Setting goals is easy. Accomplishing goals is not easy.

I created this series on goal setting to lay out the process – from step 1 to step done – for how to set and accomplish your biggest goals.

By focusing an entire series on the topic, I knew I wouldn’t be taking any shortcuts or leaving out any details when it came to the importance of things like:

• Accountability
• Coming up with goals
• Making sure you have SMART goals
• Putting a plan in place to accomplish your SMART goals
• Practicing discipline and FOCUS
• Setting checkpoints
• Using review periods

I even added a bonus to make absolutely sure you knew that overwhelm can (and probably will) happen; but more importantly, I added a bonus so you know how to manage overwhelm when working towards accomplishing your goals.

So at this point, you might be wondering: “What’s next?”

What’s next?

Great question.

Once you formulate your goal, make it SMART and start putting a plan in place you can execute, all that’s left to do is: commit and actually start to do the work.

The risk of not committing is greater than the cost of making the wrong choice. – Jeff Goins

Accountability, checkpoints and review periods are tools that will all help you get there. Having these things in place will make it a lot easier for you to gain momentum and make progress faster; however, they will not do the work for you.

So what’s next is you starting to execute the plan you’ve created by committing to taking one action every single day that will help you get one step closer to your goal.

The next most important step

The next most important step on your journey to accomplishing your goal is to JUST START.

Whether you know it or not, you’ve already taken so many steps towards accomplishing your goal. Coming up with your goal, making it SMART, and putting a plan in place are massive pieces of the puzzle, so congrats!

Now, your next most important step is to EXECUTE. We could even break this down into steps (you know I love steps!)

• Take out your plan.
• What’s your first micro-goal?
• How many days do you have to accomplish your first micro-goal?
• What’s one thing you can do today to get one step closer to accomplishing your first micro-goal?

Whatever that thing is, that’s your next most important step.

As you move forward with executing your plan I thought it would be helpful to create a list of the core principles we’ve covered in this series on goal setting.

When you have a bad day, or you don’t really feel like researching your next step, or you’re just feeling frustrated because you’re not sure if you’re making enough progress, I hope these principles will serve you with support and encouragement to move forward.

5 Core Principles for Accomplishing Goals

YOU get to choose

Accomplishing your goal is something you get to choose to commit to.

This is an opportunity for you to take one step closer to creating the life you want to live.

This is an opportunity for you to start creating freedom in your life.

If you’re feeling frustrated, or like the accomplishment of your goal is still sooooo far away, remember: YOU get to choose.

ONE step every single day

Taking just one step every single day towards accomplishing your next micro-goal can – and will – get you one step closer to your big goal.

By reviewing your progress and seeing that you are in fact making big strides towards accomplishing your bigger goal, you’ll start to gain momentum. Use that momentum – leverage it in every way you can to 10x your enthusiasm, excitement, work ethic – use it.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, or like there are way too many moving pieces in your plan, remember: focus on the next most important step and take just one step every single day to get closer to your next micro-goal.

Accountability is integral

Having support and someone to report to other than yourself is going to make accomplishing your goal so much easier – and likely, a lot more fun because you’ll be sharing it with someone!

We talked about how to find an accountability partner already, and always remember: The Freedom Journal was created to serve you, because we know accountability is integral.

Practice mindset

The first step to breaking down our limiting beliefs (those thoughts in our head that keep us from accomplishing BIG things in our lives) is recognizing that we have them; only then can we take steps to reverse our limiting beliefs and turn them into affirmations.

Our beliefs are like unquestioned commands, telling us how things are, what’s possible and impossible and what we can and can not do. They shape every action, every thought and every feeling that we experience. As a result, changing our belief systems is central to making any real and lasting change in our lives. ~ Anthony Robbins

If you’re feeling the imposter syndrome, or thinking that you’re just not good enough at –fill in the blank– to be able to accomplish your goal, remember: always practice mindset – by recognizing your limiting beliefs, you’ve taken the first step towards reversing them.

Stop to reflect

The flow of The Freedom Journal is no accident.

After interviewing over 1,200 successful entrepreneurs, John knows the recurring themes – the things these successful entrepreneurs do that make them different and set them apart:

• They set SMART goals
• They put a plan in place to execute their goals
• They commit and take consistent action
• They set checkpoints and review periods for reflection
• They correct course, pivot, and adjust based on their NOW

When you’re feeling like your plan might be falling apart, or you’re desperately trying to remember why you set your plan up the way you did, remember: this is a process – a marathon, not a sprint – and when you stop to reflect, acknowledge that it’s ok for steps, micro-goals, and timelines to change.

Let’s do this!

When you’re running a marathon, you train hard.

You commit to crossing the finish line.

You WILL make it happen.

The day arrives, and when you’re at the start line, you don’t sprint at the sound of the shot; you pace yourself, check in with your timing, and you refuel at checkpoints.

There are markers along the way to remind you that you are making progress.

You have those amazing supporters along the way who are cheering you on, and reminding you that you CAN do this.

I remember signing up for my first 1/2 marathon. It was after 2 other 1/2 marathon opportunities passed me by – because even though I was a runner, I didn’t think I could make it 13.1 miles.

I kept telling myself that I would wait for the next one – by that time, I would be better prepared and more confident about my ability to run 13.1 miles.

Then the next one came around, and I hadn’t done any more training. I didn’t have a plan, and I wasn’t committed to it. I let excuses pull me away from doing the things I knew I had to do in order to prepare.

I kept waiting for this perfect time – when I would just “be ready” and could sign up and feel great about running 13.1 miles.

My third opportunity came around, and I still didn’t feel any more confident and I hadn’t done any  more training. The only difference was, the third time, I just signed up.

I committed, had a deadline, and given that deadline I backed into a training plan.

Since I’ve run 3 more 1/2 marathons, and every single time I’ve crossed the finish line I’m bursting with energy, excitement and freedom.

Now I realize the only thing that was holding me back the first two times was me.

Life is short, fragile and does not wait for anyone. There will NEVER be a perfect time to pursue your dreams and goals. – Unknown