Would Goal Setting Really Work?

21 Mar Would Goal Setting Really Work?

My experience of quitting my corporate job to focus on my newly started a brownie business back in 2014 was not an easy decision to make but was definitely something that I did not regret. I surely had given a deep thought about it with a flaming desire to become an entrepreneur, and so I did.

With the challenges I had to go through as a new entrepreneur, having to put a lot of my daily lives on pause for a little while, it has been difficult to keep focused at times. I find that setting goals for myself always helps me get back on track.

Setting long and short-term goals

Like everyone else, I have days where I’m not feeling productive or the motivation to get big things done. But, I remind myself that that’s OK! On days like these, the goals that I set are much smaller, but they are just what I need. I might set myself the goal of spending the afternoon baking only 1 batch of brownies or doing research about the latest market trend for an hour.

These smaller goals help me stay on track and remind that goals don’t always have to be ones that take months or years to achieve. The small ones are just as much of an accomplishment!

How goal setting empowered me to break my fear

Throughout my journey managing my business alone, I realized that I have to break out of fear to accomplish my goals. I begin with introducing my products to my family members and friends. I had to face a few rejection along the way. It was frustrating but I kept reminding myself to trust the process. At that time I did not have the confidence to advertise my products online. I needed more reassurance from my customers to be able to do that. Soon, there were more and more demands from my mother’s friends and from my close friends and I was ready to set a new goal. I wanted to reach a bigger audience on social media and hit 5000 followers on Instagram. Next thing I knew, I hit 6000 followers within a month! From preparing 1 batch of brownies a day, I started to bake 10 batches of brownies a day as orders kept on increasing.

The past is often what keeps us in a fearful state and paralyzed. I kept going despite being criticized and rejected. I approach criticism with a growth mindset and used it as an opportunity to learn and develop. By concentrating on a goal in the future, we have to let go of the past. Letting go of the past means giving something up to get to your new future. And the future is one of the most powerful motivating forces there is.

How to decide on a goal?

When you start something new, you can’t do everything all at once and then expect the journey to be over, we do one thing at a time. I always begin with the why before the what. You can try to ask yourself why you want to change? This usually takes a bit of quiet time with yourself, so do not try to do this in five minutes; you need to know and understand what is going on inside.

Regrets can come up in the early part of brainstorming. You have to give up the hope that your past could have been any different, so do not dwell on it.

Also, remember to state your goals in the positive, I want or I will over I don’t want. Next, write your goal down, so you make it real. Once you have that one goal, you need to lay out a plan, then allocate time and resources to achieve it.

Finally, there is no shame in pursuing a goal no matter how little or how insignificant you think it is. Realize that the original goal may change as you get educated, look for inspiration, and work on your plan.

Setting self-care goals

Besides the achievement we get from achieving our goals, looking after your mental health at all times is also really important, so I make sure to plan something self-care related for each evening. I make sure to write a self-care activity in my to-do list along with all my work-related things.

It’s nice to see that at the end of a long list of things I have to do, there’s something at the end of the day to look forward to and make time for, like a video call with my parents, or watching some random series for an hour or so with my husband and my son.

Lesson learnt

I’ve learnt that having a support system and an objective set of eyes is invaluable and a huge asset!

You need to surround yourself with like-minded people who can call you out while encouraging you, as opposed to those who just want to drown your dreams in cold water.

It can also get a little lonely. As you grow in focus and self-awareness, you start to realize that there are actually few people who walk this path. Don’t let this discourage you. The fulfilment you’ll get from living out your desires will more than make up for the lost company.

My goal setting and achievement journey is far from over and I consider myself a mere infant in this life changing process. Just as a baby desires to grow and crawl, walk and ultimately run, I too constantly seek to improve myself. I now view every single interaction as an opportunity to grow while positively impacting those around me.

In sum

Goal setting is the process of identifying specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives that individuals or organizations want to achieve. Goals can be short-term or long-term, and they should align with the overall vision and mission of the individual or organization. The goal-setting process involves setting clear objectives, breaking them down into actionable steps, monitoring progress, and making adjustments as necessary. Goals should be challenging but realistic and should be reviewed regularly to track progress and make necessary adjustments. Effective goal setting can help you achieve success by providing a clear direction, motivation, and focus. Click this link to find more information about our ELITE program to learn about IKIGAI and set your effective goals.

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Written by Fatin Syazanna,SHRA Corporate Trainer

Anna is a member of the SHRA trainer team. She has a major in Education with experience working in retail. She has a deep passion for sharing knowledge and personal development. You can catch her singing and acting in advertisements, movies and TV shows.

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