The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

When considering things about the future, many people create goals. These goals can range anywhere from getting a driver's license to simply buying a bike. However, no matter what they may be, goals all have to follow these inherent steps: planning, establishing a certain mindset, obtaining the necessities, and finally, taking the first real step towards completion.

If a goal comes to mind, and it seems that there is a strong feeling of devotion towards it, the first step in this journey is to create a plan. Planning a goal may seem like common sense.

However, according to Cision PR Newswire, about 48% of Americans don’t actually have a plan for their goals and just “wing it.” Planning helps with the other steps in completing a goal, and it makes completion exceptionally easier. When planning, it is important to write things down because doing so actually helps with connection to the goal. Another thing to consider when in the planning process is to understand and possibly predict possible obstacles. For example, when planning to make a large purchase, like a house for the future, it will be important to give thought to possible rising prices and your predicted budget at the time. Jotting down ideas, predicting and acknowledging possible outcomes, and understanding - possibly - affordability can all produce a huge step in the right direction towards success. Hence, planning is the first important step.

Establishing a certain mindset requires an understanding of what the goal is, plus what the benefits and possible downfalls of completing that goal may entail. The mindset to achieve something like purchasing a house may require a hard-working mindset. However, another goal may be acquiring a calm out-look on life. So, that goal will not require a “hard-working” or “overly-thrilled” mindset. This means that the main idea of acquiring the correct mindset deeply depends on what achieving the goal requires.

While appraising (evaluating the worth of) the goal in mind, it is important to not only have one of the necessities for completion, (your mindset) but also to obtain and understand the physical aspects required. As an example, to purchase a house would necessitate having the money required, as well as the job, to acquire such. During the journey to completion, acquiring the physical aspects of the set goal will definitely help make the trek substantially shorter and immensely easier. Handling the obstacle of maintaining or achieving the physical components may be quite difficult. If you struggle to obtain such necessities, sometimes simply just reaching out to others for assistance or researching online sources can help.

Completing all the steps previously mentioned is already a stride towards the success of achieving the goal in mind. Taking the first real step, however, can be challenging and often difficult due to many, even unexpected, drawbacks including: poor time management, family issues, mental health challenges, and possibly even weather - all of which can’t be avoided completely when trying to work towards a goal. Careful planning can prevent drawbacks from poor time management because everything is already laid out as good as possible.

Family issues and mental health can be battled by concentrating solely on achieving the goal. Sadly, no one can control the weather, but that issue is simply solved by planning ahead.

In summary, the steps to achieve a goal may seem extensive, but when put into the perspective of a person who is ready to achieve his or her goal, everything seems pretty straightforward. This is just a how-to for those who need some simple guidance for completing any type of goal: short-term, long-term, you name it! This essay was meant to simplify something that can be daunting. Remember, no real goal is too small or too big to be unachievable. A last piece of advice about the best way to achieve a goal is to always try and never give up - even when things get rough. Anything is possible.