How do you create and reach a goal? To create one, you first need to know there are many different types of goals. Knowing this, you can think, plan, and take action to reach the goal.
Many people consider dreams to be their goal. But a dream won’t often lead you to success. Success is found through the goal and the actions that you take to achieve your objective.
Do you have a goal? Or do you have a dream? You know you have a dream when it is something you think about but don’t have an actionable plan to attain. There is no measurement for success with a dream. The definition of a goal is the end toward which effort is directed. The difference between a dream and a goal is the effort you make.
Goal Types
Before you can reach a goal, you need to know about the different kinds of goals. Some are easy to evaluate and some are goals that only you will know if you have succeeded.
Subjective Goals
Subjective goals are feeling based. They do not have a specific point of success and they are more based on internal personal evaluation. For example, a subjective goal sounds like “I want to enjoy this moment.” Only you can confirm or refute if you enjoyed the moment. There is no other method to gauge success.
If you are feeling good, you may measure your effort as a success. if you are in a less optimal mindset, you may measure your effort as a failure. It all depends on how you feel. This is the positive and the negative possibility of subjective goals.
Objective Goals
Objective goals are measurable. They include a specific action. There is a definite point of success. You will know if you achieved the desired outcome or if you have more work to do. There are several types of objective goals, all with different degrees of variability in terms of how much control you have on the end result.
Process based
A process based goal requires you to perform a specific action and usually to perform it repeatedly. The level of success for the process is completely controlled by you and your commitment to the goal. The great news is this means you have opportunities for improvement every time you make an effort! You can start as a beginner and with repeated actions over time your effort will compound for results.
You can track measurables by looking at how many times or for how long you performed the desired action. Here are a few examples of process goals:
- I will go to the gym (insert desired number) of times per week.
- I will read for twenty minutes every day.
- I will include vegetables in my meals at least once a day.
Performance based
A performance based goal is based on your standards and expectations. It’s a level up from process based goals because it includes a process and an expected result. These goals are mostly controllable by you. There may be outside factors that can influence the outcome.
Examples of performance based goals:
- I will increase my squat lift weight by 10 pounds every two weeks.
- Measurement of the outcome is dependent on a few outside factors – ability to increase weight amount, overall health
- Measurement of the outcome is dependent on a controllable factor – consistency
- I will eat and exercise to be within a caloric deficit and lose one pound per week.
- A few of outside factors apply here – water and salt intake, sleep, menstrual cycle (for women), accuracy of calculation of caloric needs
- Controllable factors include food intake, movement, consistency
Outcome based
Unlike performance and process based measures, an outcome based goal is specific to the outcome. There is only one way to reach this goal, and it is usually through competition and winning. Reaching the pinnacle determined to be success often depends on your ability and possibly on the ability of someone else. Success is not a direct reflection of your efforts. The outcome is uncontrollable and can be influenced by outside factors.
Examples:
- I will be offered my dream job by next year.
- I will win the lottery.
Outcomes measured this way either lead to disappointment or celebration. There is no middle ground with an outcome goal – it’s either complete success or failure. Due to their uncontrollable nature and high levels of uncertainty for achievement, outcome goals are often best used to develop process or performance goals which can be measured and celebrated.
How to achieve your intentions
The more specific the goal, the more likely you will be able to successfully reach it. The specifics of the goal are what allow you to measure your progress. In outlining your steps, consider carefully what is needed to be successful and make sure the actions are included within the plan.
Knowing your purpose can help you prepare your goals. Read more here!
Stack your actions
Each type of goal – process, performance, and outcome based – leads to the next. By setting up a process, you become more likely to eventually set and reach a performance based outcome. And by achieving performance objectives, you increase the likelihood of reaching an outcome based goal.
Set up your processes
By setting up the processes that lead you to outcomes, you can achieve any type of goal. Identify the steps needed to reach your goal, what processes are required and what progress is needed. You may want to assign the goal a timeframe to achieve it.
Break down big goals
If it’s a big goal, make it smaller. Then just keep doing the task until you reach the small goal. A small goal leads to achieving the bigger goal by giving you the confidence and feeling of achievement that will keep you building upward.
Keep going!
Once you have reached the small goal, level up! Small wins set the stage for bigger wins. And remember to celebrate every win, even if it is a small one. This is the reward and the reminder to keep going!