Simplistic goal setting does not work. The “choose a goal and start sprinting toward it as fast as possible” routine is doomed to failure. While an enthusiastic beginning is wonderful, I know from many years of professional work with clients and also from my own personal experience that there are no shortcuts.

It is hard not to feel discouraged when you have excitedly begun working on a goal, only to have all that eagerness end in disaster because you did not take the time to develop a good plan. Lack of planning leaves room to get distracted, to fall off course, or even worse, to become discouraged and never actually reach your destination.

This article will explain how to plan for success by setting confident, realistic goals. By learning how to set goals that plan for success, you will be on your way to being the champion in your own life: a person who has developed habits that help you achieve the things you want most. I teach my clients Three Simple Steps to Set Confident & Successful Goals.

1) You’ve Got to Meditate. Sit down and take time to really think about your current situation. Take real measurements. Honestly assess where you are right now. Without truly defining your starting point, you are literally lost to begin with. How can you possibly set a destination, if you don’t know where you are now? It is difficult to navigate the best route to your destination or to determine how far you have come, without knowing your starting point.

2) Aim for your goal. Decide what you want, why you want it and identify what obstacles are in your way. Are you aiming for a temporary goal or a sustainable life transformation? Imagine how you will feel when you have reached your goal. What would you look like? How would it impact those you love? Taking the time to dive into the “WHY” of your goal can increase your motivation to succeed.

Now, think about the obstacles that are in your way. Let’s compare that to drawing an actual map to a destination. Done correctly, you will know what mountains you will climb and what rivers you will cross. You will have an estimate of the tolls you are going to pay. You would never set out on a road trip without knowing these things. If we skip this step when setting goals, we run the risk of wandering without purpose or direction and missing our destination. And WHEN (not IF) you do hit an obstacle, you will not be prepared.