Here’s How to Succeed Despite Moving Goals

Luckily for the players in the 2014 World Cup, the goal posts don’t move. However, in real life, goals are a moving target. Sometimes, the following monologue plays in my head:

Won’t somebody please give me the playbook and tell me what’s next, and how it all ends? I’ve got great goals and a good plan to bring them to fruition, but the goal posts keep changing.

Life gets messy from time to time, and I find myself navigating through unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes, I even wonder why I bother to set goals, knowing from experience the frustration that results from goals gone awry. Despite my best planning, occasionally, things just don’t play out like I expected.

Someone once told me, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plan.” I think they might be right! So, when it comes to setting goals and having the flexibility to accomplish them, even when things change, here’s what works:

Go with your passion

One reason that many people don’t accomplish their goals is they lack the burning passion to turn their goals into a reality. Without passion, it’s hard to muster the motivation to get up and get something done. Even when life throws you a curve ball and things change dramatically, remember your passion, regroup and revise your goals.

Crystallize your positive vision

There are three types of visions: a positive vision, a status quo vision, and a negative vision. What motivates most people to take action is a deep belief that, by achieving their goal, tomorrow will be even better

Set both short and long range goals

Some goals may take a lifetime to achieve so get in the habit of setting weekly, monthly or annual goals. If needed, start small, taking baby steps and chipping away at your goal bit by bit. Don’t forget to celebrate the milestones along the way.

Enjoy the journey

Although you have a vision and a goal to turn the vision into a reality, life will be even more fulfilling if you have the flexibility to take detours along the way. Being flexible will allow you to enjoy new experiences and enjoy the ride even more.

Be flexible and be willing to change

If a goal doesn’t work, be willing to change your tactics or even switch goals. Figuring out what works and what makes you happy is far better than spending your life working your fingers to the bone in your quest to achieve a goal. Some people spend their whole life climbing the ladder of success only to find out they tilted their ladder against the wrong building.

Celebrate what you accomplish … let go of what you don’t

Some people are frustrated because they set the same goals year after year and still don’t accomplish them. Maybe the goal is to lose weight, become fiscally fit, or to go back to school and complete your education.

I believe that everyone sets goals. Even people who set a goal to have no goals have a goal. All of us are striving to accomplish something, either short-term, such as trying to make it to work on time, or long-term, like trying to amass a significant retirement plan.

Whether you set goals or set a goal to not set goals, this life is short, at best. It’s over in a heartbeat. Be flexible in scoring your goals and enjoy!

Photo courtesy, Rabiem, Flickr