The basics of setting a goal is an open secret known by top-caliber athletes, successful businessmen and businesswomen and all types of achievers in all the different fields. The basics of setting goals give you short-term and long-term motivation and focus. They help you focus on the acquisition of required knowledge and help you to plan and organise your resources and your time so that you can get the best out of your life. 

Setting clearly defined short term and long term goals will enable you to measure your progress and achieve personal satisfaction once you have successfully met your goals. Charting your progress will also enable you to actually see the stages of completion leading to the actual realisation of your goals. This eliminates the feeling of a long and pointless grind towards achieving your goal. Your self-confidence and level of competence will also improve as you will be more aware of your capabilities as you complete or achieve your goals.

The basics of goal settings will involve deciding what you really want to do with your life and what short term and long term goals you need to achieve it. Then you have to break down goals into the smaller and manageable targets that you must complete in your way to achieving your lifetime targets. Once you have your list waste no time in tackling your goals.

A good way to have a manageable list is to have a daily and weekly set of goals. By doing this you will be always in the position of going towards your life plan goals. Everyday will give you the opportunity to fulfil a certain goal giving you the feeling of accomplishment.

Here are some pointers that should be taken into consideration in setting goals and achieving them.

• Attitude plays a very big role in setting and achieving your goals. You must ask yourself: Is any part of you or your mind holding you back towards completing your simplest goals? Is any part of your behaviour being a hindrance or putting your plans into disarray? If you do have problems in these areas then the immediate thing to do is to address this problem. Solutions may include a visit to a qualified therapist to talk through your feelings and your emotions.

• Education is key in achieving your goals. If your goals require you to have a certain kind of degree or require a certain specialisation or demand a certain skill to be developed, make plans in getting the appropriate education.

• Personal financial situations also play a major role in achieving your goals. Have a realistic goal on how much you really want to earn. You should look at creating plans or stages by which you will be able to reach your earning potential.

• Treat yourself. You deserve it. Setting time and money aside to give yourself a treat should be included into your plans and budgeted for. The treat should be for you and you alone.

Start by creating a ‘things-to-do’ list for the day and set some time at the end of your day to tick off activities completed and highlight activities which need to be moved to the following day. 

Always review your plans and prepare for contingencies.