If you have ever set goals but failed to achieve them, it may have been because you did not create a specific plan of action to accomplish those goals.

Taking the time to set goals is only part of the process of goal setting, and many people often overlook the other part; creating a plan! Without a plan, your goal is just a wish or a thought.

Without a plan your goals remain incomplete. It’s like having a destination but without a map. Your goals tell you where you want to go in life, and your plan tells you how to get there.

What is a goal?

A goal plan is simply a list of scheduled activities that you will do sometime in the future. These may include activities done over a series of days, weeks, months or even years depending on the type of goal you set for yourself.

Your Plan

The good news is your plan does not have to be completed perfectly the first time. Usually you will find that your first attempt at creating a goal plan will be vague and incomplete. Don’t worry this is ok. Plans should be flexible and may need to be updated numerous times as you move towards completing your primary goal.

Your plan should consist of a series of steps you believe you need in order to accomplish that goal. Think of it like baking a cake. Your ultimate goal is to make a cake (and eat it!), but the ingredients and the things you do with those ingredients are your plan. Once you complete the plan, you complete your goal.

Creating a goal plan is frequently overlooked, and many people discipline themselves to write their goals every day don’t create a plan. A big part of your success will occur when you take the time to decide where you want to go (your goals) and then create a plan that will tell you how to get there!

In addition to your goal plan it is also a good idea to use visualization to help clarify in your mind exactly what you want to achieve.

This can simply involve thinking about your goals and imaging them as completed when you go to bed. You can do this for about 10 minutes (or longer if you want) before you fall to sleep, and you will be surprised at what a difference it makes in your mindset. One of the main reasons that visualization before going to sleep is so effective, is that it provides easy access to the subconscious mind. Thereby allowing you to program your goals into your mind, increasing the likelihood you will accomplish them.

I also use a process of doing a “brain dump” every morning with my goals and write them down as if I have already achieved them. It allows me the mindset and motivation to make sure I keep my eye on the ultimate prize, my goals.