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We all have goals set for ourselves; some are way more ambitious than others. The challenge arises when we are unable to achieve them and get stuck in a vicious cycle of frustration and disappointment. However, by embracing a growth mindset, we can shift our perspective, adapt, and keep pushing forward toward success.
A University of Scranton study found that 92% of the people who participated in the survey failed to achieve their goals. While we all start the journey motivated and excited with the ‘I can achieve anything I set my mind to’ attitude, it fades over time, stalling progress and opening doors to self-doubt.
Why does this happen?
More often than not, the absence of a clear plan is the culprit. A lack of clarity, unrealistic expectations, and poor planning can quickly turn the initial fuel of motivation into frustration.
Without a structured approach, setbacks overwhelm you, and goals look unattainable. However, it’s important to remember that success is a function of working hard and working smarter.
What is needed is changing your mindset to adopt systematic goal-setting processes, and slowly, as you start succeeding, the achievement relieves the frustration.
Don’t believe me? Well, research found that 76% of participants who wrote down their goals, developed action plans, and tracked their progress achieved them. You can stay focused, track progress effectively, and consistently succeed with the right strategies.
Let’s look at some of the proven strategies that can help change how you set and achieve your goals, helping you transform from being a struggler to confidently successful.
The Achiever’s Approach: Systems Over Willpower
Willpower is often described as the key to success, but even the most disciplined individuals struggle when relying solely on motivation.
Achievers know that success is about a systematic approach. A structured approach can help remove the guesswork, turning goal achievement into a repeatable process rather than a test of endurance.
Take Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, for instance. His success wasn’t just about willpower or pushing himself harder every day. Instead, he followed a meticulously designed routine, from pre-race visualization exercises to warm-ups, down to the music he listened to. By making every step systematic, he removed uncertainty, ensuring that his habits and systems kept him on track, even on low-motivation days.
Athletes follow training schedules, entrepreneurs use strategic frameworks, and top executives rely on structured workflows. Each designs a system that ensures that they stay on track, make steady progress, reduce the mental burden of constant decision-making, and prevent burnout, allowing individuals to make consistent progress and achieve success.
The Growth Mindset Factor: Shaping Your Success
Beyond strategies and systems, the right mindset is crucial to achieving goals. Your mindset—your attitudes, expectations, values, and behaviors—determines whether you persist or give up in the face of challenges. A fixed mindset sees obstacles as roadblocks, while a growth mindset sees opportunities to learn and improve.
The difference between frustration and fulfillment often lies in how you think.
Self-awareness—understanding your strengths, weaknesses, and triggers—helps shape your approach to challenges.
Positive thinking isn’t about ignoring difficulties; instead, it’s about adopting a problem-solving approach. Achievers don’t dwell on setbacks; they reframe them as learning experiences.
A great example is Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk. He has faced repeated failures across multiple ventures—Tesla nearly went bankrupt, SpaceX had multiple rocket explosions, and early critics dismissed his ideas as unrealistic. A fixed mindset might have led him to accept failure and give up, but Musk instead took a growth mindset approach, seeing each setback as a learning opportunity. For example, when SpaceX’s first three rocket launches failed, many assumed the company was doomed. However, Musk and his team analyzed the failures, made iterative improvements, and successfully launched the fourth Falcon 1 rocket in 2008, securing a NASA contract that saved the company. A reflection of how self-awareness, resilience, and a problem-solving mindset can turn failures into stepping stones for long-term success.
Proven Strategies for Peak Performance
Peak performers understand that success is built on a foundation of clearly defined goals, effective systems, and disciplined habits. Here are a few proven strategies that can help discover your peak performance and put you on your way to achieving your goals:
- Taking Charge of Your Life: Many people set goals passively, hoping things will fall into place. Conversely, achievers take control by setting clear intentions, defining priorities, and following them up with consistent action. The first step in achieving your goals lies in shifting your mindset from reactive to proactive thinking—stop waiting for the “right time” and start making deliberate choices that move you forward.
- The Master Skill of Success: While talent can help in some situations, habits are the most crucial factor in achieving long-term goals. Successful individuals develop routines that support their growth, such as prioritizing deep work, maintaining a learning mindset, and practicing self-discipline. If your goal is high productivity, start by eliminating distractions for 90 minutes daily to focus on deep work. Set a dedicated time, turn off notifications, and work on your most important tasks without interruptions.
Seven Steps to Goal Achievement
Using a simple seven-step approach to setting your goals helps define a repeatable process, which, if pursued with discipline, makes goal achievement easier.
- Understand Your Motivation: Clarify the deeper reason behind your goals. Revisit this motivation during times of uncertainty to stay inspired.
- Set SMART Goals: Vague goals lead to vague results. Adopt the SMART approach to define one’s goals. Be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
- Break Down Goals: Divide big goals into bite-size morsels, such as weekly and monthly sub-goals, to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- Create a System: Design a repeatable process to ensure consistent progress, incorporating routines and daily habits that align with your goals.
- Track Progress: Use tools like task managers or journals to monitor progress and adjust strategies as needed.
- Stay Accountable: Take ownership of what you do. Getting the help of a mentor or a coach to help you stay accountable may be a good idea. Your accountability will define how your teams take ownership of their job.
- Adapt and Persist: Embrace flexibility and resilience, viewing challenges as stepping stones to long-term success.
If followed right, these steps will keep you focused and motivated toward your journey to goal achievement and, thereby, success. Peak performance is not a one-time effort but a lifestyle built through strategic action.
Achieving Balance: The Ultimate Success Multiplier
Many Achievers fault by pushing themselves relentlessly in their pursuit of success; they succeed but at the price of personal well-being. Without balance, productivity suffers, relationships weaken, and motivation declines.
Sustaining success requires balance—pursuing both your personal and professional goals. Make time for yourself as consciously as you plan your work tasks. Prioritize relationship health through exercise, sleep, and mindfulness. Small, consistent habits such as morning reflection, digital detoxes, or evening walks can create long-lasting equilibrium. Remember, your professional success hinges on your personal well-being.
Bottom Line
Achieving goals should not be a frustrating struggle; instead, it should be a journey to discovery, new learnings, and growth.
Bringing order to chaos is the starting point. Articulate your goals and then create processes to help you stay on the path to achieving them. This may mean a change in approach, attitude, and mindset – be open to it and adapt.
The time to take action is NOW! If you find the path challenging, seek help from a coach or mentor or sign up for training to help you discover your talent.