Long-term objectives are one of those things that seem simple in theory but are difficult to put into practice.
After all, it's simple to say you want to go somewhere in a year, but that's a long time away, and it's easy to become distracted along the way.
As a result, many people fail to develop long-term goals for themselves. The issue is that if you don't have long-term goals, it's like taking a road trip without knowing where you're going. You'll arrive somewhere, but it won't be where you want to be.
So, with that in mind, let's speak about how to develop and achieve long-term objectives.
Make your objectives SMART.
Setting objectives – and then pursuing them – needs discipline. It's easy to lose sight of your goals, even if you have the best of intentions. This is especially true for goals that are set for a long time in the future.
Make your goals SMART to keep on track:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time-bound
Specific - Describe what you want to accomplish and how you intend to accomplish it.
The more clear and comprehensive you are about what you want to do, the more likely you are to succeed.
Definitive goals are those that you can see clearly. Even if you don't know exactly how you'll get across the finish line, you can at least get a general notion of where you need to go.
It's not enough to declare, "I want to make money." You need to give it a figure, a time frame, and a context. Long-term, a more effective goal would be:
By the time I turn 35, I want to have a six-figure salary, a 401K, and a retirement plan in place at XYZ Company.
Instead of a hazy goal (I want to generate money), you have a specific goal in mind.
Being particular aids in visualizing what you want to accomplish. The more clarity you have about what you want, the more motivated you will be to take the steps necessary to achieve it.
Make a list of your goals and have them close at hand so you can take notes, measure your progress, and remind yourself of your objectives.
Measurable - include measurable targets and deadlines in your plan.
One of the most challenging aspects of completing difficult goals is remaining on track and determining whether you're making sufficient progress.
Include quantifiable targets and timetables for each goal to combat this and offer you milestones to aim for along the way.
Salary increments, in our example, are the most obvious checkpoints to add, as they will assist you get closer to your six-figure target.
In order to work at XYZ Company, you'll need to first discover what they look for in potential employees (skills, education, etc.) and then figure out how to meet those needs.
Use the same cognitive method to achieve any other long-term objective. Include measurable accomplishments so you can keep track of your progress and stay on track.
Attainable - Set attainable goals that will push you to new heights.
Your objectives should be attainable, even if achieving them will take several years and a great deal of sacrifice and effort.
For example, if you're 30 years old and have never played soccer before, winning the World Cup is out of the question. And there are no further steps you may take to complete the task.
Even if you've never run more than a few hundred yards in your life, you can compete in a 10K run or anything even longer if you're ready to put in the effort.
Set goals that will push you but are yet achievable.
Realistic - Be honest with yourself about what you can do.
Though realistic and feasible goals are sometimes confused, there is a distinction between the two.
It is not possible or practical to win the World Cup with no prior soccer expertise. Running a marathon, on the other hand, is doable if you put in the time and effort required to cover 26.2 miles.
Making the Boston Marathon your first full marathon, on the other hand, is not a realistic aim. For begin, the race requires participants to complete qualifying times — fast qualifying speeds. And you must have completed at least a couple marathons before submitting your application in order to post those times.
Setting a goal of running the Boston Marathon in three to five years? It's entirely possible.
Be honest about your situation, ability, and timing while writing out your long-term goals. Make a list of the obstacles you might face as you try to make your dreams a reality. Create goals that are relevant to you, such as where you are now and where you want to go in the future.
Time-bound — Give each aim a deadline.
Finally, give yourself a timeline for achieving your objectives, which should include both short-term milestones and the long-term goal at the end of your journey.
Leaving your goals open-ended and without a deadline is a surefire way to procrastinate.
While it's important to be realistic about timeframes and what can be accomplished by when, just saying "I'll get there eventually" implies that you won't.
Instead, consider what you want and when you want it, and sketch down a timeline for achieving it as quickly as possible. Then give yourself enough time to recover from any setbacks or probable hurdles along the route.
Again, being honest with yourself about how long it might take you to achieve your objective increases your chances of success.
Final words
Whether you set a goal for yourself to achieve in six months, a year, five years, or your entire life, after you achieve it, take time to enjoy your accomplishment.
Unlike short-term goals, which should be relatively easy to achieve, achieving long-term targets involves tremendous effort, sacrifice, and a strong commitment to staying the course.
That isn't to imply you shouldn't celebrate your short-term successes. You should celebrate your successes whenever they happen. Especially if your short-term objectives are stepping stones toward bigger dreams.
Long-term ambitions, on the other hand, are historic, life-changing occurrences that merit their own level of respect.
Of course, once the celebration is over and you've gained confidence in your ability to achieve your goals, the next obvious step is to create new, highly effective long-term objectives.
How I wish this was so easy to achieve