Knowing the difference between dreams and goals is the first step to setting and achieving those milestones, says Joan Burge
Age really is just a number. It should not be a limitation that prevents you from pursuing new opportunities and advancing your goals. There are always ways to take certain steps to improve any current situation or maximize the height of your goals. Don’t let the fear of age stop you from exploring a new career or moving somewhere new. The only person who decides that is you.
In my nearly 35 years of training administrative professionals, I have often seen this in my students. They believe they cannot elevate their careers or try something due to fear.
My goal is that after reading this article, you will be able to set out your goal expectations further than what you think you are capable of.
Dreams vs Goals: 5 Key Differences
Before addressing the steps to setting goals, an overlooked part of the process is deciphering the difference between dreams and goals. Here are five key differences:
1. Goals require action
The first aspect to break down is action. Dreaming requires no action since we don’t have to do anything other than imagine it in our minds. However, goals require action to achieve. For example, if we set out to lose a certain amount of weight by a specific date, we must create an actual plan to achieve that goal. This is the main difference between dreams and goals.
2. Setting a deadline
No matter what your timeline looks like, goals always have a deadline. If you plan to save up to $10,000 with no deadline, this is simply a dream. In contrast, if you plan to save up to $10,000 within a year, you have made it a goal. No matter if it’s short-term or long-term, a deadline will always be attached to goals.
3. Sacrifice and effort
The main thing that dreams require is imagination, whereas goals involve imagination along with sacrifice and effort. You must give something up and work when reaching goals. Let’s say you are the owner of a new start-up business, and your goal is to reach six figures in sales by the year’s end. You will need to invest time and money to achieve that goal. Dreams do not require this kind of investment.
4. Considering your skill level
Dreams mainly require imagination. This is the reason for being able to stretch that imagination as far as you wish since you are not limited by what you can do. However, capabilities and skill level matter regarding goals since they are big factors in realizing them. Additionally, developing new habits and skills is required to expand your current potential.
5. Making it reality
Reality is the biggest distinction between dreams and goals. Goals exist in reality, while dreams live only in our minds. We actively work towards our goals, and dreams are not achievable. You must turn dreams into goals to see progress proactively.
Now that we have covered the main differences between dreams and goals, you must ask yourself, “Am I a goal-setter or dreamer?” The answer is, “Why not be both?”
When it comes to career goals specifically, people often confuse them with key performance indicators (KPIs). They are related but are not the same. Career goals can include more long-term goals, such as changing careers or getting promoted. KPIs are specific, measurable targets to help you track your progress in achieving those career goals. It’s crucial to incorporate both career goals and KPIs, as they complement each other in helping you become the best version of yourself.
Write Specific, Detailed Goals
Goals must be specific and include details. This is rooted in the concept of SMART goals, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound:
A goal should be specific and well-defined. You should ask yourself the questions, “What? Why? How?”
The goals that you make need to be measurable, making sure that you are able to track progress and determine if it’s been achieved in the end.
Goals that are not realistic or attainable will revert to being dreams. They should instead be achievable but should simultaneously be challenging.
Then, ask yourself, “Is my goal meaningful and aligned with the overall direction of where I want to go?” If the answer is no, you must alter those goals to be relevant to the path that you wish to continue on.
Lastly, there always needs to be a timeframe for any goal you set. If it’s not time-bound, it will just float around aimlessly, waiting for you to convert that dream into an actual goal.
Now you see that keeping your goals specific and detailed will provide a clear direction and can make it easier to develop a plan of action. It will also aid in identifying potential obstacles that may come up along the process. Keeping this perspective in mind, you will also find yourself becoming more motivated and accountable, as it allows you to see how much progress you are making toward achieving the goal.
Pretend, for example, that one of your goals is to own a home one day. Stating that continuously over and over again does not actually help you achieve that goal. Instead, you need to lay out all the details that you wish to possess in this overall idea. This can be anything from needing to have three bedrooms with at least two bathrooms or even it being a 30-minute commute to work. These details may seem silly to reiterate even though you may always keep them in the back of your mind. However, laying down this foundation or even physically writing it down will speed up the process of reaching that goal, which transitions us into writing down an actual plan.
Write a Plan
Writing down your goals may seem silly, like writing them down in your diary as a kid. However, in order to turn those dreams into reality, you need to physically lay everything out and create a concrete plan. The tricky part is that it may seem daunting and difficult to articulate what you see for yourself a year from now. Nevertheless, this part is still crucial in taking those necessary steps to make your dreams come true.
Here is a great and easy way to approach this. Start by defining a deadline for reaching your goal, but do not be scared of the date you set, as it will be the day you reward yourself with everything you deserve. From here, start backtracking from that date to the present day, writing weekly or monthly plans of what has to be done. Working backwards will help you make sure that you are strategically laying out everything within the specified time frame that you have chosen. Additionally, this will help keep you focused on the end goal instead of hyper-fixating on those subtasks that you must complete along the way.
Conclusion
As I wrap up this article, I assume that a question may be sitting in the back of your mind.
You may be asking yourself now, “Why should I set goals and prepare plans when everything changes day to day?” This is a completely valid question, especially in a world where we measure time in nanoseconds and revise travel plans multiple times before takeoff!
I believe that you will still gain valuable experience in setting goals, even if outside factors temporarily obstruct your path. You cannot let fear control you when setting goals. As long as you keep them attainable and actively work to achieve them, nothing will be able to stop you. Keep in mind that failure only comes when you stop trying.
Stay persistent – don’t give up!
