It is important to have goals, whether in your personal life, social life, or career. Working towards something and making progress can be fulfilling and rewarding. However, a lot of unexpected things can come up that might affect your plans as well as the outcome, things you may have no control over, throw you off guard, set you back, or change your course entirely. If you focus too much on things outside of your control it is a guaranteed way to feel frustrated. Being able to be flexible, prepared, and able to reroute is important in avoiding that frustration.
When you put a destination into your car’s G.P.S. and the road ahead is blocked or there is a traffic jam, your G.P.S. will reroute you. You change course and find another route to get to your destination. I developed a method that can help manage events that are outside of your control, also called G.P.S., but this one stands for:
GOALS – Get clear and specific with your goals. the more specific you are, the easier it is to create benchmarks to track and measure your progress. If your goal is to create your own business, get clear on what your business is, what services you will offer, who your target audience is, where you will advertise, etc.
PURPOSE – Defining your why, the purpose behind your goal, is important in keeping you motivated toward making progress. It keeps you inspired and focused on your intention, especially during challenging times or when you run into obstacles. Sometimes you might feel like giving up when times are tough or your goal seems far off or things keep getting in the way. Remembering your WHY will help you make it through challenges.
STRATEGY – Setting a goal and knowing your why are not enough, you have to clearly define a strategy toward reaching your end destination. When you can identify specific measurables each day, week, or month, this will help you stay on track and feel a sense of accomplishment along the way. For example, if you are starting your own business, having a routine will help you stay focused and committed. Set aside specific tasks, days, and times to dedicate toward your business strategy. Talking with others who have been through the process can help support you and keep you accountable.
DON’T MEASURE YOUR SUCCESS AGAINST THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS
If you focus on comparing yourself to other people and their successes you might start to feel disappointed in yourself. It’s important to keep in mind that your goals may be different than others. You may have different resources, supports, and experience that will define how you get to where you want to go. Obstacles and challenges can be unexpected opportunities if you are willing to see them as opportunities versus setbacks. We all have different paths to get to where we want to go and focusing on the progress you make along the way, instead of the success of others, will help you feel a sense of accomplishment.
As you pursue your goals it is important to focus on and put your time and energy into what you can control, the progress made, accomplishments along the way. Do your best, and forget the rest.
