You have to set goals that will stretch you. For me it's about looking at what my key capabilities are and my core skills and matching my massive goal around that. The bigger your goal the bigger the challenge but hey that's half the fun.

A goal that makes me step outside of my comfort zone is usually one that is 'massive' and requires real effort. Simple goals such as 'saving money' are not really much of a challenge. Climbing Mount Everest would be as it's not something I have experienced before. Most likely I would pick something in between those two for maximum effectiveness.

I use three rules for thinking big.

1) Add a zero to your numerical goals
2) Remove all dates and replace with ASAP!
3) Factor failure

For example:
Let's say I want to make $100,000 a year; instead I'll aim to make $1,000,000 ASAP! and just fail miserably like I usually do anyway (so I may as well factor it in). Factoring failure respects reality while still achieving a magnificent end result even if I "failed" in the casual observer's eyes. Works for me.

Most people set achievement goals then fail, then quit.

A better approach is to set ACTION goals. So instead of saying "I will make 10 sales today", say "I will write 10 articles today. i.e. set goals defined in terms of what you have control over, thus you can commit to doing those, and keep on winning.

Obviously, you need to compare you actions with the results they are getting (or not getting) every now and then, as long as you remember to define goals in terms of actions which you can control, rather than results which depend on what other people do.

Chris

I think that we must be realists and put goals that in line with what is available and not just dream dream dream and in the end we find ourselves can't reach our goals and this is simply because we don't put steps that we can do

Aim for a goal that you would choose if you had endless confidence in yourself and you believed that there were no limits. I try to look at my goal from an unrealistic point of view and then I figure out a realistic way of achieving the goal.

For example, I will start a new business and make a goal such as $1,000 a day in 30 days. The reason I do this is so that I will create an action plan to reach $1,000 a day in 30 days, which may or may not work, but at least if I come up short I might end up with $250 a day or even $500 a day.

I believe children are the best goal-setters. A child will tell you with full certainty and belief that he/she will become a movie-star or a professional athlete. Now, it is unrealistic to say that you will become those things over-night, but with the right plan of action and daily commitment, you can become anything you put your mind to.