not fail, what would I do?” Dream as you did when you were a child; when you had a world of opportunity and possibilities. Dream as though you have no limits because honestly, you don’t.

A goal properly set is halfway reached. - Abraham Lincoln

Let’s talk about goal setting; how you go about setting purposeful goals and making sure those goals actually get achieved.

How do you make goals work not only for New Year’s time but throughout the whole year? How do you make them actually changing your life, transforming your life for the better?

Personally, I’ve struggled with goals for a long time. That’s because they seem simple. They seem obvious; you need to go in there and start to look into what actually makes goals work so that you can set proper, powerful goals to achieve your dream.

If you’re like me, then you have big dreams for your life. You know you’re capable of so much more. What that means is that you have some sort of dream. You have some sort of vision.

What your career could be like, how your business might be growing, what your health might be like, how your lifestyle is like. In all of those areas in your life, to achieve big things in those areas, you need to have some goals to get you there.

Your true goals are your objectives you intend to achieve. It starts with developing your visions and values into tasks that you can easily accomplish each day until you achieve the main goal.

Setting Goals is Powerful

Why do we need to set goals and use them? Are they important? The answer is that when you set objectives for yourself, you create the future in advance. You form your destiny and shape your life. Whether we know it or not, we all have goals.

As a result, know that your goals are affecting you. The problem is that some people have lousy goals. Those get you through the day, the week, the month, or help you pay the bills but are not the kind of objectives that inspire you or make you jump out of bed in the morning. These goals do not create the drive you need to achieve something greater.

You must realize that very few people have a particular plan or even written goals. So, when you set goals, I mean real aims, you can create the power to grow, develop and expand your success. You must have something out there that is compelling enough to draw you forth and transform your life.

Back to Basics

Should I remind you about Mr. Miyagi in “Karate Kid” with his wax on wax off? When you set goals, you have to go back and go through the basics every day. So that when you do it again, you understand how to do it even more efficiently.

            “Repetition is the mother of all skills” – Tony Robbins

If you want to reach your set goals, you have to master your skills. The reason being is that along with your journey, you make new distinctions, set new goals, or even change them. So do not think for a second that you already know how to achieve them.

The bottom line often is that most people do not have a clearly defined set of objectives anyway. You need to go from the frame of mastering simple things over and over to achieve set goals. So, you have to break through the bonds of the past and look in a whole new way where you understand that you have to do whatever it takes and not be bored by basics.

Setting Goals is Powerful

Why do we need to set goals and use them? Are they important? The answer is that when you set objectives for yourself, you create the future in advance. You form your destiny and shape your life. Whether we know it or not, we all have goals.

As a result, know that your goals are affecting you. The problem is that some people have lousy goals. Those get you through the day, the week, the month, or help you pay the bills but are not the kind of objectives that inspire you or make you jump out of bed in the morning. These goals do not create the drive you need to achieve something greater.

You must realize that very few people have a particular plan or even written goals. So, when you set goals, I mean real aims, you can create the power to grow, develop and expand your success. You must have something out there that is compelling enough to draw you forth and transform your life.

Reflection Time to Set Goals

Next, you have to know why you set goals, why you are doing it, and what you are moving towards. The reason being is that if you do not, you won’t get the most out of yourself. You have to take time to reflect so that you can set goals. It does not matter if you reflect for days; what is important is that you do it.

Then, take two or three days to design plans and how you can achieve them. You have to set goals that are well beyond your current ability or skill. It does not matter if you have yet no idea how to make them happen. You simply have to operate from a principle that is talked about all over the world, regardless of what you believe.

It is a common law which is the power of absolute belief and faith. If you can get inspired enough and find a goal that is exciting enough, you can figure out a way to make it happen. Even if right now it seems impossible, you can pull it off.

Why is it Difficult to Set Goals

Let’s talk about how to do this and where people make mistakes with the goal-setting process, because I’ve made these mistakes, and I still make these mistakes, even though I’ve studied this stuff. Let’s take a look at that.

There are a lot of people who work hard at achieving a goal, but when they eventually achieve such goals, they do not derive any joy or satisfaction from achieving such goals. The main reason for this is that what you have accomplished is not suitable for your inner values. This shouldn’t happen to you. Clarification of your values is an act you need to perform in each area of your life.

So, if we all have the ability to set goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, and realizable. Why is it that a lot of people find it difficult to set one? There 4 reasons why I believe people find it difficult to really set goals.

YOU DON’T REALIZE ITS IMPORTANCE

Most people don’t have the basic understanding of setting goals, hence, they don’t realize its importance. If you grow up in a home where no one sets goals let alone seeks to achieve them, you won’t see the need to set goals as well.

