3 Practical Strategies to Set Achievable Goals for Long-Term Success

Confession time: For most of my 20s, I’d aimlessly try something, without any idea of what I want to do long-term.

I started out studying business informatics and working as a SAP consultant. I didn’t like it, so I quit, after finishing my studies. Then, I moved to London to try recruitment, which didn’t work out either.

Only when COVID hit and I moved back in with my parents, I understood that it can’t go on like that. I felt like a complete disaster.

But I kept moving forward.

And although it felt like complete chaos most of the time, in hindsight it all made sense.

Why? Because subconsciously I followed 3 practical strategies to set achievable goals for long-term success. Here are they.

Clarify your aspirations

Do you really know what you want?

Most don’t and that’s okay. For the most part I had no idea, stumbling from career into the next. Until I knew: I want to be location-independent. With this clear aspiration, I started working towards it.

You have to know what you want, to start working on it.

Implement a practical plan

Don’t aim for the moon, if you don’t have a rocket.

Keep it stupid simple. You don’t need a masterplan. You need actionable steps, keeping yourself accountable. Set clear milestones, you can and want to achieve.

A practical plan helps you staying on track and motivated.

Monitor your progress and adjust

Measure how you’re doing.

Weigh yourself, look at your views and decide what’s working and what’s not. When I hit a plateau in the gym, I did rigorous trial and error, until I unlocked the next level. Do the same in every aspect of life.

Trial & Error is your new best friend.

As you can see, even if it doesn’t make sense, keep doing something. Because eventually, you’ll find something you like. Don’t give up.