If there is one mistake I can say I’ve made in the last few years, it would have to be the failure of making miniature goals.

After all, the purpose of goals is to motivate you to do great things. Not to make you feel overwhelmed with having a goal that is so far out of reach.

I think that goal setting isn’t taught very well in schools. Nobody seemed to complain when you said you wanted to play in the NBA as a child. Or that you wanted to be a famous movie star. No. They told you to dream big. To set your goals as high as you possibly could make them

The problem I have with setting big goals is that they simply don’t work. For example, if your goal is to create a blog that makes you a million dollars, this goal will probably do very little to motivate you. Why?

Because there is so much that has to happen before you will reach that point. It’s hard to be motivated by a goal, when the possibility of it actually happening might not come until years or even decades later. It might be motivating for you at first, but eventually, that motivation will run dry. You will start to feel less and less likely that your goal will ever be achieved.

Miniature goals are the answer!

You can have that big goal of becoming a millionaire, but you need to have that plan in the back of your mind and start working towards some miniature goals that you can set for yourself.

If you want a million dollars from a blog, set a goal to earn your first $50.

This is a goal that you know you can reach. And, it will provide all of the motivation that you need right now to do what is necessary to achieve it. Once you have reached that goal, set your next goal a little higher. Perhaps it took you just one month to earn your first $50. Set a goal to earn $100 within the next month. Then you just keep building from there!

Three Things A Miniature Goal Should Definitely Have

Here is what you should include with your miniature goals…

1. a date at which it must be completed

By setting a date, this will add a little pressure that will help motivate you. However, this pressure can often times have a reverse affect.

Here is how I use a date to motivate me in a positive way. If I don’t reach my goal by the specific time, it gives me a chance to reevaluate what I may be doing wrong. I set the goal thinking it would be easy, but not impossible. So, there must be something I could be doing better so that next time I will be able to achieve my goal.

2. a difficulty level that isn’t easy, but very possible if you put in the right amount of work

This is the whole purpose behind setting miniature goals. They motivate you because you know that if you put in the right amount of work, you will achieve them!

Setting a goal that is close to impossible will only frustrate you and make you do less. Make it a goal that you truly believe you can achieve through hard work. Then picture how happy you will be when your goal is finally achieved. Doing this will make you work harder, and perform better.

3. your goal should inch you one step closer to a much larger goal

In the goal of having a million dollars, earning your first $50 will take you a little closer to that million dollars won’t it?

This is a good thing. It gives you a reason why you should want to achieve these little goals. It will someday lead you to your much bigger goal.

A million dollar goal is a good example of this. Sure it’s nice to reach your goal of $50. But so what?

By knowing that you can’t get to a million without first getting to $50, it makes reaching your $50 goal that much more satisfying.

Why Miniature Goals Work

Remember again, the whole purpose of goals is to encourage you to work harder. Miniature goals do that. Big goals alone simply do not get the job done.

Have your one big goal that everybody, even your first grade teacher, has taught you to make. But then have several miniature goals that will lead up to you achieving your much bigger goal.

Don’t focus your attention on your big goal. Put all of your effort and thoughts into achieving the miniature goal. After all, your big goal means nothing if you don’t ever accomplish your miniature goal.

Goals are extremely important. But they only work if you have a burning desire to achieve them. They will do you know good if the goal you set isn’t worth working day and night for to achieve. Find the right big goal you want to achieve. Supplement that with miniature goals that you will accomplish along the way. And eventually, you will reach that big goal…

That is, if you want it badly enough!

---

Like what you read? You can receive updated and exclusive information about the site in my Ultimate Personal Development Newsletter. It's free to join and you can unsubscribe at any time...

Email Name Then Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure. I promise to use it only to send you Ultimate Personal Development Newsletter.

---

Return to How To Set Goals That Will Change Your Life

Return from The Power Of Setting Miniature Goals to Ryan Whiteside: Your Ultimate Guide To Personal Development home