I have 2 sons. One is excellent at seeing ahead at big goals and is able and willing to do whatever it takes to meet his big goals. The other son has more of a short term vision when it comes to goal setting. If there is something he wants but it seems out of reach, he shuts down and can’t even try. The perceived mountain ahead for one son is an exciting challenge, but for my other son it is so big that it is debilitating!
It doesn’t matter who you are more like; it can be really easy for any of us to get overwhelmed with where we are in our photography businesses and how far we have to go. Sometimes the realization of the massive size of our goals can prompt anxiety and fear and even shut us down before we get started. For times like this, I have a great solution. Short term goal setting!
There is a real power in being able to set and achieve short term goals. Short term goals can be something you are going to do in the up coming hour, day or week. It is just far enough ahead that you know you can reach it but it will also feel like an accomplishment when you do!
Here are 4 great reasons short term goals are so powerful for us;
1. Easily attainable. Short term goals are small goals. Easy to achieve. Like I have said before, anyone can eat an elephant one bite at a time. We all have big goals, but to be able to reach them, it’s smarter to work on smaller goals that will help lead us there. This is how we keep from being overwhelmed and giving up on the goal altogether.
2. Greater success rate. Short term goals have a much higher success rate than long term goals because it is easier for us to keep our focus on what is right in front of us. When I have big goals, I tend to quickly and easily procrastinate with something that is easier and definitely more fun than the daunting task I see as my big goal. But short term goals bring out my “bite” and feel like a fun challenge that I can do and do well, so I find myself wanting and even excited to tackle them.
3. Create great sense of self worth. Each time you complete a short term goal, you feel great about yourself. Feelings like this cannot be bought; they have to be earned through our efforts. These feelings of great self worth build and grow on each other with each small accomplishment. On the flip side, if we only set long term goals and don’t achieve them, we can feel bad and even incapable.
4. Build your belief system. Consider your goals like a drive down a dark road. You can only see as far as your headlights can reach, but once you reach that area successfully, you are able to see even further than you could before. Small successes build on each other and help us to build our own beliefs in what we can do. Through short term goals what you once found an impossible dream can now be realized!
Remember, it doesn't matter how you start, it only matters how you finish. So start setting short, attainable goals and there is no limit to your possibilities!
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