The Goal Getters Blueprint: 5 Steps to Set Goals You’ll Achieve

The new year brings fresh opportunities and renewed motivation. But let’s be real—how many times have you set a goal, only to lose steam within a few weeks? It’s not about working harder—it’s about working smarter. Goals are more than wishes; they need to be clear, actionable, and aligned with your long-term vision. In this post, I’m breaking down five actionable steps to help you set goals that actually stick. Let’s make 2025 your most productive and rewarding year yet!

 

  1. Start with the end in mind

This one might seem a little evident in a post about setting goals. “Come on, Jacob, the end is the goal. What are you even talking about?” I get it. But this is a critical point. This ties back to your WHY. You need to step back and understand what achieving this particular goal will mean to you overall. So, take an honest step back and decide the end goal.

 

Why This Is Important: Stephen Covey emphasizes in his iconic book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, one of my favorites, that starting with the end in mind ensures that your actions align with your desired outcomes. So, without that clarity, you risk wasting time on goals that don’t serve your bigger picture.

What You Can Do: Write down your ultimate vision for the year. Ask yourself what success will look like for you in December of 2025. Break this into your life, career, health, relationships, and personal growth.

Sales Power Move: As a salesperson, define what success looks like in numbers and beyond. Hitting revenue goals, improving client retention, or expanding your network? Get specific and align your efforts with this vision. And don’t forget to include things beyond professional success, like your family, friends and the life you want to lead.

 

  1. Get SMART

It wouldn’t be a post on goal setting if we didn’t talk about SMART goals, right? We’ve all heard of them – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Are you using them, though? This is the framework that is your road map to success. It transforms vague ideas into something clear and actionable. Remember, goals are dreams with boots on. These are our boots.

 

Why This Is Important: Research from the American Psychological Association shows that setting specific goals boosts performance by focusing attention and effort. SMART goals eliminate ambiguity and provide measurable benchmarks to track your progress.

What You Can Do: Reframe the goals you have now that might be vague, like “get healthier” or “lose weight” into SMART goals, like “exercise three times a week for 30 minutes and lose 10 lbs by June.” The more specific you are, the easier it is to stay on track and know if things might fall off the rails.

Sales Power Move: Set smart goals for your sales pipeline. So instead of closing more deals, aim to close 3 deals worth $5000 each by the end of quarter one. This makes your efforts targeted and measurable.

 

  1. “Break It Down” – MC Hammer

Thanks for the intro, MC Hammer. I always love it when he guests on one of my blogs. This is just a fun reminder. As something we all know, big goals can be crazy overwhelming. And I don’t know about you, but when I feel overwhelmed sometimes, I’ll start to procrastinate. So, when you break them down into smaller, manageable milestones with clear, actionable steps, they can feel much less intimidating and will keep you moving forward.

 

Why This Is Important: Harvard Business Review highlights that breaking goals into actionable steps increases the likelihood of success by creating a sense of progress and achievement. This means your action step isn’t completing your goal; your action step is completing the smaller daily or weekly tasks that will lead to your goal.

What You Can Do: Identify your big goals and then break them down. Monthly, weekly, and even daily tasks. Use Trello, Asana, or Simple Notebook to track those milestones.

Sales Power Move: Divide your annual sales targets into quarterly, monthly, and weekly goals. For example, if you need 12 new clients this year, aim for one per month and break that into weekly prospecting activities, keeping in mind your typical conversion rates.

 

  1. Create Accountability

Accountability is my most favorite and least favorite thing. It gets me where I want to go, but it means I have to be held accountable. Gross sometimes but needed in the long term. Accountability turns your actual intentions into actions. You’re much more likely to follow through when someone else is aware of your goals.

 

Why This Is Important: A study published in The Association of Psychological Science found that sharing your goals with someone increases your chances of success by 65%. Having that accountability partner adds motivation and keeps you focused.

What You Can Do: Share your goals with a trusted friend, mentor, or coach. Better yet, schedule regular check-ins to track progress and celebrate wins together.

Sales Power Move: Team up with a sales buddy to track progress. Share weekly updates on prospecting activities, deal closures, or follow-ups. Mutual accountability keeps you both sharp and on track. Remember, this isn’t a game of comparison, it’s accountability.

 

  1. Celebrate Your Small Wins

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it 1000 times. Celebrate the small wins. Don’t wait until the finish line to celebrate. Find those small victories along the way. They’ll keep you motivated and reinforce those positive habits. Find just the tiny things, like going for a walk Or a half-hour off, where you watch your favorite show or listen to a podcast. to remind yourself that you are winning.

 

Why This Is Important: Research from the University of California shows that celebrating progress triggers dopamine release, making you feel good and encouraging you to keep going. Meaning celebrating your wins motivates you through the hard times.

What You Can Do: Create a reward system for milestones. Whether it’s just a coffee break, a dinner out, treating yourself to something special, a movie, or going for a walk with a significant other or a friend. These little celebrations can keep your spirits high. And give you a break in the middle of the day.

Sales Power Move: Celebrate those small sales milestones – getting a meeting, nailing a presentation, or just getting a promising referral. This keeps you energized.

 

Your goals aren’t just about sheer willpower. It’s about having the right tools and strategies in place. Start with a clear vision. Make your goals SMART, break them down, create accountability, and celebrate every step along the way. Let’s make 2025 the year your goals turn into reality. Take the first step today by writing down one big goal and breaking it into actionable steps. What’s your first move gonna be?