Life can often feel like a disorganized mess of to-do lists, distractions, and looming deadlines. It’s easy to lose sight of what really matters most to us. That’s why developing a goal-oriented, results-focused mindset is so important. When we get crystal clear on our biggest goals and take purposeful action to achieve them, we gain momentum and make meaningful progress.
So building upon the previous four columns beginning with the importance of our healthy self-image, developing and maintaining a positive attitude, building winning relationships at home and at work, and using hope as a catalyst for change, I will conclude this series with not only the importance of goal setting, but also the results that we will receive as we meet and exceed our goals and objectives, and pursue our biggest and wildest dreams.
Zig Ziglar calls this the blueprint for success, being well rounded in all of the key areas of life. Zig referred to each one of these areas as key success factors when building and living a balanced life. And as he looked through the lens of each of the five areas, healthy self-image, positive attitude, winning relationships, hope, and goal setting, he connected them to the seven pillars of life which are family, mental, spiritual, physical, financial, career, and personal.
Being goal oriented means having a compelling vision for our future and breaking that down into specific, measurable objectives. Like a roadmap, well-defined goals give direction and help us allocate our time and energy wisely. They provide motivation on days when we feel like giving up. Goals also stretch us to grow beyond our comfort zone.
Equally vital is being results focused — keeping our eye on tangible outcomes rather than just effort. Results reveal if our strategies are working or need revising. They build confidence and excitement as we check off milestones. Staying focused on results guards against busy work that yields little real reward.
Powerful goal setting requires audaciously dreaming big while simultaneously having the discipline to chunk goals down into daily, bite-sized wins. Each small win builds our capabilities and belief, strengthening our resolve to see our goals through to completion. With consistent action over time, these small steps compound into phenomenal results.
When it comes to goal setting and putting plans in place to realize our dreams, it’s also a great idea to make sure we not only chunk our goals down daily, but to also include near-term, mid-range, and long-term goals. We need the near-term wins to keep us going and to propel us into the achievement of our mid-range goals and long-term goals.
Being goal-oriented and results-focused is a lifelong practice requiring self-awareness, strategic planning, unshakable perseverance, and the ability to enjoy the journey. It may mean sacrificing short-term pleasures for long-term payoff. When done right, it leads to a deeply fulfilling sense of purpose and achievement. Can you think of a goal that you have set where maybe you didn’t make the sacrifices necessary to achieve those goals? Can you think of a time where you had a dream or a goal, and the lack of perseverance hampered your attempts of reaching that goal or achieving that dream?
The answer to those last two questions will be yes for all of us. No matter who we are, at some point we let something derail us in the pursuit of something we wanted, but at the time, maybe we didn’t want it bad enough.
What would your life look like if you ruthlessly focused on your most inspiring goals and only chased activities that moved you toward those goals? You have limitless potential to create the reality you desire. With clear goals and a results-focused approach, you can live with intention and make your biggest dreams come true.
As we get ready to close out the last few months of 2023, where are you in relation to your goal achievement and have you already started to plan for your 2024 goals? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can be intentional about our goals, and hold ourselves accountable for the results, it really will be a better than good life.
Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.