I’m sure most, if not all of you, know my story by now. When I was an aspiring entrepreneur and wanted to have my own gym, I didn’t know everything that was required when I started. If you think it’s as simple as leasing a space and buying some equipment, forget it. Standing up a new business or even taking on a complex or difficult task at work or in life requires a lot of steps, a lot of lessons learned, and a lot of bricks to make your goal a reality.
Okay, let’s say you’ve got the vision and the drive to make it happen. That’s fantastic! But how do you turn that motivation into real, tangible progress?
The answer is simple: goal setting.
But I’m not talking about scribbling all the things you want to achieve on a notepad or napkin and forget about it. Real goal setting is about creating a roadmap for your journey…one single step at a time until you’ve made it to where you want to be.
This has been studied in the behavioral analysis field for decades. It’s a fact that when you set specific, achievable goals, you’re more likely to accomplish them. No matter what you’re trying to achieve, this is a universal principle that applies to everyone.
But I’m a realist and I know all of you are too. Goal setting isn’t some magic wand. It’s a tool, and like any tool, you need to learn how to use it properly. In this case, this means being clear about what you want, breaking it down into smaller tasks, then the important part…holding yourself accountable.
Its why I use the analogy of bricks. Think of your goals as a pile of bricks. Each one represents a task, or maybe a milestone. As the builder, you are the one who is laying those bricks every day, and as someone who does the same, you know life can change suddenly.
Some days it’s easy, and the brick fits perfectly in your plan. Other days, it can be a struggle that challenges your motivation.