Several years ago, I attended leadership training, and we played a game that showed me why I sometimes fail to set and achieve goals.
The game had several rules and failure in any area resulted in banishment from the field. The thought of keeping track of all the rules while making progress in the game overwhelmed me. I made a conscious decision to fail immediately, so I could be in control of my failure.
The game went on for what felt like hours. I watched full of regret from the sidelines as one by one teammates were eliminated. The disappointment was so strong because deep inside I knew the real reason I failed. I failed because I didn’t even try.
When I look back it’s a constant reminder to keep reaching for my goals even if I’m not always hitting them. Progress is more important than finishing perfectly because trying is where growth happens.
As you begin this journey of learning to set achievable goals, here are a few questions to ask yourself:
- Are you achieving every goal every time? It’s likely you’ve set the bar too low. If you’re like me, you want to win, but if you only stick to goals you know you can achieve, growth can’t happen.
- Are you constantly failing to meet your goals? You probably have set unrealistic goals. It’s easy to underestimate how much time tasks will take, especially in the beginning. When we focus on progress and not finishing, we always win even if we fail.
- Where’s the sweet spot? If you’ve set the bar too high or too low, just step back and look at your progress so you can readjust your goals accordingly. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be a goal-setting pro in no time at all.
If you were able to find accountability with a group or a buddy, as we discussed in the previous post (here), be vulnerable with them as you learn.
If you haven’t been able to find a safe group or an accountability buddy, don’t give up. Keep reaching out. I promise you; you are not alone. We all have those voices in our heads and there is power in transparency.
What progress did you make this week? How has accountability improved your business?
Let me know in the comments.