How to Achieve Your Goals
Now that we’ve discussed the importance of writing goals and how to set SMART goals, I’d like to give you some practical tips and steps to achieve your goals. It’s very easy just to write goals and set them aside, but we won’t be as likely to follow through and achieve our goals unless we take some additional steps. Adding some action steps and some accountability will significantly boost the probability of reaching our goals, dreams, and vision for our life. Most people leave these steps out and that is often why people don’t see their goals to completion.
Action steps…mini-goals to get to the bigger goal
To take the next step to achieve our goals, after we have written our SMART goals (made them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic/Relevant, & Time-Sensitive), we should establish some specific actions steps (or short-term goals) for each of them. By working toward completing these “mini-goals” we will reach that bigger goal and achieve our goals in the long term. Making and taking smaller action steps is a way to baby step or snowball into a larger accomplishment by taking off bite-sized pieces.
God works in steps and stages
Even God does things in steps and stages. He knows that we can be overwhelmed easily, and He directs us in steps and stages to success…little by little.
“The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.” Deuteronomy 7:22 (NIV)
“The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Psalm 37:23 (NLT)
Identify obstacles or barriers
Next, it helps to identify some potential obstacles or barriers that we may come against for each of those goals. Then come up with action steps to overcome and/or prevent some of those obstacles. It’s not a question of “if” we will encounter hurdles, but “when”. It’s important to decide ahead of time that we will not let any hindrances stop us or get in our way. We CAN achieve our goals! We are overcomers and more than conquerors! Many things may come against us, but we can prevail over them all. We’ve got God on our side, and if God is FOR us who can be against us? Remember also that we have the favor of God!
“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (ESV)
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 (ESV)
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT)
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19 (NKJV)
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 (ESV)
“Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:12 (NIV)
Get accountability
Getting some accountability is the next step. The goals research study that we cited in previous posts has proven the positive effect of accountability when working to achieve our goals. According to their study, those who notified a friend of their goal commitments accomplished more of their goals than those who did not share their goals and action steps. Furthermore, “those who sent weekly progress reports to their friend accomplished significantly more” than the groups who did not.[i]
The Bible also has a lot to say about the benefits of accountability. See 1 Thessalonians 5:11, James 5:16, Galatians 6:1-5, Luke 17:3, Proverbs 27:17, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Matthew 18:15-17, James 5:19-20, Ephesians 4:25, Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 3:12-13.
“And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NASB)
Press toward the goals
Finally… We press toward our goals! You may have noticed that my website logo is a target with wings. Success is often a moving target. Goals are ever moving, changing, and growing, and we must always keep pressing toward the mark. Our goals are a moving target, and when we’ve reached one we should set another. We keep moving and keep chasing. In life, we will have never “arrived”. We should always be learning and growing.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
Take Some Practical Steps to Achieve Your Goals:
Look the SMART goals that you’ve written down. If you don’t have any written, do that now (follow these steps to make them “SMART”).
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First, list 3 specific action steps that you can take to achieve your goal.
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Next, write down any obstacles that you may encounter that might hinder your goal.
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Now write down specific action steps that you can take to overcome each of those obstacles.
EXAMPLE:
SMART Goal: Starting tomorrow, I will start reading my Bible every morning before work/school.
Action Step #1: Download a Bible app to my phone
Action Step #2: Decide on a reading plan-start a reading plan on my Bible app
Action Step #3: Set my alarm 15 minutes earlier than I normally get up
Potential Obstacle: I might forget or get distracted when I wake up
Action Step to overcome obstacle: Set a reminder alarm or put a post-it note somewhere I will see it to remind me
Potential Obstacle: I might find the reading plan boring or hard to understand
Action Step to overcome obstacle: Pick a different plan that interests me (look at the “topical” plans on something I’d like to learn more about)
Potential Obstacle: I might hit snooze or oversleep
Action Step to overcome obstacle: Select a passage out of the Bible and use the audio player to read the Bible to me while I’m getting ready or while I’m driving to work/school OR listen to a sermon/podcast instead. Also, make a plan so that I don’t repeat my mistake tomorrow—i.e. go to bed on time, set 2 alarms, purpose not to hit snooze, etc.
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Lastly, tell a friend about your goals and action steps, and for added accountability, send them updates from time to time to let them know about your progress.
This might be a good partnership/win-win situation if you will do the same for them in return. You can spur each other on to achieve your goals! Iron sharpens iron! (Proverbs 27:17)
Previously we discussed the formula for success…LAPS-Learn, Action, Persistence, Support. You need to use that formula also to help you achieve your goals. Through these past few posts we’ve been learning about setting goals. It’s now up to you to put what you’ve learned into action and persist through them and persist through any obstacles you encounter. It’s also important that you have a support system to encourage you through the process to achieve your goals and/or get help when necessary.
You should keep your goals in front of you and look at them frequently. The saying rings true, “out of sight, out of mind”. Keeping your goals in a visible place will help to get them at the front of your mind. Be sure to reflect and adjust them as necessary. You might also consider creating a Vision Board (putting your goals in picture form).
What action steps are you going to take to achieve your goals? Do you have an accountability partner to share your goals with? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.
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*Update: Originally posted 4/14/2015
[i] Matthews, Gail. “Goals Research Summary.” Dominican.edu, Dominican University of California-Department of Psychology, https://www.dominican.edu/sites/default/files/2020-02/gailmatthews-harvard-goals-researchsummary.pdf.
