We all have goals in business and in life—some big, some small. It’s probably safe to say you’re aware of plenty of tips and strategies for setting those goals, because the dreaming and scheming about how you’d like to grow in your business is the easy part, right?
But the actual goal-achieving part? Well, that might be a slightly different story.
Just like any other process that involves learning and growth, the journey to reaching your goals can be a somewhat unpredictable process. Sometimes we’re able to accomplish our goals fairly easily, and other times we’re surprised by the detours and challenges that get in our way.
Luckily, there are a few easy, practical strategies you can implement into your daily life that can greatly increase your chances of achieving those business goals.
Here are our best tips to help you get started:
Write down your goals
Sometimes, the easiest strategies in the bunch are the ones that make the most impact, and that’s true with this one! There’s something magical about taking a few minutes to write down your goals. Seeing them written down–whether it’s digital or on paper–helps you focus on them clearly, internalize them thoroughly, and think about them daily.
Break down each step
You already have an idea of what your goal is, but do you know the exact steps you need to take in order to achieve that goal? This is the perfect time to figure it out! Now that you’ve written your goals down, take the time to list out everything that needs to happen in order for you to reach those milestones.
Let’s say you want to launch a course next year. What big projects do you need to complete in order to make that happen? Most likely, you’ll need to plan the curriculum, create the content, choose a course platform, and craft a marketing plan. Great! From there, you can break each project into smaller tasks.
Track your progress
When it comes to achieving your business goals, is there anything more satisfying than checking items off of your to-do list? Whether you choose to use a program like Asana or Trello or even a simple paper planner, being able to see what you’ve accomplished and what you still need to do will help keep you organized and on the right track.
Read your goals out loud
Now that you’ve got your goals written down in front of you, take a few extra minutes to read them out loud. Whether you prefer to find a quiet, secluded spot or shout them from the rooftops, the process of stating your goals helps solidify them in your mind.
Affirming our goals out loud–whether they’re to ourselves or to someone else–can activate the brain’s reward centers, which can actually help us change our behavior.
And even if you’re the private type, confidently verbalizing your goals to yourself might help you eventually share them to others—like people who are in a position to help you achieve them. 😉
Visualize yourself achieving each goal
This one might sound a little out there, but stay with me–if for no other reason than there’s no quicker way to put a huge smile on your face!
Picture what your life will look and feel like once you achieve your biggest goals. Be specific. By taking the time to visualize your wants and needs each day, you’re actually priming your brain to recognize opportunities when they arise!
When you commit to practicing these visualizations for each of your goals, you might be surprised how quickly your reality starts to look more and more like the amazing scenarios you’ve been imagining!
Check in daily
Has this ever happened to you? You set a business goal, and then suddenly six months go by and you realize you haven’t taken any action toward that goal yet. Oops. Sound familiar? You’re not alone! You’ve probably heard that old cliche: out of sight, out of mind–and it’s true! We humans are very good at forgetting about the things that aren’t right in front of us.
Want to make sure you’re on the right track to achieve your goals by the deadlines you’ve set? Check every day to keep your accomplishments and your to-dos top of mind.
Create reminders of your goals wherever you can
Don’t be afraid to get creative or have fun with this! Whether you choose to write your goals on sticky notes and place them around your house, change the passwords on your devices to reflect your biggest goal, or set reminders on your phone that pop up periodically throughout the day, giving yourself regular reminders of your goals will help you keep your focus on them until they’re achieved.
Turn goal-setting into goal-achieving by writing down your goals and checking in daily, reading your goals out loud, visualizing yourself achieving those goals, and being creative with your reminders. Read more: Click To TweetAnd there you go! By simply writing down your goals and checking in daily, reading your goals out loud, visualizing yourself achieving those goals, and being creative with your reminders, you’ll create a solid practice to help you achieve more than ever before. And bonus: you’ll get to watch your productivity and purpose rise.
You’ve got this.
What’s one big goal you achieved this year? Did you use goal tracking, goal affirmations, or goal visualization to help you get there? Let us know in the comments!