Set attainable goals

As a student or young entrepreneur, you likely have big, ambitious dreams and goals that seem just out of reach right now. Bridging the gap between where you are today and those grand visions can feel daunting, leading to self-doubt. The key is to balance your big-picture aspirations with achievable short-term targets.

You can do this by mapping out incremental progress, setting yourself up for small wins that will build your confidence and abilities over time. With each concrete goal you conquer, you’ll feel an empowering rush of “I did this!” that gradually strengthens your self-belief that you can accomplish greater things. Before you know it, that mountain will seem climbable.

Let’s look at how to put this into practice:

  • First, leverage the SMART goal framework. Define your goals to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. This prevents vague objectives and grounds them in concrete plans.

    Examples

    • Jack set a SMART goal to practice public speaking for 30 minutes, 3 days per week for the next 2 months in order to deliver a 5-minute presentation at an event.

    • Alex set a SMART goal to play piano for 20 minutes, 4 days per week for the next 3 months in order to learn 2 new songs to perform at her recital.

  • Next, celebrate each milestone no matter how small. Taking time to appreciate each win reinforces your belief in yourself. This fosters an empowering mindset that you can achieve great things with consistency.

    Example

    • Jamal set a goal to do 50 push-ups in a month, and celebrated reaching 10 push-ups as progress towards his target.

  • When you encounter setbacks, view them as opportunities to learn. Analyze what went wrong, course correct, and keep pushing. Every stumble builds your problem-solving abilities as you scale greater heights.

    Example

    • When Maya's first attempt at leading a team project failed, she asked her teammates for feedback on how she could improve as a leader next time.

The key is to stay inspired by your biggest dreams but be grounded in the work required to achieve them. With consistent practice hitting your attainable micro goals, your confidence will grow. You’ll start believing no mountain is too high when tackled incrementally with dedication. Your once-distant dreams will soon be within reach.

You have the power to make your dreams a reality – one step at a time!

Farrah Smith