In January 2009 I set myself a life-changing goal, that by the time I was 50 I would have my own business. I did absolutely achieve that goal, and in April 2015, albeit 3 months later than planned, MGL Training & Coaching Consultancy was born.
How many times have you heard that succeeding at something is all about goal setting? Writing my goal down on a piece of paper was a good first step, but if that had been all there was then I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now.
As a coach I know how important setting the detail is in achieving goals. So this post is about the activities, the really important actions that will propel you forwards, and ensure that you succeed with whatever your goal is.
Step 1. I thought it would be useful to consider what a goal is? Above all else, a goal needs to be achievable, and achievable in measurable steps. Fundamentally a goal is more than just a desire or a need, it has an existence of its own. A desire or wish is less tangible than a goal. For example, wanting to win the lottery is potentially a desire or a wish, but it’s not a goal. A goal is a desire or wish or need that can be achieved by the actions that you take. Winning the lottery is a game of chance or luck, apart from buying the ticket in the first place of course, winning is out of your control.
Step 2. How to go about the business of setting a goal? Setting an achievable goal is a relatively simple activity, you just need to decide:-
- What you want
- What your starting point is
- How you will know when you’ve got there
So once you’ve set your goal then all you need to do is to decide.
Step 3. What actions do you need to take to achieve your goal? Goals require action on your part, but of course you need to decide what these actions are. The key is to have too many rather than too few, and to break them down into small individual steps or actions.
Achievable goals are goals that you can influence, realise and measure your progress towards them. In short reaching your goal is a process of achieving step by step, short, medium and long term actions, and trust me you won’t do this without a plan. Writing a plan is an essential step in succeeding. Without it you will over time amend your long term goal to fit your current reality and the goal may well end up just being a wish or hope for the future.
Step 4. How do you know that you are making progress/moving forward? Review your achievements regularly. Check what you have done or may have missed. Adjust your plan if necessary, considering what you will do today, tomorrow, this week, next week, before the end of the month, in 3, 6, 9 months time. Write down your achievements, and celebrate them.
Step 5. What to do when things don’t go according to plan? If goals were easy to achieve, there would be a lot more billionaires out there! Goals are difficult because they move you outside of your comfort zone, force you to do and think differently. To be successful you have to face your own fear of failure and take risks. There will be setbacks, expect them, embrace them, they are part of the process.
If you are not prepared to take action towards your goals then you are wasting your time. Having a goal is great but the real success comes from the daily actions that we take that move us forward.
I had a clear goal, but a mighty long action plan that spanned a 6 year period. The plan involved, persuading my better half that this goal was a good idea; obtaining a degree and coaching qualification; down-sizing; becoming the very best I could in the demanding job that I was in; exiting my corporate role; setting up a business. It was tough going, and at times I wondered what on earth I was doing. However, I really enjoyed the process, and have absolutely no regrets, other than perhaps wondering why it took me so long!
Reflecting on my journey, I believe that the factors that played a key role in me achieving my goal were:-
- Having real clarity about why I was doing it what I was doing
- Fully understanding what I needed to do and when
- Reflective thinking about how I was going to manage the change, what was working, what wasn’t and what to do differently.
- Working with a coach helped me to hold myself to account, and provided support and challenge when I lost my way. Most importantly my Coach ensured that I celebrated my achievements, no matter how small they were, enabling me to stay focussed on the end goal, and not lose heart.
To find out more about what coaching could do for you in the pursuit of achieving your goals why not contact MGL today for a free, no obligation 15 minute exploratory chat.
Best for now.
With specific expertise in sales, customer management and leadership MGL is a learning & development business that promotes a transformational approach to personal growth. By providing bespoke solutions that focus on the specific needs, wants and goals of an organisation, MGL takes time to create learning environments that enable people to lead the way to change, rather than being led.
MGL’s founder Meryl Gilbert is an experienced business leader, MBTI Practitioner, developmental coach and trainer who works from the premise that with the right focus, motivation and support, people and the businesses they work for are capable of significant change.