YOU HAVE NO GUIDE ON HOW TO SET GOALS

People are unable to set goals because they don’t have the guidance they need on how they can set goals. Worse still, there are a lot of people who have wishes or dreams which they term as goals.

Examples of such wishes or dreams are, “be happy”, “make a lot of money”, or “have a nice family life”.

Of course, we all have wishes and dreams, but a goal is completely different from a wish, it is specific, measurable, and even time-bound.

If you are like me and you didn’t have any idea about goal setting until you became an adult, then, you won’t realize its importance.

YOU ARE AFRAID OF FAILING

The truth is nobody wants to fail. Failure is painful and distressing both emotionally and financially. We all have failed at one time or the other. While we resolve to learn from our experience to forge ahead, we allow these failures to ‘cage’ us and make us ‘play it safe’. Hence, we don’t maximize our potential to the fullest.

YOU ARE AFRAID OF CRITICISM

These are people that feel that by setting a goal and not achieving that goal, they will receive criticism from others. If you fall into this category, I have a simple solution for you, ensure that your goals are confidential. There is no need to tell anyone your goals. Let your results and achievements speak for you.

21 Principles in Goal-Setting

These 21 simple, but key principles will jump-start your life again; give you new energy, excitement, passion, and leap you forward from where you are now to where it is that you want to go, faster than you ever dared to dream.

1 – Burning Desire

“Success is focusing the full power of all you are on what you have a burning desire to achieve.” – Wilfred Peterson

The first principle of goal setting is to have a burning desire. This is not something that you can train yourself to have, you either have it or you don’t. You may be able to stay focused on your task or goal for a short time, but without a burning desire, you will inevitably lose steam.

2 – Have One Major Goal

“There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.” – Napoleon Hill

About 95% of all Americans do not have goals. Out of the remaining 5% of Americans that do have goals, most set too many goals. Why is this a problem? Because without one major definite purpose or goal you have no clarity; you are no closer to accomplishing any of your goals than the 95% of Americans that don’t set goals at all. Your goals must be clear and specific.

3 – Set Goals that are Achievable Yet Stretch You

“You have to set goals that are almost out of reach. If you set a goal that is attainable without much work or thought, you are stuck with something below your true talent and potential.” – Steve Garvey

So many times we do one of two things while setting goals: we either set our goals too high or too low; rarely do we set them just right. This element of goal setting can be extremely difficult, especially without much experience using this process.

By setting our goals too low we never reach our full potential to what we can accomplish and never live a self-fulfilling life. By setting our goals too high we risk becoming discouraged because the goal is so far out of reach.

4 – Set Goals in Every Area of Life

You have to set goals for yourself in every area of your life. Set them spiritually, personally, emotionally, socially, physically, and financially. Create an ultimate aim and what you want right now. You need objectives on who you want to be, how much happiness or passion you desire, and how you want to live every single day.

No matter the pages it could take, you should describe everything in detail, even the person of your dreams. And yes, you might create a lot of limitations or absurd goals, but if after reviewing those, your goals still make sense to you, you should believe in their realization. You have to design your own road map necessary for success.

5 – Set Goals that are Measurable

“Determine a single measure that you can use to grade your progress and success in each area of your life. Refer to it daily.” – Brian Tracy

Goals are to be measurable solely for the benefit of being able to track your progress. It is no different than tracking your progress while driving your car to work. When you drive your car to work you know how far you’ve gone and how far you need to go. It is simply not enough to say, “I want to be physically fit.” How will you know if you are physically fit? Try instead being more specific, an example of this might be, “I run a 7-minute mile”. It’s clear, precise, and measurable.

6 – Write Down Your Goals

“Write it down. Written goals have a way of transforming wishes into wants, cant’s into cans, dreams into plans, and plans into reality. Don’t just think it – ink it!” – Author Unknown

The initial phase is getting it all written down, and if you do that, you can create and shape your own paradise, whatever you choose to create. It starts with a simple process of taking these generalized dream impulses and then defining them with more precision.

Always organize your thoughts on a sheet of paper or on a tablet or phone if you so desire. There can be sub-lists for every list. Until you’re comfortable with your plan, keep updating and revising it. Any skill can be learned and planning being a skill is not an exception.

Be sure that when you write down your goal it is clear, positive, and in the present tense. An example of this is, “I earn $100,000 per year”. By simply writing down your goal you are making it become alive; you are making your goal a reality.

That is the power of goal setting. There is something beyond just what you understand of writing something down. Something happens! You become a creator when you set goals and put them down on paper. You get a clear vision while you can make them happen.

