Here are some effective goal-setting tips on how to achieve life's goals to the best of your ability. Have SMART goals. You are not going to achieve your goals if they are not INTELLIGENT. But how do you ensure that you actually achieve your goals? After all, about 90% of people never make their dreams come true.
How do you make sure you're in the 10% that does? Tight and fast deadlines can boost your progress and add a sense of urgency to any goal. A deadline can also help you understand how much gradual progress you need to make each day or week as you go. For example, if you want to lose 30 pounds in 6 months, you should lose 5 pounds a month, which is a little less than a pound per week. Once you know this information, you can track your progress each week and compare it with the deadline.
Don't abuse this advice, though, as your mind will resist false deadlines (see The Surprising Reasons Why Due Dates Are Terrible). Effective goal setting creates unshakable confidence that will drive you to move forward in life. The snowball effect will begin and your short-term goals will turn into long-term goals that will lead you to success. When you plan your future, you'll be able to see in a tangible way the fruits of your labor.
While some may not think that this is a strategy for achieving something, failure is by far one of the surest paths to success in any endeavor.