Reasons why your 2019 goals might have failed

We are probably off to great start with setting up goals for the new year. May it be goals round business growth or even personal growth, we all have a list of goals we want to achieve come December 2020.

Setting up goals is always easy but achieving them, is a whole new task. However, if we have a look back to 2019, we probably put up the same goals and probably achieved quite a significant percentage of the goal.

In fact according to the University of Scranton, a whopping 92 percent of people who set New Year’s goals never actually achieve them. Probably me and you fall in this category.

So where could we be going wrong in our Goal setting? Here are few areas that you need to revisit and focus on, to probably make it to the 8 percent of the elite goal achievers.

Unrealistic…

Isn’t so obvious? At times we want to awake the superhero in us. It’s one thing to always challenge yourself, it’s another thing to do the impossible. When you set unrealistic goals, you don’t put in the effort to do it, because you don’t really believe you can. This then demotivates you.  Try define and put clarity around your goal, your chances of hitting the mark increase dramatically.

You were not persistent enough

The difference between those who succeed and those who fail is that those who succeed persist  they don’t give up. In fact, successful people generally fail more than unsuccessful people  because they keep trying and doing more.

Persistence is key to success in your goals. If you persist through failures and missteps, if you pick yourself back up and keep trying , the chances of achieving your goals will be quite high.

Failed road-maps

Probably you forgot to define your road-map and see what you wanted to achieve in the long run. When setting goals, have a clear picture of where you are headed. When writing down your goals, make sure that you understand the path to your destination. After all, a goal without a clear road-map is just a fantasy. Once you have your goal on paper, write out what you’ll need to get there. These are your sub goals and the resources that you will need to support you along the way.

Missed deadlines

You probably missed out on most deadlines or you did not set up deadlines at all. Deadlines bring urgency to your goals. Lack of deadlines leads to procrastination and simply turns your goals to fantasies. At times active procrastination is necessary to help you deliver well on projects, however it shouldn’t be a constant thing.

Deadlines have power more gets done and gets done faster when you set and even challenge yourself with deadlines.

You didn’t anticipate any hurdles

At time we easily get carried away while setting up our goals and assume everything will work out just right which I never the case. This year ensure you have the ‘’what if’’ included. Put in place the plan B  you anticipate hurdles.

Obstacles will enter our path. Anticipating what hurdles may come your way can help you prepare for them.

Difficult to measure

Unless goals are restricted by time limits and clear metrics, it is unlikely that your goal will be achieved. Many well-intentioned goals fail to live up to expectations because they are let to fluctuate and given up due to lose limits. Or, they are too vague. Also ensure that you assign your goals a measurable unit.

You had too many goals

The problem is we often end up with a long list of things we want to achieve, and it becomes very difficult to decide which ones are important and which ones are less important.

Instead, once you have written your list, set yourself some parameters. For example, I only allow myself five goals per year. This means I can give each goal total focus for two months.

You probably didn’t review your progress

It’s always helpful to take time out of your schedule periodically to reflect upon how you’re doing. Take a broader view and assess whether the whole system is working for you.

For example, if you are an employer take in time to review your employee progress maybe on weekly or monthly basis. Set up quarterly or monthly goals meetings, for instance, which just involve you thinking about: How you are doing on the specific goal, whether you want to be pursuing a goal at all anymore and the action steps to get closer to achieving it.

Moving forward, here are a few considerations you will want to put in mind while putting together your goals;

Build a support system

Finally, have a team that shares in your vision and mission. Also have a mentor, coach, or adviser who will help you achieve more and do it quicker. Look for allies and build a network of experts who care about your success and keep you heading toward your goals. Meet with them regularly, seek their wisdom, ask for advice, and listen carefully. You may also choose to work from flexible work  spaces that allow you to frequently network with like-minded people with whom you can exchange ideas. Spaces like Nairobi Garage often host Networking events that can lo help you meet n connect with mentor and business advisers that can ultimately help you achieve your goals

Networking session during an After Office Hours Event held monthly at Nairobi Garage

Practice the 52 and 17 Rule

Well, I came across this rule applied in sports known as “interval training” . When working toward your daily goal or short term goal, try 52 minutes of work followed by 17 minutes of rest.  One study found that its most productive employees preferred a work routine where they spent, on average, 52 minutes engrossed in their work, took a 17-minute break, and then returned to their work. In most cases achieving your goals in a day rarely doesn’t depend on working longer but working smarter with frequent breaks.

Set specific, challenging but not unrealistic goals

Start with baby steps and grow in that. Setting unrealistic goals could also lead to hasty decisions that may lead to unmet goals. Define your goal, keep it simple and have the end goal in mind. Work on several smaller chunks to complete a big goal. Rome was never built in a day, take your time to achieve your larger goal.

Goals are important in life because they give you a sense of purpose; and a sense of purpose gives you a reason to wake up in the morning with energy and enthusiasm. Put these tips into consideration and wait for your leap to the 8%. All the best!

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