A Goal Is A Dream With A Deadline
A goal is a dream with a deadline
Napoleon Hill
The meaning I see in this quote is that setting goals help to form a plan for achieving our dreams. As Robert Herjavec once said, “A goal without a deadline is just a dream.”
A big part of having a goal is having a timeline to make it happen. In my experience, it accomplishes a few important things.
- The timeline motivates you to work hard.
- The timeline inspires you to make what you set out to achieve at a certain time come true.
- Goals with timelines give you something to look forward to, giving you extra motivation.
I can recall my wife had a business goal she wanted to make happen within the next year. Through persistent work and trying different strategies, she managed to accomplish her goal in less than six months.
It can be inspiring to dream big, but if you don’t set goals to help you reach those dreams, all you’re left doing is wishing and hoping for something to happen. It’s like people who make the same New Year’s Resolution every year only to quit pursuing it after the first month.
You can’t expect anything to happen without a plan of action. It’s necessary to sit down and write out the steps you need to take to get closer to that dream.
How to breakdown your dream into goals
1. Start with a goal for the year
I like goals being set for the year because they give me something big to achieve, which can be exciting. Think of one or two big goals that’s one of your dreams in life.
Decide that you’re going to give yourself the year to try to make it happen. Even if you don’t reach the dream, as Norman Vincent Peale once said, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” In other words, you’ll have achieved something of significance by the end of the year, and who knows, you might end up only a few steps away from your dream being accomplished.
2. Break that yearly goal down to monthly goals
There was research done in 1981 where students had to complete a 42-page document. One group were told to do six pages each session. Another group was told to complete all 42 pages within seven sessions.
The results revealed that students who set smaller subgoals completed their work faster and more accurately compared to the other group. You can take small steps towards your yearly goals through setting monthly goals, and help yourself be more likely to succeed. Here’s an article I wrote that provides examples of monthly goals.
Set a daily routine and come up with good habits.
As my previous article emphasized, consistency is key. If you don’t consistently work on your dream, not much progress will be made.
See if you can come up with your own morning routine that helps keep you energized in your pursuit. You can also think of some good habits that will make you more likely to succeed at your goals.
Final thoughts on goals and dreams
With goals, you can set yourself on the path of making your dreams come true. Start setting some to help get yourself towards the future you want. Feel free to share your plan to succeed in the comments.
Other inspirational articles:
15 Relationship Goals For Couples to Follow in 2021