Do You Plan for Obstacles When Setting Goals?

Goals are exciting! Or at least they should be.

When we think about goals we think about heading to a place we’ve never been before.  A better place. A “promised land” where benefits abound and dreams await.

The anticipation gives us hope, energy and enthusiasm.

Until we run into our first obstacle.

A common problem with goal setting is that we think through all the action steps without thinking about potential obstacles. If this is our approach, the first obstacle we come across will likely trip us up.

When planning your goals, it would be wise to plan for obstacles. By doing so, you’ll be ready when they arise and better prepared to keep moving forward toward reaching your goal.

Dan Sullivan, entrepreneurial coach and founder of the Strategic Coach program, suggests that, when formulating a goal, we begin the process by determining where we want to end up. Then, we must identify those things that will likely stand in the way.

Think about it. If you identify the potential obstacles and pitfalls that might keep you from reaching for your goal, the logical next step is to make plans that will eliminate them. And if you eliminate them, how much greater are your chances for success?

The process looks like this:

  1. Establish a goal.
  2. Make sure that your goal is very clear in your mind.
  3. Identify all the obstacles.
  4. Come up with individual action items that will knock those obstacles out-of-the-way.

The bottom line is you WILL come across pitfalls, objections, and obstacles when you’re going after any important goal. It’s far better to recognize these dangers up front and create a plan to overcome them.

So, identify the things that may stand in the way of reaching your goals. Knock them down one by one. And I guarantee you’ll be well on your way to changing your world.


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About the Author: Jeff Shore

Jeff Shore is the Founder and CEO of Shore Consulting, Inc. a company specializing in psychology-based sales training programs. Using these modern, game-changing techniques, Jeff Shore’s clients delivered over 145,000 new homes generating $54 billion in revenue last year.