15 Tips on How Successful People Set & Achieve Goals

Success has never been achieved based solely upon talent, circumstance, brains, or even courage. It is obtained when specific goals are combined with an organized plan, commitment to that plan is combined with a belief that it is possible, and daily action is combined with continual persistence despite the inevitable failures that will occur along the journey. Because one of the underlying reasons as to why people fail is that they do not know how to set and achieve goals, then understanding the formula above is critical in order to realize and accomplish any of our goals, dreams, and successes in life. Never forget, however, that understanding and implementing are not the same - the later is much more challenging and necessary.

Successful individuals understand how to set goals, and they implement what is necessary to achieve their goals. Below are 15 tips relating to goal setting that are necessary to achieve your dreams and personal successes:

1) Dream Big: The great Michelangelo once said: "The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." You can become and accomplish anything - but in order to achieve that 'anything' you have to not only dream big, but also ensure your goals are big so that you can become and accomplish big things.

2) Written Down: Put pen to paper and write your goals down.

3) Completely Committed: Emerson was not lying when he said that the world makes way for those individuals who know who they are and where they are going. Determine your goals, write them down, and then completely commit to them every day. Never forget that complete commitment entails doing whatever necessary to accomplish the goal - despite the work required, criticism from others, or potential failures along the way.

4) Reviewed Daily: After writing down your goals, put them in a place to be looked at and re-committed to every day. Therein is the secret for success - not just looking at your goals each day, but completely re-committing to them every day. This practice should also suggest the absolute necessity of daily planning. Reviewing your goals should coincide with going over your calendar, establishing specific to-do's for the day, and actually writing down an agenda every day - and sticking to it.

5) Revised Often: The end goal should rarely change, but the specific plan and daily actions on how to accomplish that goal may need occasional revising.

6) Specific Action Plans: Goals are not enough. A detailed, written, organized, and specific plan is absolutely necessary. A goal is merely a futile hope if the end result is a dream with no specific daily action plan of what is required to accomplish it.

7) Short-Term vs. Long-Term: Long-term goals are the hope, the dream, and the accomplishment. Short-term goals are the daily actions, the specific plan, and the reason long-term goals are achieved. Both are critical. Never forget, however, that those who accomplish the long-term goal are those who persist despite the short-term challenges, effort, and even failures.

8) Daily To-Do List: After your short-term goals have been established, perhaps the most important document and element necessary for the accomplishment of your goals is a daily to-do list. Each day you will plan your day's activities and schedule, and part of this process will include placing 5 activities on your daily to-do list. Because you are committed to your goals, you will not retire for that day until each activity has been accomplished. It is vital, however, that everything listed on those 5 daily activities will contribute to and eventuate in the accomplishment of the goal. It is not enough to fill your day with activities if they are not revenue producing, accomplishing a short-term goal, or will eventually result in the long term goal being realized.

9) Fears, Doubts, & Failures: Like everyone, fears will arise and others will doubt you as you pursue your goals. Remember that the only limitations in life are the one's we create, believe, and nourish within our own minds. If and when failures happen, as they often do, view them as learning experiences, what not to do, and getting one step closer. Keep in mind that the road blocks, detours, and dead-end streets along the journey only become difficulties when we take our focus, commitment, and eyes off of our goals.

10) Reachable & Realistic: As important as it is to dream big, be reasonable. Ensure your goals are set high enough to challenge you, but not so unrealistically that you become unmotivated and discouraged.

11) Measurable & Deadlines: After your goals have been written, specified, and organized, you also need to track and measure them. Create a system or spreadsheet that specifically tracks your progress. Ask yourself 'how much' and 'by when' and stick to the plan. Because successful people review their goals daily, they not only look at and re-commit to the goals, but also assess where they are at, what else needs to be done and by when, and then they do what is necessary to stay on track and schedule.

12) Punishments & Rewards: Hold yourself accountable. As you establish short-term deadlines, if you hit your short-term goal, reward yourself. However, if you do not, establish a punishment - and stick to it.

13) Vocalize & Share Your Goals: Commit to vocally reading / reciting your goals daily. In addition, review them mentally all the time. Perhaps most importantly, inform others of your goals, which automatically makes you more committed to achieving them. Ideally, a spouse, family member, or friend will also commit to holding you accountable, tracking your progress, carrying out punishments and rewards, and helping and encouraging you along the journey.

14) Law of Attraction: You absolutely must surround yourself with individuals who will inspire, encourage, and support you in your desire and pursuit of your goal. Doing so will attract like-minded people who will not only encourage but also help you achieve your goal.

15) Do Not Quit: The accomplishment of our goals requires belief, action, and persistence. However, difficulties and failures will happen. Never forget that the majority of personal successes in life have been accomplished after the individual determines to not give up when they experience a failure. Because you originally were completely committed to your goals, you are not only willing to put in the necessary work required for success, but are completely determined that regardless of what happens along the journey to your goals and dreams - you will never quit.

By Matthew Toone