Accomplishments are nothing more than goals that have been well conceived and well executed. The difference between a person who claims to have accomplished very little in his life and a person with a laundry list of accomplishments is the planning process. Defining a goal is one thing; a person either possesses a passion to complete a task or not. But organizing effort in the pursuit of an accomplishment is a skill that can be learned and, certainly, honed.

Setting Practical Goals

Nothing kills aspirational momentum like falling far, far short of a goal. A goal, by definition, is something that is capable of being reached — think of it as a finish line. If you set goals that you have no chance of meeting, you’ll not only experience disappointment, but you might also become so discouraged as to not set goals for yourself in the future.

The best kind of goal is one which is capable of being reached with a good amount of effort. This forces you to push yourself but also gives you the rush of accomplishment that comes with meeting a goal that you’ve set for yourself. It’s perfectly fine to have long-running, lofty goals — but don’t try to meet them under short time constraints. Instead, split your long-term goal into a number of lesser goals and meet them in sequence. The momentum you build upon meeting each goal will help propel you into the next.

Planning to Finish a Goal

You have to organize your efforts when attempting to accomplish a goal that you’ve set for yourself. Map out exactly what you need to do, and give yourself a timeline for each step. The most important part of this process is making sure that you complete each step on time and don’t fall behind. Once you neglect to meet the criteria of a step, you become more likely to stay behind — or, worse yet, to abandon the goal entirely. Set realistic timelines for yourself and make sure that you meet them.

Maintain Your Energy Throughout the Process

Don’t get impressed with yourself for getting close to a goal. Save your celebrations until after you’ve accomplished what you’ve set out to do. Don’t fool yourself into think that you can slow down just because the finish line is in sight: stay focused and maintain your energy until the goal is met. The worst thing you can do for yourself and your sense of achievement is to sell it short by becoming cocky too early.

Planning Your Next Goal

Finishing a goal is only the first part of the goal-setting process. The next is to build upon the momentum you’ve achieved and set the next one. Don’t become complacent.