5 Simple Steps to Creating Goals (that work)
by Josh Phelan, Life Coach
For starters, we usually like to make more of a wish-list rather than set goals.
Here’s the difference?
Goals have a timeline, and a plan to get you there.
Wish-list are typically followed by the “one-day I’ll do that” sentiment.
1) Focus on just one area (when setting the goal)
In an attempt to keep this simple, let’s focus on just one area of your life you’d like to improve right now.
Go ahead, pick one…
- Physical Health
- Career / Finances
- Relationships
- Spiritual Life
- Adventure
2) What does it look and feel like?
Now I want you to paint the picture in your mind and try to recruit all of your senses.
- When you achieve this goal, what will it look like?
- What will you hear? How does it feel?
- What are the scents and tastes you may experience?
Got it?
3) Begin with the end
From there, we work backwards.
If it’s a goal you’d like to achieve a year from now, what are your bench marks for each quarter?
- What will you do this month?
- What can you accomplish this week?
- Finally, what can be done today to move you closer towards achieving this goal?
Perhaps you’ve done all of these in the past, and they didn’t work well for you.
4) Be held accountable
Let me ask you, did you have any accountability?
I don’t mean to just yourself, but did a friend, spouse, business partner or coach help you?
This can oftentimes be the difference between achieving your goals in 6 months versus 6 years.
5) Create consequences
To take it one step further, set up consequences for yourself – both good and bad.
- What do you get to do or enjoy if you reach your goal for this week or month?
- And what happens if you fall short?
This is where the accountability really comes into play. Otherwise we love to justify to ourselves that we were ‘busy’ or something else came up.
Stay focused.
Stay committed.
Crush your goals.
Thanks for taking the time to read this!
This post was written by Josh Phelan who is a Life Coach in Orange County, CA. You can read other articles articles written by him by clicking here.
Josh Phelan
Founder of Out of Bounds Training
Author of From Struggle Comes Strength
Debbie Potts
The WHOLESTIC Method Coaching Program
Train the WHOLE Athlete from the Inside Out!
Burn Fat. Optimize Health. Improve Performance.
NTP, KION Coach, CHEK HLC, USAT, NASM CPT, MES
Host of “The WHOLE Athlete” podcast
