A goal is an end result or objective you want or need to accomplish. Goals, which can be both long and short-term, provide direction and motivation to help you achieve a desired outcome. To help you understand this concept more, let’s go over what goals are and what they are not.

Goals Are the Things You Want To and/or Need to Achieve
Goals are specific, measurable, and time-sensitive objectives designed to help you measure progress and stay on track toward achieving your desired outcome.

For example, a goal like this: “I will lose 5 kg in three months by exercising five days per week and cutting back on sweets and processed foods…” …is a well-thought-out goal.

It describes what the goal is: Lose 5 kgs and explains how you will go about it, has a realistic time frame. You can use that information to design your action plan.

Goals Are the Results You Want to Achieve
As mentioned above, a well-crafted goal describes the end result or outcome you are working towards.

Here is another example: “I will start a ghost-writing business for people who want to make money selling clean romance novels on Amazon Kindle.”

You’ll create smaller goals from this first goal, such as building a website where potential customers will learn more about your services and find contact information.

From there, you will need a goal for creating content that highlights your talents and outlines the benefits of collaborating with you.

Then, the next goal will be setting up marketing campaigns to reach out to romance authors needing assistance with their writing projects.

All these steps lead to one end goal: establishing a successful ghost-writing business.

Goals Are Time-Sensitive
A goal requires time sensitivity because that time limit creates a sense of urgency and motivates you to complete it. When setting a goal, it’s vital to have an end date that gives you a realistic timeline for completing the task.

Being realistic here is critical as it helps keep you focused and on track regarding reaching your objectives without frustration. Plus, a time limit gives you greater insight into how much effort is needed to reach your goal within the set timeline.

Goals Help Measure Progress
Goals provide a clear target to work towards and to track progress toward achieving them. They measure progress because they provide a tangible tracking mechanism, so you know how close you are to achieving the desired end result.

You use goals to set shorter-term milestones that allow you to monitor your progress and help you stay motivated and focused on the bigger picture. Concrete goals will enable you to evaluate yourself objectively and adjust when necessary.

Goals Need to Be Both Large and Small
Goals range from long-term objectives, such as purchasing a house or starting a business, to short-term goals, like saving for a vacation or learning a new skill.

Setting big and small goals is beneficial because it helps create a sense of balance. Big goals provide the long-term motivation and direction you need, while small goals give you short-term objectives to reach along the way.

What Goals Are Not
Goals are not the steps, processes, or actions you take to achieve the goal.

These steps are the means to an end and are separate from the goal itself. Goals are the desired end result of a particular activity or endeavour. They set the benchmark for success and provide guidance and motivation to reach that end.

Remember, goals are not the actions you take to achieve them. Setting clear and measurable goals helps you focus your efforts and progress toward achieving your desired outcome.