Friend,
Goals don’t magically appear out of thin air. They’re a manifestation of your purpose. If you think hard enough, you can probably identify the connection between your goal list and the larger vision you have for your future. Still, none of that guarantees clarity. Even with education, skills, and passion, you could stumble into the stuck place with no sign of an exit.
That’s because setting goals and accomplishing them are separate processes.
Most of us grew up being encouraged to dream big. Society gave us cues as to which goals are most valuable. But there are few, if any, cues as to how one should go about accomplishing goals. What we hear instead is vague advice like, “go to school” or “work hard”. No one talks about the actual steps you need to take. You can’t simply make a list of goals and then walk away expecting your talent and positivity to do the work for you. This is a lesson I learned the hard way.
Once upon a time, my goals and I were good frenemies.
I was an expert at setting goals and staying booked and busy. I prided myself on knowing what I wanted and doing all the right things to get it. But something was missing. Somewhere among the unfinished projects and broken promises I’d made to myself, my confidence plummeted. I was frustrated for not doing enough when I was already overextended. I started to feel like a failure. There I was with all these lofty goals and I couldn’t even check one off of my list.
Often when we set a goal, we get so obsessed with the end result that we skip the most critical part of the process: the journey. The real accomplishment comes when we get disciplined and intentional about every action we take. This is why consistency matters. It helps you develop actionable steps and navigate chaos and confusion when they arise.
Feeling defeated by your list of unchecked goals? You’re not alone. Here’s what other women shared about their experiences . . .
As a trained practitioner, I know that data matters. So when I wanted to get to the root of why women stall on their goals, I turned to research. And what I’ve found through surveys, messages, and conversations on social media platforms is that lots of women are setting goals, but not reaching them. They get a great idea, get ready to dive in, but something happens between the time the idea materializes and the moment it gets placed on the back burner.
Here is what some of the women shared:
⦁ They fear the possibility of failure.
⦁ They lack the confidence to trust their abilities.
⦁ They lack motivation.
⦁ They try to do all the things at once and end up overwhelmed.
⦁ They need help but feel afraid to ask for it.
⦁ They procrastinate and have difficulty making decisions.
All of these roadblocks can be traced back to a single issue: inconsistency.
Consistency is a foundation for success.
Earlier I mentioned that I struggled with consistency, and not just in my professional life. About three years ago, I decided to give up eating meat and become vegan. But before I went shopping or browsed any new recipes, I took the time to get clear about why I wanted to make the change, and how I was going to do it. Not only have I been consistent for the last two years, but adopting a healthier lifestyle has empowered me to become more consistent in other areas of my life too.
So, how badly do you want your life to change?
I don’t want you to look up a year from today still feeling defeated. So here are some simple steps you can take today to increase your consistency.
⦁ Grab a pen and paper. Then jot down ONE task you want to get done in the next 30 days.
⦁ Write down why you want to accomplish this task and what it will mean for you after you’ve achieved it.
⦁ Every day I want you to prioritize spending at least 30 minutes on your task. List the steps you’ll need to take to achieve it, then work on one step at a time. If you can spend more time on it then that’s great. But a minimum of 30 minutes will begin to yield some results.
⦁ Get an accountability partner. Add your tasks to a shared calendar so that they can help you celebrate accomplishments and encourage you through any roadblocks.
Consistency is more than repetition. It‘s about eliminating chaos and inviting more stability and confidence in your life. The actionable steps listed above are pathways to creating better habits and crushing your goals.
Still need more support with making your amazing goal real? I’m here to provide the support you deserve so that you can get things done. Learn more about my Let’s Get It Done Coaching Program, and let’s work together!