Ugh oh… not another one of these “self motivation” posts. When is he going to talk about making money? Well, believe it or not, this is the core of making money online, or becoming a successful blogger. Goals. It has become more clear to me that without goals, you are going to be lost at sea. To the people who know, one of my goals is to break six-figures online this year. Big goal right? However, there are steps I need to take to achieve this goal. Yea yea, enough about me, let’s get to the core of this post. When you have goals, you have something to base your progress and success off of. We all have long-term goals, and short-term goals, but what about the “step by step” goals we need to take to achieve our greater goals?
Why having goals help
They provide inspiration
When you have goals, you are obligating yourself to work for something you have not achieved yet. When I discussed bloggers overcoming the disease of bloggers doubt , in the discussion the community and I had, I came to see that one of the reasons was lack of inspiration. When you have inspiration to do something, you are more eager to strive for your goals. One of the things that keep pushing me each and everyday is the goal of six-figures online, that’s a $8,500+ month salary I need to earn. My motivation is to keep pushing myself to work harder and harder until I accomplish this goal.
When you don’t have goals, you are at a lack of inspiration. It’s basically the same thing as getting into a car but having no idea where your going to go. Sure, driving around ending up in places you don’t know can be fun, but are you really accomplishing anything? This concept applies for blogging, use your goals to define the reason you are blogging and what you are aiming to achieve.
They are the building blocks of your real dreams
As I said… My goal and dream is to break six-figures, but now me “wanting” six-figures isn’t going to make it come true right? You need to break down exactly HOW you are going to do this and making mini-goals for yourself. For example.. For me I want to earn X,XXX by the end of March, and X,XXX by the end of April… and I’m going to do this by _______. These are things you need to think about when you are focusing on your long-term desires. Start breaking them down into smaller things.
I watch people fail at achieving their dreams because they never take the time to look at the details of the painting. You can’t paint a colorful pictures without having all the colors right?
Once you meet your goals, don’t stop climbing
So many people will just stop because their goal was achieved. Maybe they achieved it early, or maybe they achieved on time. However, once it is achieved they just stop. Once you reach your goal, make ANOTHER goal, never stop climbing. Once I reach $100,000 a year, I’m aiming for $200,000 and then continuing. After I reach 10,000 email subscribers, I’m aiming for 20,000. It’s a never ending goal. The same should go for you. As Michael Jackson would say, don’t stop until you get enough.
Group Discussion
I’ve ranted about the importance of goals, but what do you think? We all have goals, but will we achieve them without creating smaller goals? Are stepping-stones that outlines are road map to success? If you’re lacking inspiration and being diagnosed with the disease of bloggers doubt, it’s time you start laying out your goals and identifying your true desires.
Need help? Let me know.
Share your thoughts 
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Kharim (2)
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
Goals are so important! I love your point about them being building block. Each goal should always be built up of smaller goals that lead you towards the bigger one.
Tom | Build That List´s last blog . . .The 4 Reasons People Unsubscribe Mailing Lists
Totally right Tom, it’s always important to have the building blocks to your success.
Great point Tom. Start with smaller goals and then work your way up the ladder. Don’t start off with big goals that you will never reach if you can’t achieve smaller goals
Kharim´s last blog . . .How Often Should You Post A Blog?
You are right Rob. Goals are very important but I think you should differentiate between goals and value-based goals. The standard type goals like “I want to have a house” are fine but they have one problem. Once you have reached it you will need to set a higher goal, a goal which you eventually won’t be able to reach.
The great thing about value-based goals is that you never quite reach the goal. A value-based goal may be happiness. You may try to be as happy as you can and to make other people happy. But because that is your ongoing goal you will never reach it. But you still have all of these great moments where you have at least for that moment reached your goal.
I totally think we should strive towards both goals, and I have to disagree when you say “you eventually won’t be able to achieve” I am a firm believer, and have seen it happen that… if you put your mind to something, and really work towards it, it is possible. Now of course setting unrealistic goals for yourself is another story. But if you continue going after your goals and knocking them out one by one, step by step, you will get to where you want to be.