7 – Set an Achievement Date

“Goals are dreams with deadlines” – Diana Scharf Hunt

Parkinson’s Law says, “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” The more time we give ourselves to accomplish a task or goal, the more time it takes us to accomplish it. Therefore, we must learn to use Parkinson’s Law to our advantage by setting shorter time frames in which to complete the goal or task.

8 – Identify All Possible Roadblocks and Setbacks

“When you confront a problem you begin to solve it.” – Rudy Giuliani

Identifying roadblocks should not discourage you but help you avoid any unexpected setbacks that may occur; enabling you to create the most effective plans possible. By recognizing obstacles your mind should then begin to think of solutions to solve these possible situations. In Robert Kiyasaki’s classic, Rich Dad Poor Dad, Kiyasaki’s “rich dad” teaches him how the mind of the rich is different than that of the poor. When the poor see something that they desire but is beyond their current budget they say, “I can’t afford that.” While the rich say, “How can I afford that?” Think like this rich dad and apply it not only in finances but in all areas of your life.

9 – Create Your Key Indicators

“First you write down your goal; your second job is to break down your goal into a series of steps, beginning with steps which are absurdly easy.” – Fitzhugh Dodson
An example of a key indicator is the number of cold calls that you will make. After deciding the key indicator you set a goal for that specific key indicator. This step is to help you identify the most important tasks that need to be done on a daily basis that bring you closer to accomplishing your goal. By doing what needs to be done first and seeing that task to the end, you will actually spend 80% less time on that task than if you tried doing the same task in smaller increments.

10 – Make Plans

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” – Alan Lakein

Trying to accomplish a goal with no plan is like trying to build a skyscraper without first taking the time to map out the blueprints. Without blueprints, the construction process will be slow, frustrating, and extremely expensive. The same also applies to your goal; if you don’t take the time to make plans, then accomplishing your goal will be slow, frustrating, and expensive. The cost may not always be in monetary value, but in time wasted, broken relationships, etc. Make plans so that you can begin to create the future you want now.

The master skill to success is to set goals and make plans to achieve such goals. Without mastering the skill of goal setting and developing action plans, you may not be able to fully utilize your potential or achieve any goal in life. All major accomplishments involve a sequence of steps.

Through planning, your major definite purpose is turned into a multi-task project with step-by-step details, clear deadlines, and sub-deadlines. The good news is that with practice, you can learn and master this skill. The more you practice, the better you become. Hence, you will be one of the most effective and influential people.

11 – Be organized

“In this world, no one rules by love; if you are but amiable, you are no hero; to be powerful, you must be strong, and to have dominion you must have a genius for organizing.” – John Henry Newman

If you are to have dominion over your own life you must be organized, and to truly be organized you must be organized in each and every single way of your life. If your physical surroundings are cluttered then so will be your mind. So be sure when you sit down to do planning or accomplish a task that your workspace is spotless. If there are distractions like stacks of papers that you can’t do anything about then put them away temporarily and get to work.

12 – Use Leverage

“Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” – Archimedes

Leverage is the ability to exert minimal effort for maximal achievement. An example of this is “OPK” or in other words, other people’s knowledge. One of the greatest ways to use leverage is to seek a mentor. By doing this you save yourself time and money by eliminating the trial and error stage and instead begin seeing results. By creating a mastermind group you leverage several other’s knowledge along with their resources and networks helping you reach even more people that could potentially help you reach your goal.

13 – Motivate Yourself to be Disciplined

“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” – Mario Andretti

Think of reasons to accomplish your goal rather than excuses not to do them. As you do the tasks that you hate but bring you closer to your goal you will feel more satisfaction, accomplishment, and peace in your life. It will be difficult at times to keep pushing forward, especially if you do not see results immediately; keep going anyway. A great way to do this is to remind yourself of why you want to accomplish your goal and to always keep the end in mind.

14 – Accountability

“When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates.” – Thomas S. Monson

This is why participating in a mastermind group can be so beneficial; it gives us someone to report to who will not only encourage our progress but hold us accountable for what remains to be done on achieving our goals and related indicators. Remember, the more accountability, the greater the results.

15 – Autosuggestion

“Your ability to use the principle of autosuggestion will depend, very largely, upon your capacity to concentrate upon a given desire until that desire becomes a burning obsession.” – Napoleon Hill

Autosuggestion is a process by which an individual trains the subconscious mind to believe something, or systematically schematizes the person’s own mental associations, usually for a given purpose.

