If goal setting is important, finishing your goals is even more important.
In his book, Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done, Jon Acuff argues perfectionism is the enemy of completing your goals. Below are some lessons from his book to help you finish your next goal.
Don’t expect to be perfect.
As you pursue your goal, it is helpful to recognize it will be difficult. If it were easy to accomplish, it wouldn’t be a goal worth pursuing. If you approach your goal expecting to come across obstacles and setbacks, you are less likely to quit when they inevitably show up.
Keep focused on your progress.
It can be defeating to only look forward to the finish line. Calculating the percentage of goal completion can make the remaining work feel endless. Instead, look back to remember where you started. This reminds you of all the hard work you have put in and you can be encouraged by your progress.
Break your goal into smaller goals.
Did you know cutting your goal in half increases your chance of succeeding by 63%? When you set smaller goals, you shorten your distance to the finish line and that can give you the extra boost of confidence to continue progress on your goal. Once you finish one goal, you can move on to the next!
Don’t live in isolation.
It can be helpful to invite friends and family into your goals. Others can serve as encouragement on the days you are facing obstacles and setbacks. They can also be accountability friends to remind you of our goals when distractions steal our attention.
Borrow someone else’s diploma.
You can learn from others who have completed similar goals. It is likely they experienced similar obstacles and setbacks. Learn from their mistakes and their successes.
Don’t be afraid to make adjustments.
When you are unhappy with your progress towards your goal, you can adjust your goal, your timeline or your tasks. You will be learning as you pursue your goal. Use that knowledge to determine if you need to make changes to your action plan.
To learn more about how perfectionism can keep you from achieving your goals, read Acuff’s Finish. It’s a great resource! You can also connect with an AthLife Advisor for 1:1 help achieving your career and education goals.