12th November 2007

Goal Setting Lesson Four: Taking It One Step At A Time

posted in Goal Setting |

Hey Folks,

Taking It One Step At A TimeWelcome To Goal Setting Lesson Four.

Now that you have understood the basic principles of goal setting, build your foundation and set your sights on that big dream, it’s time to move towards your goal. We don’t do it by quantum leaps, like one or two or even three huge steps, but a small step at a time.

Building A House
Think of working towards your dream like building a new house from scratch. The completed house is your big dream so what should your first step be? Get a blueprint of the house? Probably. Or maybe deciding on which location it should be built upon and acquiring that piece of land? As good a place to start as any.

Once you have done either of that, you need to get a permit to build the house (if it is necessary where you live) or buy the raw materials necessary to build it. Next you start laying the foundations, building the walls brick by brick and so on according to the blue print your acquired. As you can see, there is a process of multiple small steps to get you from nothing to that beautiful house you desired.

Building Your Dream
Similarly, in order to reach that big goal, that dream of yours, you need to know your process or plan and you will need to take on one small step at a time.

If your dream involves doing something someone has successfully achieved, you can seek those people out as mentors and get valuable advices that will help you reach your goal faster and in a smoother manner.

If your dream involves doing something no one else has done before, it will be more challenging but still achievable if you plan ahead and take it a step at a time.

Importance Of Small Steps
You keep hearing me repeat this phrase “taking it a step at a time” because it is important. Remember Goal Setting Lesson One where we start with simple task and goals? It’s the same, by breaking up a big goal into small ones, we make a tough goal look simple. That is the Key in taking small steps.

“Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.”
– Henry Ford

When facing big or tough goals, our mind induces that thought “How am I going to complete that!“. But when the same big or tough goal is broken down into simpler goals, our mind changes the thought into “That’s easy, I can do it!“.

A Garden With 50,000 Roses
If you enter a garden with 50,000 stalks of roses, your breath would be taken away immediately by it’s grandeur. It is by any standard a grand undertaking when it was done by one gardener.

Could the gardener have done it in one giant step by planting all 50,000 stalks, water them, care for them all at the same time? Unlikely. He will probably be exhausted just thinking about undertaking such a daunting task all at once.

A plan with a better chance of success would be to plant a stalk of rose a day and move on. It may take a longer time but you will get that garden at the end of the road. If you want it faster, maybe you can try planting 2 or 3 or 5 stalks a day. But 50,000 or 25,000, or 10,000 a day is definitely out of the question unless you have an army of gardeners.

I think you get the idea.

Reviewing Your Goal
So take some time to review that goal or dream that you have set. What’s your mind telling you when you read that dream/goal? Take some time and break it down into smaller goals. Now read those smaller goals again, what does your mind tell you this time? Can you do it now?

If you still can’t, break it down further.

If you can do it, what are you waiting for then? Go get it! :D

Cheers,
James

Disclaimer: I am not a gardener and that illustration about planting rose is for illustration purpose to bring a point across. Technically, I don’t know how to grow roses. :)

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Related Post:

  1. Join Us As We Set Goals Step By Step
  2. Goal Setting Lesson Five: Understanding Your Strength And Your Weakness
  3. Goal Setting Lesson One: Where To Start And What Goals To Set?
  4. Goal Setting Lesson Two: General Goal Setting Techniques
  5. What Are Goals and Goal Setting?

There are currently 13 responses to “Goal Setting Lesson Four: Taking It One Step At A Time”

Why not let us know what you think by adding your own comment! Your opinion is as valid as anyone elses, so come on... let us know what you think.

  1. 1 On November 13th, 2007, Self Help Zone said:

    It can like a daunting task to setting out on a course of self improvement. People make a decision that they need to improve their lives but then get so overwhelmed with the task at hand that they lose motivation and wind up their self improvement goals with out doing anything.

  2. 2 On November 13th, 2007, Raymond said:

    Hey James,

    The disclaimer is really funny.

  3. 3 On November 13th, 2007, James - Creator Of The Ladder Of Dreams said:

    Hey Raymond,

    Had to put it in just in case someone really take me for an expert in that area. :P

    The only think I know about roses is how to buy them :D

    Cheers
    James

  4. 4 On November 13th, 2007, Raymond said:

    Hi James,

    Knowing how to buy them should be more than enough. :)

  5. 5 On November 17th, 2007, JamesKaren said:

    Hey Raymond,

    Knowing how to buy and what to buy has served me well all these years :D

    Cheers
    James

  6. 6 On November 27th, 2007, BMR Calculator said:

    Thanks a lot. It is really a nice article. Glad to have this!

  7. 7 On November 30th, 2007, laptop recovery said:

    Nice one. Though many of us know about the post but the true matter is by reading on a known topic sometimes help a lot. Thanks. good blogging.

  8. 8 On December 8th, 2007, Chris said:

    I really like how you remind people time and time again that goals are done one step at a time. If you take the time to implement strategic thinking skills from the beginnging you will save hours of confusion and indecision.

  9. 9 On December 10th, 2007, Park Avenue Reviews said:

    Very nice post.
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

  10. 10 On December 10th, 2007, Edwards said:

    hmm… i like the article, seems an inspiration to all. Very nice. Bear Creek

  11. 11 On December 16th, 2007, acne treatment said:

    Thanks for the great post. The small steps idea is very powerful.

  12. 12 On January 11th, 2008, Ibanez Guitars said:

    Working on my goals…small steps. It’s important to hear (read) that again and again. Goals can seem overwhelming otherwse.

  13. 13 On February 6th, 2008, Liara Covert said:

    Its also useful to realize that some kinds of goal-setting can be counter-productive. As you get to know yourself better, you learn to distinguish between pursuits that are more or less worthwhile. The key is to be willing to learn. Thanks for sharing your lessons learned and initiatives.

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