Can Goal Setting Make You Fail?

Is goal setting really all it’s cracked up to be?

Do you set yourself goals, and then give up on them when the going gets tough? Are your goals achievable, and do they really point you in the direction you want to go – towards your dream? How do you hold yourself accountable?

I recently found this video on the TED site, and it gave me pause.



We’re told to set goals, which in themselves are not a problem. It’s what we do with them, I’ve come to the conclusion, that matters.

If what Derek Sivers talks about is true, you should keep your goals to yourself. Don’t tell others what you’ve decided to do this week, or how many pounds you will lose by next month, or how much money you’ll be making by year-end.

The sub-conscious mind works in mysterious ways, and talking about your goals may just doom you to failure.

Now, I’m not saying you should never have goals. Just make them something that’s achievable, flexible, and a step towards your vision. I don’t mean you can’t dream big, but dreams aren’t goals.

If you have a goal to achieve a specific result by a certain date, you may just be setting yourself up for disappointment. Break that goal down into small achievable steps, and work those steps, one at a time, daily. The result will come, probably not right away, but by taking small consistent steps in the right direction, you will achieve it.

Setting specific goals often gives us too rigid guidelines to follow. You can never predict where your results will come from, who your next customer will be, or even when your results will show up. Open yourself to flexibility, to opportunities, to serendipity. Who ever knows, with certainty how life will reward us?

Many new entrepreneurs set goals that really, let’s face it, are not goals but pie-in-the-sky dreams. If you’re new at the entrepreneurial game, whether its online or in the ‘bricks and mortar’ world, you probably don’t realize just how much work is involved in becoming successful. As an ex-employee you probably lack skills and have little experience in the real business world.

However, I will say you do need a vision – a clear vision – of where you’re headed and what you believe in. Then put in some work on the steps or small actions that will bring you closer to your – dare I say it? – ultimate goal.

Start with two or three small daily actions. Evaluate your results. Adjust direction to keep yourself on course. And open yourself to opportunities. The secret is in taking action and rewarding yourself each small step of the way.