Why Goal Setting Is Important & How to Set SMARTER Goals to Achieve Success
Why Goal Setting Is Important & How to Set SMARTER Goals to Achieve Success
🎯 Introduction: From Dreams to Destiny – Why Goal Setting Matters
Have you ever watched the movie Dangal?
It’s not just a tale of wrestling. It’s a tale of dreams, discipline, and an unshakeable vision. In the film, the two daughters — Geeta and Babita — give up their favorite snacks, carefree days, and even their childhood playtime. All of this to pursue a dream that their father saw before anyone else did.
There’s a line in the song “Dangal Dangal” that hits hard:
“माँ के पेट से मरघट तक है तेरी कहानी, पग-पग प्यारे… दंगल, दंगल!”
Translated loosely, it means: “From the womb to the grave, life is a continuous battle.” And in that battle, clarity of vision and strong goal setting are your greatest weapons.
Let’s discover how you can create and turn that vision into reality.
💭 Visualization: The First Step Toward Clarity
Take a deep breath and imagine your life 20 years from now.
- Where do you live — Surat, Mumbai, Canada, the USA?
- What does your dream home look like — a modern bungalow, a peaceful farmhouse, or a high-rise apartment?
- What are you doing professionally — are you a CEO, a creative director, a startup founder, or an educator?
- How much are you earning — ₹2 lakh/month? ₹10 lakh/month? More?
- Are you married? How many children do you have?
Now open your eyes.
That wasn’t just wishful thinking. That was your vision — the first seed of your future success.
Every skyscraper starts with a blueprint. Similarly, every meaningful life begins with a crystal-clear vision.
✅ What Really Is Success?
Most people think success is just about money, fame, or big cars. But that’s only one layer. True success is holistic — it encompasses three core areas:
- Personal Growth: Becoming mentally and emotionally strong, overcoming bad habits, building discipline.
- Social Growth: Developing empathy, building relationships, creating impact through communication and contribution.
- Financial Growth: Learning how to earn, save, invest, and grow your income over time.
Every successful person you admire — from Elon Musk to your local business hero — has faced failure, criticism, and doubt. The real difference lies in how many times they stood up again after falling. That’s the test of real success.
🧭 How to Set SMARTER Goals That Work
Once your vision is clear, the next step is setting the right goals. The SMARTER framework is a refined, powerful system that keeps your progress aligned with your values.
Let’s say you’re currently working as a Junior Developer and want to grow in your career.
Your raw goal might be: ❌ “I want to grow in my job.”
That’s vague. Let’s turn it into a SMARTER goal.
✅ SMARTER Example Goal:
“I want to become a Team Leader within 12 months by completing a leadership course, mentoring two juniors, and successfully leading at least one major project in my department.”
Now let’s break it down:
S — Specific 🔹 What exactly do you want to achieve? “I want to become a Team Leader.”
M — Measurable 🔹 How will you measure success? “…by completing a leadership course, mentoring two juniors, and leading one project.”
A — Achievable 🔹 Is this goal realistic for you right now? Yes — you’ve already worked as a developer for 2 years, so this step is within reach.
R — Relevant 🔹 Does this goal align with your long-term vision? Yes — you want to grow into management and eventually become a CTO.
T — Time-bound 🔹 What is your deadline? “…within 12 months.”
E — Ethical 🔹 Is this goal aligned with your values and doesn’t harm anyone? Yes — it promotes growth, learning, and leadership in a healthy, positive way.
R — Reviewable 🔹 Can you regularly check progress and make improvements? Yes — you can review your progress every 3 months, adjust timelines, or switch courses if needed.
✅ Final SMARTER Goal Statement:
“I will become a Team Leader within 12 months by completing a leadership course, mentoring two juniors, and successfully leading at least one major project — so I can grow into a management role that aligns with my career vision.”
—
This is the power of SMARTER goals — they give your vision structure, direction, and trackability.
📌 Long-Term vs Short-Term Goals: Why You Need Both
Big dreams are powerful, but without smaller checkpoints, they can become overwhelming. Divide your goals into two types:
- Long-Term Goal: “I want to earn ₹5L/month by 2028.”
- Short-Term Goal: “I will complete this online leadership course in the next 3 months.”
Short-term goals act like fuel stations during a long road trip. They energize you, keep you accountable, and prevent burnout.
🔧 Constant Upgradation Is the Key
Growth doesn’t happen by chance. It’s intentional. And for that, you must upgrade three key aspects of your life:
- Upgrade Your Thoughts:
- Watch content that inspires you.
- Follow people who spread positivity and action-oriented wisdom.
- Avoid mental junk like excessive gossip or mindless scrolling.
- Upgrade Your Skills:
- Learn English fluency.
- Improve public speaking and leadership skills.
- Stay updated with your industry tools and technologies.
- Upgrade Your Ecosystem:
- Your environment shapes you. A seed grows differently in sand than in fertile soil.
- Surround yourself with mentors, doers, and people who elevate your mindset.
🧠 The Self-Audit Tool: Your Daily Check-in for Progress
Every night, take just five minutes and ask yourself two simple questions:
- What did I do today that I shouldn’t have done?
- What did I do today that I’m proud of?
This habit keeps your inner compass tuned. It helps you stay aware of what’s helping or hurting your progress. Over time, this self-awareness becomes your biggest strength.
💥 OGOD: One Goal, One Day
Success is not about doing 100 things at once. It’s about doing one important thing daily, consistently.
That’s where the OGOD method comes in — One Goal, One Day.
Each morning, pick one high-impact goal for the day:
- Make one important sales call.
- Finish one training module.
- Publish one blog or video.
Then repeat.
It builds confidence. It builds momentum. And eventually, it builds your dream.
💬 Final Thoughts: From Movie Legends to Real-Life Heroes
If Geeta and Babita Phogat can give up wrestling dolls for real medals…
If Milkha Singh can turn personal grief into Olympic glory…
Then why can’t you turn your dreams into destiny?
The only thing stopping you is not the world. It’s unclear direction.
Start now. Decide your “Why” and “Where” — and then plan your “How.”
💡 You don’t have to get it perfect. You just have to get it going.
Mehul Kachhadiya
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