Why You Must Set Goals: The Ten Biggest Benefits of Goal Setting

by Jill Koenig

Are you a student of success? I'm guessing since you are readingthis, you probably are.

I have been a student of success for as long as I can remember.For decades I have asked the question, "What makes one personsucceed and another person struggle?" Even in my childhood I wasa virtual sponge. I noticed the words, behaviors, and patterns ofthe people around me and the results they manifested.

I have committed to a lifelong study of success, to learn whatworks and what doesn't work so that I might duplicate positivethoughts and habits in my own life and share those lessons andobservations with others. It pays to study success. It also paysto study failure (your own and other's) to avoid unnecessarymistakes and the pain they bring. Mistakes and missteps areinevitable, and failure often provide as much benefit as successas long as you are paying attention.

Most high achievers I have studied took 100% responsibility fortheir life and made a concerted effort to learn the art of goalsetting. Most goal achievers invest their own time, energy andfinancial resources. Many have joined clubs, communities,organizations and hired a coach or mentor to further instill themastery of this crucial life skill.

There are literally hundreds of ways goal setting benefits yourlife. I have identified the top ten to serve as a reminder themany ways you can gain more control over your life and why it iscrucial that you do whatever it takes to learn and master the artof goal setting.

The 10 Biggest Benefits of Goal Setting

1. Greater Peace of Mind. There is nothing in the world likegoing to bed at night knowing you are investing the days of yourlife in the areas of your chosen endeavor. Nothing brings yougreater peace of mind than having the certainty that you areconsciously creating your destiny, living a life of your owndesign. Goal getters realize that you create your life goal bygoal. If you want a better life, set better goals.

2. Clarity of Purpose. Having carefully chosen goals gives yourlife greater meaning. Show me a person who doesn't know theirpassion or purpose in life and I will show you a person whoeither has no goals or pursues goals with no personal challengeor meaning. People who actively and systematically pursuemeaningful goals feel a greater sense of purpose and fulfillmentin life. What you are doing right now is either taking you wayfrom or towards your dreams. Goals help us navigate throughoutour journey. Our goals are a reflection of who we are.

3. Greater Productivity and Focus. People with goals directtheir day, instead of their day directing them. People with goalsknow their desired outcome and are less likely to waste time onunimportant matters. When you know your outcome, you avoiddistraction. You understand the people and pursuits that feedyour desires and those that do not. You know where to invest yourtime and energy. You also learn where NOT to spend your time.

4. Greater Personal Growth. Each time you pursue a new goaloutside your comfort zone, you contribute to your own personalgrowth and advancement. Pursuing goals causes you to stretch andlearn about yourself and the world around you. What was oncedifficult often becomes easier and you long to conquer newheights. Nothing in the world will give you a zest for life likeconsistent growth.

5. Higher Quality of Life. Quite simply, people who have goalsget more out of life. The more life you give to your goals, themore your goals give life to you. Having goals means you valueyour time and make the most of it. When you know what you wantand have a plan to get there, the journey is a lot more fun thanhaving no goals and no plans. Having goals makes life easier.People who set goals are happier and more fulfilled. When you arehappy and fulfilled you take loving care of yourself and havemore of yourself to give to the people you love. Happy, fulfilledpeople attract other happy and fulfilled people.

6. You Attract a Higher Quality Peer Group. People who havegoals and are moving towards them are energized and full of life.When you have goals for your life, you attract other people whohave goals of their own. And we are well aware of the power ofassociation. You become like the people you hang around.

7. Increased Confidence and Self Esteem. Each time you make acommitment to a goal and invest the very best of yourself towardsit's attainment, you gain more confidence and self esteem,regardless of whether or not you achieve the goal. Yoursubconscious mind knows that you gave your all and thatstrengthens your confidence muscle. Progressive action alwaysleads to growth and greater fulfillment. People that do not setgoals never venture outside of their comfort zone. Deep down theyknow they are not realizing their potential and feel bad aboutthemselves. People with goals are fully alive and dare to takerisks that elevate their place in life. Whether they win or lose,they learn and grow.

8. Contribution to Others. Whether or not you know it, someonelooks up to you. If you have children of your own, they are likelittle sponges, absorbing the words you speak and the actions youtake. Your behaviors serve as model to the people around you.Maybe it's your sibling, a coworker or even a kid down thestreet, someone looks up to you. Every time you set a goal andact on it, you serve as a shining example of a person who ismoving towards realizing your full potential in life. Wheneveryou pursue a goal, you inspire others to do the same.

9. Goals Help You Become a Better Person. Don't set goals forwhat you can get. Set goals for what they will make of you. Setgoals for who you become along the way. People who set goals andfollow through, develop the skill of overcoming obstacles. Peoplewho follow through on their goals and commitments develop aninner strength and unshakable character. People who do NOT setgoals never discover how great they can become. They never awakentheir dormant gifts and talents. Whenever you set and commit to agoal and follow through on your commitment, you strengthen yourcharacter and personal integrity.
And finally what is perhaps the biggest benefit of setting andpursuing goals...

10. For the benefit each individual goal will bring to yourlife. As you begin to master the art of goal setting, every goalyou set brings it's own unique positive result or benefit to yourlife. When I work with private coaching clients, before they seta goal, I ask them to determine 10 deeply compelling, personalreasons why they must achieve the goal they are consideringsetting. When you do this, you give yourself all the clarity andmotivation you need to fuel you beyond obstacles, all the waythrough to the goal's completion. If you cannot identify thebenefits in advance, you probably would not bother setting thegoal the first place. You can visualize your outcome by revelingin the results before they occur.

Once you master the art of setting and achieving a goal, you can have anything you want in life... anything.

So if you have not given yourself the gift of learning the artof goal setting, perhaps it's time.
If not now, when?

About Jill Koenig
Jill Koenig is America's top Goal Strategist. A Best Selling Author, Coach and Motivational Speaker, she is an expert on the subject of Goal Achievement, Time Management, Leadership, Personal Fulfillment and Business Success. Get your FREE Goal Setting CD at http://www.Goalguru.com

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