The Power of Setting Goals

Goal setting and establishing priorities are essential to getting things done.

How can you get somewhere if you don’t know where you’re going? Establishing priorities and setting goals will determine where you’re going and how you’re planning to get there.

How do you set goals?

First, determine your goal by setting it big enough to be significant but also something that can be reasonably achieved.

Recently, a member of my congregation showed me a picture of a beautiful piece of property with mountains in the background. He mentioned how God had given him that dream for a place to own. He set that as a goal.

We agreed that he had set a good goal. It was achievable except for the mountains (we live in an area without even a hill!).

If the goal is large enough, you may need to break it into smaller pieces. By doing so, you can see that the goal really can be reached. You will be encouraged as you reach each milestone on your way to the larger goal.

You can read more about breaking goals into smaller pieces here: http://waylonbailey.com/2014/05/08/the-power-of-small-pieces/

Second, set a time period to achieve the goal. Recently, Seth Godin wrote that a goal without a date set to reach it is only a dream. The time limit makes the goal real in your eyes. It’s not just a dream; it’s something that can be reached in real time.

John F. Kennedy gave the best example of goal setting in the early 1960’s when he told the American people we were going to the moon and we were going to do so by the end of the decade.

He set a big goal, and he achieved it on time.

Third, revisit your goal again and again. Evaluate where you are and how you are progressing.

Don’t be afraid to look critically at what you are doing (or not doing). Real evaluation will spur you to reach to where you’re going.

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5 Responses

  1. Waylon,

    Love your blog! I think you put 1980’s when you meant early 1960’s. Might want to check that one out.

    Thanks, Lonnie

  2. This couldn’t come at a more perfect time. I am homeschooling my 10th grade grandson and decided earlier this morning that I should start looking for something to teach him how to set achievable goals and work at them. Thanks.

  3. This is a great blog. I have these same thoughts with my older son. Hopefully one day he will take this into consideration. Thanks Pastor Bailey.

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