I love value based goals as well, striving for “happiness” and self-achieved goals are another wonderful thing to always go for. I think by achieving some of your goals, as mentioned in the article, that you will see somewhat of happiness. Why? Because you have the feeling that you DID complete your goals and it’s an overall great feeling.
i agree, that makes a lot of sense, and ive reached many different goals of mine by just writing them down and believing that one day, they would be realized. the “how” came along the way…many times, i did not know initially how i was gonna get what i wanted, but just that i was gonna get it.
Goals are important. But I think people get hung up on how they are going to accomplish them. Many times I simple decide what I want, believe I can do it… and leave the how as a loose concept.
Over time, the how seems to become clearer. So don’t be afraid to set a goal without knowing exactly how you’ll reach it. Keep working in that direction, and it will come.
Debbie Lattuga´s last blog . . .Running a Marathon | Get Some Training
I do definitely think it is important to figure out “how” you are going to accomplish them so you can start off on the right directionality. But for the people who can’t figure the “how” I’d go with you and say jump on the road and find your way to success.
Personally I like to make sure the goals I set are measurable, but challenging. Don’t make vague goals like “guest post more”. Put a number on it, and maybe even a timeline like: “Write 3 guest posts every month this year”. Then you can measure your success.
I am not the greatest at setting and following goals, but I am working on that LOL
Keith´s last blog . . .Why You’re Wasting Your Time on Video Marketing
Right, that’s an important point. Because if you set goals that aren’t measurable you might give up and not try again if you don’t achieve them.
Haha I set a ton of goals myself, but not all of them have been met. So I’m totally with you on that one LOL.
Great post Rob, just a couple things to add: Goals are great and important and I agree with Keith as far as setting up measurable but challenging goals. Also, don’t make a goal that is so far out there and so big that there’s a really good chance you won’t achieve it. For example: Saying you want to make $1 million this year when the most you’ve ever made was $20,000. I’m not saying it’s not possible, just how exactly do you plan to achieve that? What steps? What processes? Etc.
Last but not least, with any goal, you’ve got to get off your a** and work for it. Take action and do it consistently. Too many people, myself included, will setup goals then see them not fulfilled when they go to look back on them. Most of the time it’s purely because either A) Not enough action was taken or B) Not the right/effective knowledge was used.
Hope that helps
Mike Stenger´s last blog . . .The Most Shameful 4-Letter Word That Exists
You’re totally right Mike. But what about the goal to get off your desk and pick up the remote? Is that a lot of work? Haha joking. But I’m totally with you. For example, my goal of six-figures is kicking my ass so hard right now, because it takes serious work. And I know I have to keep working hard as hell if I want to achieve it.
Any goals you have in mind for 2010?
One of my biggest goals is to gross $100,000 this year, lose a good amount of weight, and donate $10,000 to charity.
Mike Stenger´s last blog . . .Youtube’s New Layout: Does It Suck?
Wish you all the best Mike
If you need any help Mike, let me know.
This was so much more helpful than a “self-inspiration” post this really showed exactly how goals can help us and after reading this I will definitely consider setting some goals for myself. Now if only someone would right a self-motivation post that would make me do this…. Ha! just kidding!
Jasmine Henry from System Fail News´s last blog . . .The Results Are In! (Feb Poll)
Glad to hear it Jasmine, let me know if you need any help! I’m here if you need some extra “push” haha. Writing the self motivational post? YA! Kick myself up the rear a bit and a couple cups of coffee should get my brain ready to spread some more inspiration.
Yep without goals… why blog. You need to set goals and stick with them
Kharim´s last blog . . .What do you blog about?
Right on Kharim.
I am with you 100% on this one Rob. I have found that if I set a goal and leave it at that then I normally stray from it and eventually forget about it altogether. However, if I make a path, step-by-step goals, I normally achieve what I am aiming for.
Right, and it’s not that the goal itself makes you want to leave, it sometimes can be you set the goal, but you do not know how to achieve it, so it makes you want to leave it. Thats why step by step helps a lot more.