One way of utilizing autosuggestion is by simply writing down a few statements such as, “I earn $100,000 per year” on an index card, and carry that card at all times. Whenever the moment arises — first thing in the morning, before retiring to bed, on break at work, etc– begin reciting what you have written on the card with conviction and an inner belief that what you are saying (have written on the card) about yourself is true!

Keep the statements positive and in the present tense because the subconscious mind sees pictures. For instance, if you were to say, “I am debt-free,” the subconscious would only see “debt” and therefore would focus on obtaining more “debt.” A positive, present tense autosuggestion for this idea could be, “I am financially independent” or “Money flows to me easily.”

16 – Take Action

Do not wait; the time will never be “just right.” Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along. – Napoleon Hill

Often times we say that we will accomplish our lifetime goals after we accomplish some other less important goals. Remember, there is never a better time than right now to do something, no matter what it is. America did not gain its freedom by waiting for the “right time”, and neither will you. Why not begin today on making a better life for yourself and your loved ones?

Now you have to implement them. Of course, some of your goals will not work out, but you can achieve most of your set goals. A massive change will occur as you follow through. Your level of confidence will boost, and your faith, as well as your abilities, will change radically.

Over the years, there have been many studies into the reasons why some people achieve more than others. In an effort to determine the common denominator of success.

The common denominator was “action orientation.” Those who achieve success take immense action. They make their moves very fast and their hands are always full.

Every great success you achieve is an indication that you’ve overcome one challenge or another. The critical determinant of your success is your ability to make a decision on what you want. Then, taking action steps and holding on in the midst of challenges and difficulties until you accomplish your goals.

17 – Failure is Not an Option

“In achieving your goals, you may run into roadblocks. Don’t let that stop you, go around, over, or under. If you are committed to your goal you will find a way.” – Catherine Pulsifier

By deciding from the very beginning that failure is not an option you set yourself up for success. Use your desire and drive to accomplish your goal; imagine how wonderful your life will be with the completion of your goal. Or perhaps contemplate the opposite: how unfulfilled and stressful your life is without it. Regardless of the method of motivation, you must never quit trying to reach your goal.

18 – Stay Positive

“Life’s ups and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals. Think of using all obstacles as stepping stones to build the life you want.” – Martha Sinetar

Despite all the previous steps that you’ve followed to prevent any roadblocks from showing up on your path to success you will still inevitably run into them. But I have one piece of advice for you: don’t get discouraged. Recognize that every setback and obstacle is an opportunity for improvement and learning. Recognize the benefits of being where you are right now: whether it’s learning how to budget or live a healthy lifestyle; there is a positive to every situation.

19 – Reward Yourself

“Reward yourself. Not just the end goal do we celebrate. But each and every little milestone you complete along the way are successes within themselves.” – Author Unknown

It is important to reward yourself a minimum of once a week for a job well done. Not only do you get to see the fruits of your labor by doing this, but by taking the time to relax you become more effective and excited about life. Your rewards do not have to be anything tangible; it can be taking time off work, taking a walk around the park, or enjoying a luxurious bubble bath. The possibilities are endless and deciding on how to reward yourself is half the fun.

20 – Evaluate

“Even if we fail, we can evaluate what we have tried, see what we have done wrong, modify our method of attack – and try again.” – John Cusworth

Whether you achieved your goal or not is unimportant, but what is important is to take time to reflect back on all the things that you did to get as far as you did. Ask yourself, “What did I do right?” and “What could I have done better?” By honestly answering these questions you will already be much further ahead on your next major goal than you were on your previous one, and you will begin to find that each major goal you set will become easier and easier to obtain until it becomes almost effortless.

21 – Make Changes

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein

After you’ve honestly evaluated yourself it’s time to make changes. Sometimes they’re small and easy adjustments, other times it can be painfully difficult. But if you desire to keep progressing and live a more fulfilling life, then changes must be made constantly.

A Final Word When You Set Goals

In conclusion, make sure that when you set a goal, you know why you are doing it. Be aware of the motivation behind the goals you set. It means that the purpose of goals is not so you get things but rather of what they will make of you as a person.

Most people set goals blindly. They desire and focus on material things. And there is nothing wrong with that; I want you to have as many things as you want because that is part of life too. Making money motivates only so much, but becoming a person who can manifest abundance financially and physically for themselves and share with the people around them is rather more fulfilling. Having the freedom that money can give or have the ability to give or help others by paying it forward usually motivates more than just anything else.

So when you set goals, do not take them for granted. Focus on what you can control and let the world take care of the rest. Do act on your intentions and goals seriously and consistently. I know you can go well beyond what you can dream of, I believe in you!

What principle is resounds most to you today?