It’s easy to dream big. But dreams stay dreams without a clear plan of action. If you’re truly committed to reaching your BIG goals, you need a plan.
Why You Need a Plan to Reach Your BIG Goals
Michael had a BIG (Bold-Important-Gratifying) goal…sort of. He dreamed of writing a book that would inspire others. He had the passion, the ideas, and the motivation. But Michael never took the time to map out the steps he needed to take. So he never made any movement toward his goal. It remained all in his mind, a vague dream that never gained momentum.
Marty had a BIG goal, too. She wanted to launch her own consulting business. But unlike Michael, Marty took the time to sit down and create a detailed plan. She outlined her daily, weekly, and monthly tasks, identified milestones, and tracked her progress. Step by step, her vision became a reality.
The difference? Marty had a plan.
Why a Plan is Essential for Goal Achievement
“If you want to know whether you’re serious about changing something in your life, ask yourself if you have a plan of action. If the answer is no, go back and see if you’re really committed to achieving your goal. A plan of action ought to be written down on paper. If it’s only in your mind it may be more of a dream than a plan. Plans in our minds tend to get lost or forgotten, or pushed aside by everyday life. Tell yourself you’ll have more of a chance of achieving your goal if you have it written down and keep it at hand.” ~ Debbie Ford
It’s easy to dream big. But dreams stay dreams without a clear plan of action. If you’re truly committed to reaching your BIG goals, you need a plan, a written, structured guide that helps you move forward with purpose. A well-crafted plan removes doubt, provides clarity, and turns intentions into actions.
Here’s why a plan is essential:
- It increases the likelihood of success. When you know the steps to take, you’re more likely to follow through.
- It eliminates confusion. A written plan eliminates the guesswork, helping you stay on track.
- It fuels momentum. Clarity about what to do next keeps you moving toward your goal.
Without a plan, even the best intentions can get lost in the busyness of life. But with a plan, you’re equipped to stay focused and make steady progress.
Learning Goals vs. Performance Goals: Two Types of Plans for Success
To achieve BIG goals, it’s important to understand the distinction between learning goals and performance goals — and why both matter. [Miller]
Learning Goals: Building Skills and Knowledge
Learning goals focus on acquiring new knowledge and skills to enhance your competence. They help you grow, understand, and master new material.
Examples:
- Learning to code in Python.
- Developing leadership skills.
- Mastering a new software program.
Benefits of learning goals include:
- Fosters a growth mindset.
- Enhances adaptability and problem-solving.
- Boosts motivation and job satisfaction.
Performance Goals: Achieving Measurable Outcomes
Performance goals, on the other hand, focus on achieving specific, measurable outcomes and demonstrating competence.
Examples:
- Increasing sales by 15% next quarter.
- Completing a project on time and within budget.
- Achieving a specific performance target.
Benefits of performance goals include:
- Improves productivity and efficiency.
- Provides clear, measurable targets.
- Aligns efforts with long-term objectives.
[Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko]
Balancing Learning and Performance Goals
Both learning and performance goals are essential for success. Learning goals expand your abilities, while performance goals drive action and measurable results. When you balance these two, you’re setting yourself up for long-term achievement and growth.
5 Steps to Create Your Goal Achievement Plan
Debbie Ford’s advice reminds us that the hardest part of planning is taking the time to do it. But once you begin, the process becomes easier and more rewarding.
Here’s a simple process to get started:
- Make Time to Plan
Set aside dedicated time to map out your goals. Planning is an investment in your success. - Break Your Goal Down
Divide your goal into daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly tasks. This makes it manageable and helps prevent overwhelm. - Ask Key Questions:
What can I do daily to move toward my goal?
What can I do weekly to stay on track?
What milestones should I aim for each month?
What’s the long-term vision for this year? - Break Down Tasks into Projects
Large goals can be daunting. Break them down into smaller projects and further into actionable steps. - Track and Review Progress
Regularly evaluate your progress, making adjustments when necessary. Celebrate small wins along the way!
Deliberate vs. Emergent Planning: Flexibility in Strategy
As Clayton M. Christensen highlights in How Will You Measure Your Life?, goal-setting isn’t merely sticking to a rigid plan. Success often requires balancing deliberate planning with emergent opportunities.
Deliberate Planning involves creating a structured strategy to achieve a specific goal. This is where you map out each step with clarity and intention.
Emergent Planning allows for flexibility and adaptation when unexpected opportunities or challenges arise. This allows you to be open to pivoting or adjusting your plan when needed.
“Success hinges on continuing to experiment until you find an approach that works.” ~ Clayton M. Christensen
By incorporating both approaches, you remain adaptable while staying committed to your ultimate goal.
Your Personal Goal Achievement Plan: A Step-by-Step Approach
To bring these principles together, Excelerated Goal Setting™ offers a structured method for creating a personal roadmap to success.
Use the Goal Setting Excelerator to help you map out these steps:
Goal Strategy: Use “Your Personal Goal Achievement Plan” to define your overarching strategy. What’s your big vision?
Action Steps: Use “My Goal Strategy” to break down your strategy into actionable steps. What will you do?
Goals Work Sheet: Use the “Goals Work Sheet” to develop discrete actions for each step. How will you do it?
When you take deliberate action toward your goals — while staying open to emergent possibilities — you increase your chances of success exponentially.
Your Path to Excelerated Goal Setting™
Now, it’s your turn.
Are you working toward a learning goal that expands your knowledge and skills?
Or are you pursuing a performance goal that brings measurable results?
Take time this week to sit down and map out a plan for your BIG goal. Break it down into actionable steps and commit to reviewing your progress regularly.
Remember, planning isn’t simply knowing what to do next — it’s also ensuring that you stay aligned with your Excelerated Life™ and move confidently toward success.
Embrace the power of planning and take the next step toward achieving your BIG goals! That’s how you embrace your Excelerated Life™!
What BIG goal are you currently pursuing, and have you taken the time to map out a detailed plan to achieve it?
Have you balanced learning and performance goals in your plan? If not, what’s one small adjustment you can make this week to incorporate both?
Share your experience by leaving a comment below.
Excelerated Goal Setting™ — planning and achieving BIG (Bold-Important-Gratifying) goals — is one practice for creating your Excelerated Life™, a life of flourishing and well-being, and a life of meaning, purpose, and service.
Read more about the Excelerated Life™.
Resources:
Christensen, Clayton M. How Will You Measure Your Life? New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc., 2012.
Ford, Debbie. The Dark Side of the Light Chasers. New York: Riverhead Books/The Berkeley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Putnam Inc., 1998.
Miller, MAPP, Caroline Adams. Big Goals. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2025.
This blog post includes research information and suggestions provided by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI. To learn more about ChatGPT and its capabilities, you can visit the OpenAI website.