Hey Rob,
I was one of those people who said uh oh…lol. I already know about all this goal stuff. I like to get applicable “how to” content.
Nonetheless, it is a good post and people need to know this stuff.
J
Thanks a ton
Goals are your road map to getting what you want. I have been reading a book by Raymond Aaron and he talks a lot about goals and how you can implement them in your life. It is a great read and heard things that I have never read on goal setting before.
That’s so true Kat, and how are you liking the book? I might check it out.
Its a great book. Quick read so far. The title is “Double Your Income Doing What You Love.” if you wanted to read it.
Setting large goals can be overwhelming at times. We can make our way to the large goals by taking daily baby goal steps to get to the big ones. Many persons are even intimidated by their own huge goal setting, not realizing that its the many small steps that lead to big achievements. We can’t arrive at the destination unless we have embarked on the journey.
I like your posts on personal and mental development Rob, since none can achieve sustained success without actually finding and maintaining some level of mental strength and inspiration. I have a lot to say on these topics and I would love to guest post and speak about issues pertaining to self development and how it can help blogging. Please let me know if that’s possible.
Sam’s Web Guide´s last blog . . .Microsoft’s New Courier Tablet / Digital Journal
I can agree it can be overwhelming, that’s why I like to also set myself “small” goals, but I don’t actually consider my small goals, goals, I see them as stepping stones to my “goal”
And I’d love for you to come and guest post here, you’re welcome to post here anytime
I beleive that as well. but what we truly need to realize is that there are 2 types of people in this industry. Those who set goals and dream, and those who set goals and do them and put them into action as well. We need to get out of this haze of all i have to do is join this business and all will be well. Succes lies within oursleves. We are the only people that make ourselves successful. Set goals and put them into action.
I couldn’t agree with this more. This is why I love the community of Robswebtips, because people are willing to take action.
Well said Rob
Kharim´s last blog . . .How Often Should You Post A Blog?
I have to set-up some goals. I have goals anyway but they are not written goals and i think they are flexible because i’m not sure about them.
Lucian Apostol´s last blog . . .Use a caching plugin on wordpress to avoid server load when
I see, so you are still debating which “goals” you are going to peruse?
I’m still not very sure what to expect from blogging…
Lucian Apostol´s last blog . . .Use a caching plugin on wordpress to avoid server load when
Great post Rob! I totally agree that we must set clear and concise smaller goals in order to achieve our ultimate goals. It starts by asking ourselves questions of what we want to achieve, then going backwards and saying what does it take to achieve that. Then keep answering this question until you get a clear idea of what you have to do on a daily basis in order to fulfill your goal. At the end of the day, what counts is what we’ve done to progress ourselves closer and closer to the goal.
Thanks for providing such great information!
Jarrod
Jarrod@ Optimistic Journey´s last blog . . .The Benefit of Living an Optimistic Lifestyle
No problem Jarrod, glad you liked it. Just remember, it’s all about taking those small steps to achieve our bigger goal!
No mention of the SMART criteria when setting goals? Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time Orientated? You have to use that when setting goals!
Jack Cola´s last blog . . .Can You Make More Money On Your Own Blog, Or Writing For Someone Else’s Blog? – Monday Morning Questions
Right, it’s all about setting the right steps for yourself! That’s why some people struggle achieving their goals.
I completely agree. Goals are essential to getting anywhere and doing anything. The mere thought of brushing your teeth in the morning can be considered a goal. Where would we be without them?
I just want to add that some goals don’t need plans and some do. Some goals, that we are used to doing or that are simple don’t need our attention. But complex goals, those that require certain steps do. I even wrote a post about it called Fail to plan, your plan is chaos
But to sum it up and answer your questions…you need goals, without them we wouldn’t do anything.
Jason Wallace´s last blog . . .Gratification
Right I’m with you on that one! The type of goals I’m referring to are big goals, like achieving six-figures or breaking a million dollar income.. getting a 10k alexa ranking, more harder goals such as those.
But I’m totally with you.. some goals, we don’t even think about the planning process, we just know how to do them and get them done!