Step 5: Determine Timelines
A goal is a dream with a deadline.
Napoleon Hill
Another key and magical aspect of goal setting is setting timelines. You should have specific end dates for all your goals. These due dates should push you to work harder on your goals. You should make every attempt to adhere to your timelines. If you start to miss a timeline you’ll find yourself slowly ignoring due dates as they approach. This can cause you to just give up on your deadlines.
How to determine timelines
There is no magic formula for setting your timelines. You’ll have to use your own judgement and experience in determining what is right for you.
- Break your goal down into manageable tasks. – By using the Current Goals Worksheet you should break down your goal into bite size chunks. This will allow you to determine the time required to complete each of the smaller tasks. Simply add up your smaller tasks to get an idea of the time required to complete your goal.
- Make it a best guess. – You intuition is a powerful ally and you should trust it in determining your timelines. When do you think is the right time to achieve this goal? You know yourself better than anyone and only you know what you’re capable of achieving and in what time. Just make sure you challenge yourself.
- Use 5 Year Thinking. – In step one we discussed the power of planning your life in 5 year segments. When you set the timeline for your goals you’ll want to have this in mind. Can your goal be achieved in the next 5 years? If so, which year over the next 5 is the most realistic for you to achieve this goal?
- Set you goal backwards. – When you’re trying to determine your timeline for your goals you should start by looking backwards. Imagine that you’ve already accomplished this goal. Where are you in your life? What does your life look like now that this is done? What age are you? Where are you living? Use these questions to help you determine your timeline.
Determining a timeline for your goals may be one of the most challenging parts of the goal setting process. It’s extremely hard to pinpoint the exact date a goal will be achieved. However, it is important that you do not skip this important part of the process. A timeline can help you achieve your goal faster than without a timeline. A timeline can motivate and push you to achieve your goals. There’s also something magical about setting a timeline. It’s as if the universe needs this timeline to align your request.
Use the CFL Worksheets and start determining the timelines for your goals. You can download the CFL Worksheets here: CFL Worksheets
