Does "goal setting" actually work?

[Lifehack.org]( Set SMARTer Goals SMARTer goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound and with a clarity of WHY you want to achieve what you want. [Share today's tip with a friend.]( Hi there, Goal setting is a concept that is constantly emphasized by motivational speakers, self-help books, and success stories of all kinds these days. We often hear how important goal setting is, but is it just a buzzword or does it actually work? Out of the 20% of the population that sets goals, roughly 70% fail to achieve the goals they set for themselves. If goal setting is effective, then why do so many people fail to achieve their goals? Setting unrealistic expectations and a lack of commitment are just two of the reasons why people fail to achieve their goals. Even for those who have set a SMART goal, one thing is always missing - clarity…. A clarity of why they want to set and achieve their goals. Lacking a clear sense of why you want to accomplish something makes it easy to lose motivation as you work toward your objective, especially when times get difficult. This is why I always advise people to set SMARTer goals. A SMARTer goal is designed to help you understand what you truly want to achieve and why, in addition to a regular SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-Bound) goal. You can create a SMARTer goal by delving deeply into your desires using the 5 Whys framework. The purpose of this framework is for you to ask yourself "why?" five times in order to get to the bottom of why you started setting goals in the first place. Let’s say your initial goal is to ‘get promoted.’ You can start by asking yourself: - Why do you want to get promoted? “Because I want more responsibilities at work.” - Why is having more responsibility at work important to you? “Because I want to feel like I’m contributing meaningfully to the company and have more say over important decisions.” - Why is making a meaningful contribution to the company and having more say over important decisions important to you? “Because I want to feel like I’m making progress in my career and contributing to the company’s success.” - Why is it important for you to progress in your career and contribute to the company’s success? “Because I want to feel fulfilled in my work and achieve financial stability for myself and my family.” - Why is feeling fulfilled in your work and achieving financial stability important to you? “Because it will allow me to live a comfortable and secure life, while also providing for my family.” Can you now tell the difference between the initial goal and the ultimate desire? The ultimate desire of "living a comfortable and secure life while also providing for my family" will be a more powerful motivator to get through the challenging times than "getting promoted." After you've set a SMARTer goal, you'll need to align your daily actions with it to ensure that you're gradually progressing toward it. And, if you really want to make your goal a reality this year, you won't want to miss the Make It Happen Program, a 3-week success acceleration program that includes a blueprint to help you reach your goal. On a related note, the Make It Happen Program is now included in LifeHack's 2023 Bundle, which consists of a collection of the BEST LifeHack tools for staying motivated and succeeding. [Explore the Program]( Cheers, Leon Founder & CEO@LifeHack LifeHack 2023 Bundle Collection of the best LifeHack productivity tools [Learn More]( [Share This Email With a Friend]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Youtube]( [Pinterest]( Sent to: {EMAIL} [Unsubscribe]( Lifehack, Unit 33554, PO Box 6945,, London, W1A 6US, United Kingdom