Bad news… you aren’t going to reach your goals.
Why? Unfortunately, there are many reasons.
We set goals all the time. But, often, we do not reach them.
They end up unfinished or denied. Or worse… simply forgotten.
Today, let’s look at 8 reasons that most people do not reach their goals.
What’s Going to Stop You?
There are many reasons that goals go unfulfilled. Maybe they were never clearly defined. Maybe the discipline was not there.
For many, goal setting is a never ending circle that starts, stops, and begins again. (Usually, centered around January 1st.)
To help us succeed in reaching our goals, let’s examine the reasons why many people fail at reaching them.
Here are 8 Reasons That You Won’t Reach Your Goals:
1. You Don’t Have Any Goals
Wayne Gretsky famously said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
The same can be said of goals. You will not attain 100% of the goals you don’t set. Too many people are afraid to “set” their goals. Afraid of failing. Afraid of disappointment. Afraid of what others might think.
Well, you definitely won’t complete them if you don’t try. Make a choice and set your goals. Otherwise, you will end up wherever life takes you.
2. You Don’t Start
OK, so you have a goal. Maybe it’s to lose weight. Or to learn a new skill. To get a new hobby.
What have you done about it? Have you started it yet? What are you waiting for?
Tomorrow is always tomorrow. Start today.
Procrastination is responsible for the demise of many goals.
3. You Aren’t Willing to “Buy” Your Goals
What a minute, “buy my goals?”
Yes. You have to buy your goals.
Why? Because every goal has a price. It has a cost. Time. Money. Sweat. Sacrifice. You will have to “pay” for your goals in some manner. If you are not willing to make the investment, then you will not reach your goals.
Determine what your goal is going to cost you, and whether or not you are willing to pay the price.
4. Your Goals Are Unrealistic
Setting goals is important, but ensuring that they are possible is important too. If you set your goals impossibly high, then you are not grounded in reality.
Losing 30 lbs. in 30 days is not realistic. Becoming CEO of your company in a year, probably not going to happen.
Make sure that your goals are possible and that you set an adequate time frame for success.
When my brother was a personal trainer, he used to work with clients who were frustrated with their lack of immediate results. In these situations he would ask them, “How many years did it take you to get into the shape you’re in now?” That set some perspective on why they had not changed their body in only 3 weeks of working out.
(Of course, it’s also possible to set goals too low.)
5. You Won’t Stick With It
Over half of goals will be given up within 30 days.
You set your goals. You started them. And then… you gave up.
You didn’t have the discipline to stay the course. Are you using life’s daily happenings as excuses? I couldn’t go to the gym today because work was too busy. I could not work on my book because I was too tired.
“Excuses are the enemy of discipline.”
Goals are not reached through one momentous effort. Rather, they are made in small steps over time.
6. They Are Not “Your” Goals
Why did you pick the goals you set? Is it something that you wanted to accomplish?
Or is it something that others wanted you to do? Something that was expected of you?
If you goals are not your own, you will not have the passion and drive to complete them. Too often, we put goals on our plate that are not our own. In these cases, we are destined for failure.
Ensure that your goals align with your own values and dreams.
7. You Will Fail… and You Won’t Get Back Up!
No one succeeds immediately. Overnight success is a myth. Those who appear to have effortlessly succeeded have usually put in years of preparation and practice. Years.
The secret is that when you fall down… you have to get back up. You have to fall down many times before you will succeed. Skill is learned by doing. And failing. And doing it some more.
8. You Quit Before the Finish Line
Too many people stop… right before the finish.
It’s almost like they don’t want to get there. They are afraid of succeeding.
Often a life event is used as the reason for not finishing. Something always comes up before you finish.
You get sick. An emergency occurs. Unforeseen events happen. (Life always does…)
Don’t let “life” be the reason your do not attain your goal.
Reach Your Goals
Are you reaching your goals? Which of these is keeping you from succeeding?
Are you “paying the price” for your goals, or are you simply letting life take you where it goes?
Set your goals. Stay the course. Always get back up when you fail. And make sure you cross the finish line.
What is stopping you from reaching your goals? What do you need to overcome?
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What’s Blocking Your Path Today?
Great advice.
For something that can help you stick to your goals, you may want to check out http://www.GoalsOnTrack.com, a very nicely built web app designed for tracking goals and todo lists, and supports time tracking too. It’s clear, focused, easy to navigate, worth a try.
I totally agree with this article. I especially like the part about setting unrealistic goals and then not being able to accomplish those. I have always been very apprehensive about the project scheduling and creating the project timelines because I am not very keen on setting something that my team won’t be able to achieve. We use project scheduling and employee time management application called TimeMerlin available at http://www.timemerlin.com
It is excellent application, completely fuss free. But coming back to the article, I think the key is to stay ‘focussed’ every day by simply utting done the key points to achieve. Felictate for the ones that are accomplished and carry over the rest for next day! Start afresh everyday — that is I tell myself and my colleagues.
@Soneeka Good stuff! Thanks for sharing Soneeka!
“3. You Aren’t Willing to “Buy” Your Goals”
That seems to be the biggest thing for many people, and in a way, an “all-inclusive” rule to those mentioned. It all comes down to are you willing to do whatever it takes, or are you only willing to dream about it and make excuses when you come up short. It’s a tough pill to swallow at times, but it’s definitely the reality of the matter.
Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed it a lot!
@JMattHicks Thanks! Like the way you put it. It can really be an “all-inclusive” way to look at it. 🙂
Regarding #5 — small steps over time is a crucial process to realizing goals, and I think what most people tend to fear. It’s that quick fix/instant gratification mentality that overshadows a little hard work and discipline that it takes to see yourself into a better you.
As Aristotle said: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
Thanks Craig