It's about that time of the year when goals made at the beginning of the year are evaluated and worked on. This is where we get to score ourselves on how far we achieved the goals and plans made. Also, it's that time when we get to make plans for the new year on goals we want to achieve.

I had a review of my goals recently and it wasn't good enough. I had great goals and plans to achieve this year but I have not achieved some of them. I got to find out that for all the awesome goals I didn't write down and carefully analyse, I somehow did not achieve them while I achieved more of the ones written down.

The truth is, we all have sweet goals, plans and dreams but for us to achieve them and go beyond the benchmark, effective planning must be carried out first by writing them down.

He who fails to plan, plans to fail.

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WHAT ARE GOALS?

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A Goal is an idea of the future or desired result that a person or group of people envision, plan and commit to achieve. -Text source

We have different types of goals. They are;

• Career goals:

Career goals are goals aimed at improving one's career, skills or job.
This is an important goal as it's targeted at improving one's mental abilities.
Make plans to read more books on your field of study, attend more seminars and conferences, take more courses and skill up.

• Health goals:

living healthy is underrated in our society today. It's important to set health goals because, without good health, success in other areas will be cut short.

Health Is wealth

Make plans for regular medical check-ups, balanced diet and fitness goals.

• Financial goals:

Financial goals are necessary to ensure a regular flow of income and proper management.
Make a defined income and expenditure plan, have a personal budget and avoid pitfalls by acquiring more knowledge on investment.

• Social/relationship/family goals:

It's very important to set plans for your social life, plans for relationships and family.
In order to have a well-balanced life, social goals must be made.
Goals on when to take a break/vacation with the family and the type of healthy relationships to keep.
Defining relationships is a very important aspect of growth.

Success is not magic and to attain success in life, we cant continue to do the same thing that isn't working over and over again expecting a change of result. We can plan our way out of failure, poverty into success and riches by applying effective planning methods.

Sometimes, we tend to blame life and others for our failures and forget that success is not by chance, it requires meticulous planning because life responds to values.

For us to do things the way we have always done them and expect a different result is one of the definitions of insanity - Zig Ziglar

In order to avoid drifting through life, an effective planning method must be carefully applied.

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EFFECTIVE PLANNING METHODS

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1. Sit down first:

Most time, we are always in a haste to achieve the goals that we forget to sit down first and count the cost.
I mean, who plans to build a house without counting the cost. This house in question is bound to be a disaster even from the start.

We have beautiful dreams hoped for, but we sometimes are not ready to pay the price to achieve them.

Everything worthy comes with a price. Nothing good comes easy.

For example, everyone wants to become successful and live life in abundance but not everyone is prepared to pay the required price which involves smart work, hard work, skill up, Education on a particular subject, a determined mind among other notable factors.

So, my question to you is have you sat down to count the cost? Are you prepared to pay the price to achieve that dream and desire?

2. Write down the vision:

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The first problem we encounter when making plans and setting goals is that we don't write them down.
Facts have shown that carefully writing down goals opens the mind to more possibilities and ideas.
It is important to understand the need to write down goals, plans and analyse them on paper.
Success in life requires strategic planning and this starts from writing them down.

And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. -Habakkuk 2:2-3(kJV) -bible text source

I remember my Maths teacher back in High school, Mr Gideon, who always told us that the faintest pen is better than the thickest brain.
This was his way of teaching us to always take notes because it helps retention and clear understanding.

3. Set definite goals:

Another huge problem is that we most times ain't realistic enough when setting our goals.
Goals have to be specific and realistic.

Imagine someone who can hardly afford a 3-square meal making immediate plans to travel to the moon. Yes, it's a good goal but not realistic. Why not make plans of how to make more income to provide enough food to eat and cater for other pressing needs here on Earth rather than have an Immediate goal to visit the moon.

As much as our goals need to push us beyond the limit, it still has to be defined and achievable.

Define goals for each aspect such as financial goals, personal goals and stick to achieving them.

4. Attach deadlines:

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Deadlines are like checkmate. They keep us awake and burning. Deadlines are necessary when setting goals for effectiveness. Deadlines help measure growth and show the need for adjustment when applied.

After carefully writing down your defined goals, attach deadlines.

5. Keep the goals before you daily:

The eyes, they say, is the lamp of the body. What we see daily and allow into our subconscious has ways of affecting us positively or negatively.
Always have your goals written boldly before your eyes daily. It's advisable to have them written and posted on your walls where your eyes will always see them.
This in turn will serve as a daily reminder to achieve your goals.

6. Break goals down into plans:

It's one thing to have beautiful goals, it's another thing to break them down into daily, weekly and monthly plans.

Develop plans to achieve those goals

Having strategic plans makes the goals more realistic and achievable.

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WHAT'S NEXT?

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Effective goal planning is the first step in actualising your dreams.
The next big step is to get to work daily. Put in the effort, attach deadlines and keep pushing. Also, be flexible to changes and have your goals peeled before your eyes and mind.

I look forward to seeing you at the top with your goals achieved.

Merry Christmas in advance. Much love😍

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