How do I not get discouraged when working on an unrealistic goal?
This was a question I was asked by a client and I thought sharing some of the feedback I gave might be of interest.
Are your goals unrealistic?
Who tells you so?
When setting goals there is a need to question your own ability to achieve them otherwise you will find yourself being disillusioned. So, one of the key questions here is about who is setting the goal and what makes it unrealistic?
If your goal has been set by someone else, then perhaps it would be a good time to talk about time, expectations and personal development needs.
If you are setting the goal, then the question has to be about the rationale for setting goals that you can't achieve yet?
There are two key ideas in that last sentence.
One, if you really want to achieve something then your goals need to include a clear action plan.
Secondly. the magic word YET!
Saying you can't do something is not overly useful, it closes everything, including your creativity down. The simple world YET suggests that what is not possible now, maybe soon. It opens up the questions 'what would I need or need to do to achieve that elusive something.
Here are some questions to help you…
Can you write your goal in a simple sentence of what you want to achieve?
How will you know when you achieved your goal?
Thinking about where you are NOW, what steps do you need to take to where you want to BE (when you have achieved your goal)?
What will you get out of achieving your goal?
What is the timescale for achieving your goal in terms of days, weeks, months, years?
What will be the effect of achieving your goal?
What other choices come from achieving the goal or any of the steps towards it?
Having impossible dreams is only a problem if you haven’t thought about the pathway to them.
If you have a clearly defined route-plan to your dreams then you can ignore the negativity of others; perhaps realising that they are either projecting their insecurities or have a genuine concern about your ‘failure’. Remember falling down is only a problem if you don’t get up again!
Goals and Targets are the themes of my book The Secret to Your Future History (available on Amazon).
If you're interested in finding out more about the Seven Keys to Success outline in The Secret to Your Future History, you can sign-up for a FREE email outline HERE.
Kindest regards
You might find this summary video useful.
Alan