Even if you have the best of intentions, it’s easy to get distracted or discouraged from accomplishing your goals, especially long-term ones. However, having a clear and actionable strategy can make all the difference. Ultimately, there are five essential steps to achieving success: Goal, Obstacle, Plan, Do, and Review. Here’s how to break these steps down and apply them to any goal.
Step 1: Goal
The first step is to set a goal, and make sure that it’s clear, specific, and measurable goal. For example, “I’m going to earn a good grade in math this year” is a laudable goal, but it’s not very specific or measurable. On the other hand “I’m going to turn all of my homework in on time this week” is specific and is a goal to which you can hold yourself accountable. The second key to good goal-setting is to ensure your goal hits the sweet spot between being challenging and attainable. To check whether you’ve set appropriate goals, ask yourself:
- Can I clearly define this goal?
- How will I know when I’ve achieved it?
- Does this goal push me without being overwhelming?
Step 2: Obstacle
This step often gets overlooked, but identifying obstacles is crucial to accomplishing your goals. Reflect on what might get in your way. If it’s a goal you’ve attempted before, ask yourself why you haven’t achieved it yet. To identify the obstacles to your goals, consider:
- What are my internal challenges? For example, do I procrastinate or forget to turn assignments in?
- What are my external challenges? For example, am I too distracted by my phone, or do I sometimes feel unclear on what my assignments are?
Make a list of all of the obstacles, both internal and external, that you’re likely to face in achieving your goal.
Step 3: Plan
Next, create a plan that addresses the obstacles you identified. For example, if your phone distracts you, plan to put it in another room, switch it to airplane mode, or even put it in a lockbox if needed! If you struggle with organization, your plan might involve using a planner or setting reminders for deadlines. To determine whether you’ve created an effective plan, ask:
- Does my plan address all of the potential obstacles to my goal?
- Does my plan break my goal down into manageable steps?
The more specific your plan, the more likely you are to succeed.
Step 4: Do
Execution is where the magic happens. You’ve set your goal, identified obstacles, and created a plan—now it’s time to put it into action. Focus on consistency and give yourself grace when things don’t go perfectly.
Step 5: Review
The final step, and perhaps the often overlooked and the most critical, is to review your progress regularly. Be sure to establish right from the start when and how you’ll review your plan—whether it’s once per week, once per month, or on a different schedule entirely. Here’s what to ask yourself as you review:
- What worked?
- What didn’t work?
- Are there obstacles that I didn’t think of, and that I’ll need to work into my plan?
If you find that something isn’t working, tweak your plan and try again. Keep in mind that most plans don’t work on the first try. Missing a step in your goal doesn’t mean your plan was a failure; it means that unforeseen events happen, and learning new skills is hard! Learning and growth are part of the process.
The Key to Accomplishing Your Goals
By following these five steps—Goal, Obstacle, Plan, Do, and Review—you can tackle any challenge with confidence. Success isn’t about perfection; it’s about persistence, adaptability, and continuous learning. So, take that first step and watch as you achieve what you once thought was impossible!
Check out our Goal-Setting Checklist to start working towards achieving yours goals. Looking for more tips on how to boost your executive functioning skills? Contact us or reach out to your Director of Client Services to set up a free consultation.
