Here is an example of a static goal.
For example, you want to earn $10,000 a month so you set a goal to reach that $10,000 mark. So far so good, right?
Actually, no, because this is what’s known as a “static” goal rather than an action goal. Static goals sap your motivation because they’re focused on outcomes that are, for the most part, outside of your control.
The bottom is line they seldom work. Here is a quick example.
Imagine you’re in your living room and the house is a mess. You set a goal to have a clean, straightened, neat house in the next 2 hours.
So you visualize your house being clean. Then you look at pictures of your house taken when it was clean, and you write down your goal.
Two hours later your house looks exactly the same. Why?
Because you didn’t DO anything. You took no action because it was a static goal, not an action goal.
A goal like “Have a clean house” has no action tied to it.
An example of an action goal.
But what if you reword that goal to the following:
“Straighten, vacuum, and clean the living room, kitchen, and dining room.”
Do you see how you are firmly in control of whether or not this goal is achieved? And now you’ve got a goal with ACTION in it.
You could even break this goal down into several smaller, action-oriented goals to make it even easier to achieve.
Use the S.M.A.R.T. Method for goal setting
- Specific – You want to be specific in setting your goals.
- Measureable – Your goals should be measureable can see the progress you’re making.
- Acheiveable – Setting acheiveable goals gives you motivation to complete them.
- Realistic – As you are pursuing your big goals, set realistic smaller goals.
- Timely – This is the game-changer. Giving each goal a time that you want to have it completed.
Action goals for your business.
So let’s look at how action goals can help you in your business:
Instead of setting that, “I earn $10,000 a month” goal, how about these action steps?
First Week: I will create my first product on ____ (put your subject here)
Second Week: Set up the website, sales letter and emails to promote this product.
Third Week: Contact my list to offer them my new product by writing 3 guest blog posts on this topic to promote my product. And I contact 25 potential affiliates and joint venture partners and ask them to promote my product.
Eourth Week: Create my second product.
Static goals will frustrate you
If you’re using static goals you’re going to get frustrated. Still using the $10,000 a month goal as an example, it’s going to take you an investment of time and effort to reach that goal.
In fact it could take months to get there, and if you’re not seeing results in the meantime, you’re likely to get frustrated and quit.
Not to mention the fact that the goal has no action tied to it, and so you’re likely to “wait” for it to happen. Which it never will if you’re not taking the right actions to achieve it.
Action goals will energize you
By setting action goals that take you to where you want to go, you are always achieving. You’re always making progress, and you’re constantly being revitalized by the achievement of each action goal.
You might want to set some action goals right now before you forget. I think you’ll find it becomes an addictive habit that pays off often and exponentially.
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