5 Secrets for Setting Goals that Stick

October 28th, 2009

If you’ve ever set a goal only to see your good intentions fade away, you’re not alone. It takes more than passion and willpower to get you to the finish line. You need accountability structures for success. Here are five of my favorite tools for staying accountable to your vision of success.

1. Get some leverage on yourself. If you’re motivated by rewards (healthy ones, that is), promise yourself a special treat after you’ve successfully achieved your goal within a specific time frame. Buy a new outfit, book a massage or take a trip. If you don’t reach your goal, withhold the reward and try again for the next thirty days. If punishment is more motivating, try giving a friend, partner or accountability buddy a hundred dollar bill – only to be given back if you complete your assignment within the deadline.
2. Set up systems that sustain you. Create systems that keep you accountable and set up processes that are repeatable and scalable. I keep a running to-do list on the desktop of my computer so I can capture everything that needs to get done in one place. The highest priorities are at the top of the list so I can make sure they are right in front of me. The simplicity of the system and the constant pressure of having it at hand give me the accountability I need to juggle multiple projects. Club Members: Check out the Experts page for great productivity tools from superstar coaches Bill Jawitz and Dave Crenshaw.
3. Anticipate setbacks. Expect snags and obstacles as you work toward your goals. It’s all part of the process of growth and change. Just recognize them for what they are – temporary detours – and don’t let them derail you. Re-commit to your Game Changer Goals and start working toward your Monthly Milestones. Remember to celebrate your success each time you tick off a goal. There’s nothing like success to keep you on track.
4. Take a course or seminar. Join a group or register for a course or seminar that will move you closer to your One Year Vision. Make sure it’s structured and that you are clear on the deliverables so that it meets your objectives. By joining a group of like-minded people and putting money on the line, you’ll have two powerful forces motivating you to get the most out of the course.
5. Share your goal with the world. When I decided to take off 25 pounds, I told everyone around me because I knew that would keep me accountable. If you want to take even more extraordinary measures, do what a colleague of mine did recently. While leading a seminar, he promised a class that if he didn’t follow up on a goal he’d teach the next session in his Speedo’s. You can bet he crossed that item off his to-do list in a hurry!