Step#3 Define milestones
Rome wasn’t built in a day. This is true with your life goals as well. Defining meaningful and measurable milestones is a key factor in goal achievement. Without forethought on this aspect, you might abandon your worthy goals in a few weeks. The goal might seem unreachable and intractable. You’ll be tripped by your feelings and turn the ship around within days of starting.
If you are planning to run a marathon, your coach will break that goal into milestones (depending on your current fitness and athletic abilities). Shorter races like 5K, 10K, and 21K will be appropriate milestones along the way to a 42-kilometer race. These milestones give you experience, training, and confidence to achieve your ultimate goal.
Many people abandon their goals midway just because they didn’t define the right milestones. They stop digging three feet before the gold is found. It’s ironic, but true.
Milestones make your goals manageable. We love making progress. We love seeing progress. Milestones are your stepping stones to progress. They are indicators of your effort and efficacy. They inspire you to continue. Success breeds success!
Take your goal to a coach (or journaling session) and reflect on the following prompts:
How can I break down this goal into smaller chunks or milestones?
What’s my strategy to break it down? Time or skill or effort or readiness or others?
What’s the minimum time needed to test my abilities?
On a scale of 1-10, how prepared am I to embark on this journey?
Considering my life situation, how much time can I dedicate to this goal every week?
What support system do I need to make progress on my journey?
Am I ready to give 100 percent to this goal?
As you answer these questions, you’ll find yourself getting more clarity on possible milestones and timelines for reaching them. Don’t hesitate to write detailed answers. The more you write, the better. Writing is thinking, and thinking is hard.
I hated these writing exercises as a beginner in goal achievement. First, I disliked authors who made me write on paper. Later, I reluctantly wrote the answers without following up with action. After doing this a few times, I realized I didn’t want that goal. My desire was low, like a worn magnet that no longer attracts iron filings. It takes a strong desire to make things happen.
Through that realization, I became better at goals. Journaling clarifies your intention.
This is what you’ll realize when you start doing these exercises in silence and solitude. In the depth of your consciousness, you know the answers to your questions. You know the solutions to your challenges. You’re so busy at the surface level. Take some time to dig deep. You’ll find gold.
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” - Martin Luther King Jr.