So You Have a Big Goal: Now What?

You've created your goal, and now the work begins. The easy part is what you've already done: setting the goal. Day-to-day consistency is going to be the answer -- and challenge -- moving forward. A consistent mindset will get you to the goal of tomorrow. Do not think too far in the future on the end of goal setting too much as the real magic happens every single day with the smallest of victories.

We all start off on the goal achievement journey in the same spot. And we often lose sight of what progress looks like, then lose motivation and focus.

It's easy to get distracted or discouraged when starting out, but the key to reaching your goals is consistently doing something. Some days may be better than others when it comes to making progress, but remember progress is measured one day at a time, not with forward looking comparisons to your status of today and reaching goal status tomorrow.

Here are some tips on how to develop a consistent mindset to help you regardless of the goal you have set for yourself:

Break down big goals into smaller ones. One way to create a consistent mindset is to break your goals down into smaller, more manageable daily or weekly accomplishments. For instance, if your goal is to graduate college in three years, instead of worrying about not seeing the light at the end of the three year long tunnel, focus on the end of the semester. Breaking a three-year goal into six semesters every 16 weeks is much easier to digest.

Set a schedule and stick to it. This is by far the most important element of building consistency. It will also help you stay organized and prevent procrastination and distraction. Remember if it is not in the schedule, it does not exist. Using college as an example, this kind of schedule can also be broken down into a daily list of activities that will allow you to get to the end of each semester -- one week at a time. My day getting through college was filled with activity driving toward the finish line one step at a time.

Here's an example:

• 6 a.m. wake up: Do something physical (run or PT for 30-60 minutes)
• 7 a.m.: breakfast
• 8 a.m. -- 12 p.m.: classes and study
• 12 p.m.: Lunch and nap 20 minutes
• 1 p.m. -- 3 p.m.: class
• 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Rugby practice or workout
• 6 p.m.: Dinner
• 6:45 p.m. to midnight: Study
• Midnight to 6 a.m.: Sleep

That is not an easy day, but it was typical at least five days a week with weekends to relax more, catch up on sleep, and do extra studies. Although you have not reached your goal at the end of such a day, and you are only a day closer to the finish line three years down the road, you feel a strong sense of accomplishment.

Each day of fighting towards your goal the challenge is to feel that sense of accomplishment, consistently. That will make it easier to focus on the steps you need to take to reach your goal.

You can also set milestones for yourself to celebrate when you reach certain points along the way.

Here's some ways to do that.

Set one goal and not too many goals at once. Setting too many goals can be overwhelming and can lead to burnout and discouragement. Instead, break one goal at a time down into smaller, manageable chunks. Doing that will help you stay on track and make it easier to stay consistent in reaching them. As with the goal example above, one day at a time is plenty enough to keep you busy.

Track your progress. Making sure you stay on track with your goals and progress will help you stay motivated and focused. It will also help you identify areas where progress has stalled, or where you need to adjust. If you are not assessing yourself, you are only guessing. Assess and know where to adjust your focus if you need to do so to stay on track.

Keep a positive attitude and ask for help. We are all human and will fall short from time to time even with the best intentions and perfect schedule. Be prepared to forgive yourself for yesterday. Let it go and focus on today. These are times and events where seeking assistance may be the secret to moving forward again. It's impossible to do everything on your own, so don't hesitate to reach out for help when you need a better way to accomplish something.

Having the support of a mentor, coach or even just a friend can make all the difference in helping you stay consistent and achieve your goals. Sometimes you need that figure who has "been there -- done that" to take away the impossibility factor out of a challenging goal.

Find a small victory each day. It does not have to be a major victory to count. Sometimes just getting up in the morning when you don't feel like it is a win. Being consistent is a daily victory. Be proud of your one day at a time mindset.

Developing a consistent mindset is essential for goal achievement. With the right attitude and a few helpful tips, you can stay focused and build solid habits on your path to success. But do not put too much value into the accomplishment of the big goal down the road as the smaller, daily effort is what is going to get you there.

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