Word-Of-the-Week #953: Achievers

November 10, 2022 by  

Achievers – one’s successful in accomplishing their goals.

Did you know that only 8 percent of people actually achieve their goals? Do you write down your goals? How specific and challenging are they?

This week features Marcel Schwantes, Inc. Union Tribune article, “Getting to the Goal: Here’s how achievers do it.”

“According to the University of Scranton, a whopping 92 percent of people who set New Year’s goals never actually achieve them. You can count me in that group. Failing to meet goals is pretty frustrating and can set you back.

That leaves 8 percent of us in a very elite category of goal-achievers. What do they do differently that 92 percent of us are missing out on? Most of the time, it comes down to simple habits to keep us accountable.

  1. They begin with the end in mind.

When setting goals, you have to know where you’re headed. When writing down your goals, make sure that you understand the path to your final destination. After all, a goal without a clear roadmap is just a pipe dream. Once you have your goal on paper, write out what you’ll need to get there. These are your subgoals and the resources that you will need to support you along the way.

  1. They build a support system around them.

High performers and productive people don’t do it alone. They understand that they can achieve more and do it quicker with the help of a mentor, coach, or adviser (or advisory team). If you wanted to get better at tennis, you would probably hire an instructor who would help you improve your serve or backhand volley. Setting and meeting larger goals is no different. Look for allies and build a network of experts who care about your success and keep you heading toward your goals. Meet with them regularly, seek their wisdom, ask for advice, and listen carefully.

  1. They set specific and challenging goals.

Research by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham found that when people followed these two principles (specific and challenging goals), it led to higher performance 90 percent of the time. For example, if your goal is to lose 30 pounds by the end of the year, it may be challenging, but it’s too vague and not specific enough. Try this instead: “During the month of July, I will lose five pounds by reducing sugar, breads, and soda. I will also walk briskly for 20 minutes daily.” When you have that much clarity around your goal, your chances of hitting the mark increase dramatically.”

And I was taught to use present tense. So, on July 1st I would say, “I briskly walk everyday for 20 minutes and I lost 5 pounds because I cut back on sugar, bread & soda.”

This week’s all about being an achiever. Do you have a clear roadmap for accomplishing your goal? Do you have a support system of mentors or advisers to help you? Is your goal challenging and have you made it clear and specific?

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