Goal-setting A Challenge? The Reason Why Is Your Style

I bet your end-of-year inbox is full of goal-setting ideas for the New Year. Many are feel-good, rah-rah types of messages which are fun to read but about as helpful as the endless "inspirational" infographics that flood your social media feeds. 

And many are so generic. They are probably from mainstream magazines—the sort that makes you frustrated with your life while you are reading articles showcasing the perfect décor of some generic millionaire and his perfect trophy wife.

Goals that are the most exciting to set usually have two golden qualities: They are achievable but stretch you beyond your comfort zone. And they must align with your most important principles.

They also present you with one priceless benefit: Each goal advances you a step further towards attaining your dream lifestyle and business.

So why do most women struggle at goal-setting and goal-keeping?

The answer lies in your personality…

When setting goals, there are three basic styles. You will find a clue to which style you are by the feeling you get from goal-setting.

1. You are excited when setting new goals. But, you become discouraged and distracted easily.
2. Your stomach knots up into a pretzel when you try to set a goal. Then, you put it off until later.
3. You have strong self-discipline. You set goals, and although it is not easy, you remind yourself of the benefits you will reap. And, you stay true to the path that helps you achieve them.

Chances are, like most women, you fall somewhere within styles one and two.

But here is a thought that may bring a sigh of relief no matter what goal-setting style you are: Goal-setting ought to be fun.

So why is it not enjoyable? Why is goal-setting, at best, an uphill task, and at worst, wishful thinking—the sort that leaves you feeling defeated in short order?

That comes because of a misconception: The goal is the journey's end-point.

We often view "goals" as steps you need to take to achieve a goal. When you divide your journey into end goals or destinations, mini-goals, and steps, each big goal feels more attainable, more manageable, and smaller.

Steps can become targets in themselves—and achieving mini-goals along the way should be as completely satisfying as achieving your big main goal.

Here is a crucial point to keep in mind…

Steps are the building blocks of confidence. The more you successfully fulfill, the more quickly you can believe and achieve your bigger goals.

Small successes prove you can do anything you set your mind to do.

Steps are also, by their nature, more direct—which puts you less likely to postpone and put off beginning the journey. Taking one step at a time makes goal setting feel more rewarding as you carry out every step.

Whether you choose to think of goals as steps (or vice versa), the essential factor is realizing that goals we set for ourselves tend to be "black and white".

But, human beings do not tend to be.

We are flexible, bent by many forces and factors we have little control over. This is why "black-and-white" ideas rarely pay off.

Devote some time to thinking about your past goal-setting experiences. Based on past goals and their outcomes, and what you know about yourself, which goal-setting type are you?