Achieving Goals - One Bite at a Time

In my book “The Business Playbook” I speak about the secret of achieving big goals. I use the example of a boy who visited a wise old man and asked him for the secret of life.

The old man looked up and smiled at the boy. “The secret of life, my son, is knowing how to eat an elephant!”

The boy was puzzled and confused, “How, old man, can one eat an elephant?”

The old man laughed. “One bite at a time!”

Achieving goals work in the same way.  You must break down large goals into smaller portions so that they do not appear to be unattainable.

Why is it important to set goals?

Setting goals allows you to remain focused on the vision, helps to organize your time and maintains a clear level of expectations. All kinds of successful people set goals, whether it be top athletes or business people. If you are looking to accomplish anything in life, you will want to start with setting goals.

How do I set goals?

Make a list of your “big” goals by asking yourself what is it that you would like to accomplish over the next 5-10 years.

Break down those goals into smaller bite-size objectives. For example, you may have a goal to own your own business. Prior to owning a business, it may be necessary for you to take smaller steps to work toward realistically achieving that goal. So your goal setting may look like this:

I would like to own my own business in 5 years.

1. I will complete several business (marketing, accounting, and management) courses by the end of this year.
2. I will research and talk to as many people as possible about the business industry within 2 years.
3. I will create a business plan and begin to work toward carrying it out within 3 years

Once your plan is set up, begin working towards achieving those goals.  Constantly reminding yourself of the ultimate goal will help to keep the smaller goals in perspective and allow you to follow through on all of your targets.