Finding Clarity in Uncertain Times: How to Set Goals that Lead to Success
Personal Experience of Uncertainty and the Power of Vision
Last week, I wrote about purpose-driven goals and how they provide fulfilment. This week, I found myself reflecting on the state of the world—wars, extremism, economic instability, and how they impact us all. In fact, my own family was affected by recent extremism in the UK. My wife, an immigration solicitor, found her firm targeted by extremist groups threatening to destroy our offices—offices that had been built as part of our goals over time.
This wasn’t just an attack on a business; it was an attack on our family’s safety and values. Many people misunderstand the truth about immigration, running with the narratives pushed by the media. My wife’s firm was caught in this storm, but she was given the chance to voice her opinion on ITV during the riots, standing up for her beliefs.
In moments like this, when your family’s safety is at risk, you start questioning everything: your goals, your purpose, and whether it’s all worth it. It’s in these moments of doubt and uncertainty that clarity becomes essential. If your goals aren’t anchored in a clear purpose or a strong vision, the hardships will make you give up.
My wife’s passion for helping underprivileged people, particularly those whose livelihoods are tied to immigration, kept her moving forward. Similarly, my own journey, from humble beginnings to guiding others in setting meaningful goals, kept me going. Our vision gave us strength in the face of adversity.
Translating Vision into Specific Goals
Do you have a vision guiding your goals? Whether it’s for your career, finances, health, or personal growth, your goals must align with a larger purpose. Without a guiding vision, your efforts can feel like a struggle, as though you’re constantly being pushed rather than pulled by something greater.
For example, if your career goals are connected to your life’s purpose, you won’t need your organisation to push you. Your intrinsic drive will naturally align with achieving your goals and, by extension, the organisation’s objectives. This reduces stress and potential health issues that can arise from feeling disconnected from your work.
It’s also crucial that your goals are specific, stretched, and time-bound. Stretched goals, though they seem intimidating, are often more achievable than easy ones. Reflect on the accomplishments in your life that have brought you the most satisfaction—they’re likely the ones that required you to push your limits. This is supported by science, which shows that challenging goals are more likely to lead to success.
For instance, I set myself the challenging task of completing my chartership training within three years—a feat deemed nearly impossible at the time. Yet, by staying focused and tying that goal to my larger vision, I achieved the training ahead of schedule. I later coached others to do the same, proving that stretched, vision-aligned goals lead to greater fulfilment.
The Power of Belief
Belief is the foundation of goal achievement. If you don’t believe your goal is achievable, you won’t act towards achieving it. During a recent project, we faced what seemed like an impossible milestone, but by breaking the goal into smaller, actionable steps, we moved from “we don’t believe” to “we will achieve it.” It required a collective shift in mindset—changing words, statements, and even body language to create an atmosphere of possibility.
On the other hand, I visited another project where the team lacked belief in their ability to hit their milestone. As a result, nothing had progressed. This highlighted the importance of belief in driving behaviour. Positive self-belief propels you forward, while limiting beliefs hold you back.
If you find yourself or your team struggling, it’s important to journal and identify limiting beliefs. Once these are identified, you can work on replacing them with empowering ones that align with your goals.
Building Supportive Habits
Success isn’t just about big moments of triumph; it’s built on daily habits. When people think of habits, they often think of unconscious actions. However, habits can be conscious, too—such as choosing to eat healthier or listing critical tasks every morning. These small habits ensure that your actions are aligned with your goals.
Your language is also a habit. How you speak, the words you use, and the tone you set can become deeply ingrained. For example, I’ve seen leaders inadvertently sabotage projects with negative language, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of failure.
To achieve any goal, assess your habits. What actions or words are not serving your purpose? Then, make a conscious effort to change them. This might require cutting off negative language or behaviours from yourself or your team. It takes time—anywhere from 18 days to over a year to form new habits—but the effort is worthwhile.
The Importance of a Solid Plan
A solid plan is one of the most critical elements of my goal-setting framework. While the journey might be uncertain, a well-thought-out plan gives you a roadmap to follow. Most things you want to achieve have been achieved by someone before, so it’s easy to adopt and adapt strategies that have worked for others.
Your plan should include strategies for changing belief systems and adopting goal-supporting habits. Break it down into steps and milestones that keep you motivated along the way. Ensure that milestones drive you forward and aren’t so overwhelming that they cause you to crash. Balance is key—celebrate small wins and take breaks when necessary to maintain momentum.
Celebrating Wins and Staying Motivated
Celebrating wins, no matter how small, is essential for keeping yourself and your team motivated. Dopamine, the brain’s reward chemical, is triggered by the anticipation of rewards. Celebrating milestones, whether it’s a BBQ for the team or simply taking a moment to reflect, keeps motivation high.
Don’t forget to celebrate your personal wins, too. It’s easy to get caught up in chasing the big goal and forget to enjoy the journey. Time is your most precious resource, so ensure that you’re making the most of it by appreciating your progress along the way.
Conclusion: Bringing It All Together
In uncertain times, finding clarity is crucial. A strong vision, specific and time-bound goals, positive beliefs, supportive habits, and a solid plan will help you stay on track. Whether you’re pursuing personal ambitions or professional milestones, remember to reflect on your journey, celebrate the wins, and keep pushing forward with purpose.
Your success begins with understanding your “why.” Once you have clarity on that, everything else falls into place. This is really what my goals framework is about!
References:
- Kwegyir-Afful, C. Unchained: Success Unlocked – Proven Framework for Achieving Your Goals. Available on [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XYZ1234).
- Oettingen, G., Gollwitzer, P. M. (2010). Making Goal Pursuit Effective: Expectancy-Dependent Goal Setting and Planned Goal Striving. Psychology Press.
- Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (2002). Building a Practically Useful Theory of Goal Setting and Task Motivation: A 35-Year Odyssey. Organisational Behaviour and Human Performance.
- Wesson, C. J., & Derrer-Rendall, N. M. (2015). Self-Beliefs and Student Goal Achievement. Educational Research Quarterly.
