Ten (10) Steps to Successful Goal Setting

1. Belief
The first step to goal setting is to have absolute belief and faith in the process
2. Visualize what you want
Think of what you deeply desire in your life
3. Get it down!
Failure to write down your goals often means you will forget them or won't focus on them
4. Purpose
Identifying the purpose of your goal helps you instantly recognize why you want that particular
goal
5. Commit
Without strong commitment, you aren't likely to follow through
6. Stay focused
By focusing on your goals, you manifest
7. Plan of action
You may not know all the steps ahead of time, but you will know the next steps that take you in
that direction
8. No time like the present
Think of something you can do right now that will get you moving toward fulfilling your goals
9. Accountability
To push through when things get tough you have to hold yourself accountable
10. Review
Make it a part of your day to review your goals and take action
Five (5) Golden Rules
1. Set Goals that Motivate You
When you set goals for yourself, it is important that they motivate you: this means making sure
that they are important to you, and that there is value in achieving them. 

Tip: To make sure your goal is motivating write down why it's valuable and important to you.

2. Set SMART Goals

The simple fact is that for goals to be powerful they should be designed to be SMART
Specific - Your goals must be clear and well defined. Vague or generalized goals are unhelpful
because they don't provide sufficient direction.
Measurable - Include precise amounts, dates, and so on in your goals so that you can measure
your degree of success
Attainable - Make sure that it's possible to achieve the goals you set
Relevant - Goals should be relevant to the direction you want your life and career to take
Time Bound - your goals must have a deadline. This will provide you with the necessary focus
and sense of urgency to make it happen.
3. Set Goals in Writing
The physical act of writing down a goal makes it real and tangible. Therefore, you have no
excuse for forgetting about it
Tip 1: Frame your goal statement positively
Tip 2: If you use a To-Do List make yourself a To-Do List template that has your goals at the top
of it
4. Make an Action Plan
By writing out the individual steps and then crossing each one of us you complete it, you'll
realize that you are making progress towards your ultimate goal
5. Stick on Your Action Plan
Build in reminders to keep yourself on track, and make regular time-slots available to review
your goals
Importance of Goals
1. Goals Propel You Forward
Having a goal written down with a set date for accomplishment gives you something to plan and
work for.
2. Goals Transform Insurmountable Mountains into Walkable Hills
Take the mountains you need to climb and break them up into smaller hills that you can walk
3. Goals Help Us Believe in Ourselves
Goal setting isn't just about creating a plan for your life and holding yourself accountable, it's
also about giving us the inspiration necessary to aim for things we never thought possible.
4. Goals Hold You Accountable for Failure
If you don't write down concrete goals and give yourself a timeline for achievement, how can
you look back and re-evaluate your path if you fail?
5. Goals Tell You What You Truly Want
By asking ourselves what we really want and constantly reassessing our goals we gained the
benefit of introspection and self-reflection
6. Goals Help Us Live Life to the Fullest
When you take the time to set goals, you ensure that your life is geared towards getting the most
out of every moment
Twenty-One (21) Reasons Why Goal Setting is Important
1. Goals create a road map for success.
2. Goals are the targets toward which you point your life.
3. Goals give you a starting point and a destination to reach.
4. Written goals help you to see where you are going, what changes you need to
make and if you are progressing towards your prize.
5. To achieve your life goals, you must make sacrifices, stay committed,
overcome challenges and work your plans.
6. You will find as you set goals that are focused on God’s vision the more you
will grow and accomplish.
7. Goals help you focus your attention on your purpose and make it your
dominant aspiration.
8. When you have a definite target, it positions you for real success.
9. A specific goal does not take you around in circles; it puts you on a direct
course of action.
10. Goal achievement requires a committed, concentrated and consistent work ethic
to make your dreams a reality.
11. The process of writing your goals helps you clarify what you desire to do,
understand the importance of pursuing them and commit yourself to making
them happen.
12. Goals have value only if they help you develop and improve yourself or others
potential.
13. When you measure your goals progress, you stay on track, you see your target
dates and experience the excitement of achievement that will propel you to
reach your goals.
14. The secret to achieving your goals is to get started.
15. When you set actionable goals make sure they are in agreement with your
overall vision.
16. A goal worth pursuing is not something that anyone can easily talk you out of
achieving.
17. Defining your goals in writing impresses them upon your heart and mind.
18. Goals are reached one step at a time. 
19. When you commit yourself to your vision and express it in achievable goals,
you provide yourself with the motivation of where you are going and how you
anticipate getting there.
20. Goals help you to determine priorities and direct you to focus on what is
important.
21. Setting goals in the seven areas of life (spiritual, physical, financial, relational,
social, professional and mental) empowers you to live your vision with power.
A. Bandura’s Self Efficacy: Sharing is Caring
Albert Bandura: One of the most renowned living psychologists in the field of psychology, as
well as one of the most cited (Haggbloom et al., 2002)
Self-efficacy is the belief in one’s ability to influence events that affect one’s life and control
over the way these events are experienced (Bandura, 1994)
Four (4) Ways to Build Self-Efficacy
1. Mastery Experiences
Is experiencing the results of self-efficacy first hand.
2. Social Modeling
This means choosing role-models that can demonstrate their self-efficacy
3. Social Persuasion
This is about “finding the right mentor”
4. States of Physiology
Our emotions, moods, and physical state can influence our interpretation of self-efficacy.

B. Dweck’s Mindset

Carol S. Dweck (born October 17, 1946) is the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of
Psychology at Stanford University. Dweck is known for her work on the mindset psychological
trait.

Fixed-mindset individuals dread failure because it is a negative statement on their basic abilities,
while growth mindset individuals don’t mind or fear failure as much because they realize their
performance can be improved and learning comes from failure.

Dweck argues that growth mindset will allow a person to live a less stressful and more successful
life.
C. Locke’s Goal-Setting Theory
In 1990, Locke and Latham published their seminal work, “A Theory of Goal Setting and Task
Performance”. In this book, they repeated the need to set specific and difficult goals, while
outlining five other characteristics for successful goal setting.

Locke’s and Latham’s five (5) principles of setting goals:

1. Setting Clear Goals
When your goals are clear, you know what you’re trying to achieve.
2. Setting Challenging Goals
People are often motivated by challenging goals; however, it is important not to set a goal that is
so challenging that it cannot be achieved.
3. Securing Team Commitment
To be effective, your team must understand and agree to the goals.
4. Gaining Feedback
You should also listen to feedback, so that you can gauge how well you and your team are
progressing
5. Considering Task Complexity
Take special care to ensure that work doesn’t become too overwhelming when goals or
assignments are highly complex.