Although setting goals is important, surveys show that only about 45% of Americans set New Year’s resolutions. And it’s even more interesting to note that only about 8% of goal setters reach them.
Although it’s not scientifically proven that people with goals are more successful than those without, it seems natural to think that if people don’t set goals or review them at least once a year, they’re less likely to succeed at them. life in general. If this is true, the numbers show that only 4 out of 100 Americans who have goals succeed.
To build a house you need plans. So why not have plans or goals to build a life? Yet surveys show that the vast majority of people don’t set goals when it’s clear that setting goals is the key to their success. Setting goals makes people more successful because clear goals give people more clarity about their ultimate vision, propel them forward in life, give them more focus on their actions, and hold them more accountable for carrying out those actions. Actions. Basically, goal setting makes people the best they can be.
Now, why do people fail to set goals?
According to Douglas Vermeeren, the top 10 reasons why people fail to achieve their goals can be attributed to the following:
1) Fear of success and/or failure. This is very common as people fear being ridiculed if they fail to achieve their goals or fear that their friends will be envious if they succeed.
2) Lack of understanding about the goal setting process. Most people who don’t set goals think goals need to be in writing and can’t be changed over time. Goals can be short term or long term and change over time as we move towards them and adjust them according to our growth.
3) Lack of commitment to the goal. People who set goals do so because it’s popular to set New Year’s resolutions or simply because they read about it somewhere. But if people lack the necessary commitment, New Year’s resolutions are rarely kept. People who aren’t serious about setting goals don’t commit to carrying them out.
4) Inactivity. Once goals are set, we must take action. Taking action is the hardest part of the equation. Sometimes setting goals makes us feel uncomfortable. But being uncomfortable is a good thing. Getting serious about goal setting requires a willingness to embrace change.
5) Analysis of paralysis. Many people cannot begin to achieve a goal until everything is perfect. Nothing will ever be perfect. Others are afraid of the change that is required of them to be successful and stop short.
6) Lack of a real destiny. If we don’t have a destination, all roads will lead us there.
7.) Not planning. Setting goals is like planning the construction of a house. A building without detailed plans is not built correctly or not built at all.
8) Having too many goals. Keep goals to be achieved to the minimum at all times. Having too many destinations at once will confuse you.
9) Feeling worthless because of the end result. Some people sabotage themselves because they don’t believe they are worthy of achieving the goal. They find any excuse to tell themselves it’s too hard, or they don’t have enough time, or they’re too old… Be confident.
10) Lack of motivation for change. If people are too comfortable, they won’t change. That’s a big motivating factor that makes people change: pain. But that pain has to be great enough for people to be willing to change.
If you haven’t already, set your goals for 2013. Make them reasonable and achievable. Share them with us by leaving a comment below.