Goal setting is one of those activities in life that most people know works but still few people actually do. From a career standpoint, most people are going through life doing the equivalent of eating nothing but junk food when they know better to eat right and exercise. Sometimes doing the things that will lead to results and success are harder, but that doesn't mean they're not worthwhile.

Something that personally helped me was treating goal setting like a game. I have a destination, no matter how big or small, and the object of the game is to get to that destination. Once I reach one goal, I know I need to have a new and bigger one in the works so that I'm always moving forward. I also surround myself with friends who have big dreams and goals as well. Negative people believe goal setting is pointless, which is why it's hard to find a negative person with long-term success. They get things backwards, believing success leads to a good attitude when it's a good attitude that leads to success.

The other side of setting goals is knowing what you really want. This is difficult for people to figure out sometimes. A lot of us have gone through life experiences where we're used to other people defining what we "should" want, and when we get out on our own as adults there's this uneasy feeling of "what should I do?" What people don't understand is the paradox of indecision is that it still a decision (one of inaction). The end result of doing that long-term is you wake up one day with a lot of regret.

It's never too late to change, but at the same time don't let that be your excuse to procrastinate. Most likely no one around you is going to give you permission to follow your dream. You have to take action and get out of your comfort zone.

If any type of fear is holding you back, read about successful people who have what you want out of life. You'll be surprised at the frustrations, struggles, and tragedies they had to overcome to get to their point in life. Success in anything is not about breezing through life but about developing the character to be able to handle what comes at you.

Seriously give this some thought. Sit down with a notebook and brainstorm ideas of what you want your life to look like 5 years from now. Make the resolve that you don't want to be average. Taking the time to do this just makes sense compared to randomly working toward something you may or may not really want.

I hope you've found these ideas helpful, and I wish you the best!

Learn more about this author, Patricia Gilliam.
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