Dennis M. Postema

Types of Goals: Mapping Your Path to Success

Not all goals are created equal. Some are simple and immediate—like making a long‑overdue phone call—while others are ambitious, such as saving for your child’s education. As Zig Ziglar famously said, “A goal properly set is halfway reached”jeffshore.com. By categorising your goals, you ensure each one is properly set and planned.

The GPS workbook identifies five types of goals:

  • Short‑Term Goals: Achievable in fewer than three months. Examples: paying off a small credit card balance or completing a short course. Short‑term wins build momentum and confidence.
  • Mid‑Term Goals: Take three months to a year. Examples: completing a certification, saving a down payment or launching a pilot program. These require persistence and planning.
  • Long‑Term Goals: Span two years, five years or more. Examples: growing a business to seven figures or funding your child’s college education. These dreams guide your direction.
  • Daily Goals: Your daily to‑dos. Small tasks like reading ten pages or making one sales call keep you on track.
  • Weekly Goals: Take longer than a day and often build habits. Examples: recording four videos this week or exercising three times.

Assign your goals to these categories and limit yourself to five big goals at any one time. This structure helps prevent overwhelm and ensures your time and energy are focused. When I launched my media company, I set a short‑term goal to produce the first show within sixty days, a mid‑term goal to reach 100,000 viewers in the first year and a long‑term goal to build a global network. Daily goals included writing scripts and making calls; weekly goals involved filming and editing. This layered approach kept me organized and motivated. The GPS program provides templates to help you map out your goals across these timeframes.

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