How important is it to set goals?

This year, I've seen an abundance of people saying they aren't going to set New Years resolutions becasue they never keep them anyway.

Every single time I heard that, my heart twisted a little. To me resolutions and goals - whether or not I keep them - are important becasue at least I'm planning a path for my life.

I'm not saying that others aren't planning their paths, but there's something about writing down your goals. I couldn't pin point it until I saw this infographic. Take a look and decide for yourself.


Setting Goals Infographic
Source

Are goals/resolutions important to you?

Comments

Alex J. Cavanaugh said…
I've always set goals, although usually no long-term. I don't write them down, but once I make a decision, something just clicks and I do it.
January 21, 2013 at 8:03 AM
Mia Hayson said…
That infographic is so pretty. I love OnlineEducation infographics, not going to lie!

I never have (and never will I think) set new year resolutions maybe because I associate summer, more than winter, with new beginnings? Anyway! When I do decide what I want to do, I go out and do it. It's the deciding that takes me the most time rather than the doing, I think.

Writing things down always helps, of course! :)

<3
January 21, 2013 at 8:16 AM
Annalisa Crawford said…
My vague goal was to be a writer, my specific goal is to win the Booker Prize (I even have a year in mind - 2030). Everything I have ever done and will do had been to further this goal. I had this goal at the age of 12 - it is the whole reason I exist.

My resolutions, therefore, are fairly random - this year, learn how to apply eyeliner, buy a hat I'm not embarrassed to wear in the day time, and read through my bloggy friends ebooks that are taking root in my Kindle!
January 21, 2013 at 8:34 AM
Anonymous said…
I have lead team and leadership development workshops for decades using the personality assessment, MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator). Although certainly not a flawless instrument or theory, it has taught me to realize that a lot of this is personality-driven. Some of us like lists and gain great satisfaction in setting and striving for goals. Others of us, while goal oriented perhaps, just don't go about it in a list-driven or orderly fashion-- pantsers in life. But here's to all of us dreaming and reaching for our potential!
January 21, 2013 at 8:58 AM
Steph Sessa said…
This was really interesting!! Thanks for sharing. I think goals are very important but I didn't realize how important writing them down were. I usually write them down on the blog anyways, but it was interesting to see that that made a huge difference.
January 21, 2013 at 9:04 AM
Emily R. King said…
Intriguing! I don't do New Years resolutions because I'm always setting mini goals. I don't know what I would do (or where I would be) without them!
January 21, 2013 at 9:18 AM
ilima said…
I always smile when I see people making goals, especially at new years. Yeah, a lot of them won't be reached, but it's inspiring to know so many want to improve themselves in one way or another and are going to make an effort to be a better person.
January 21, 2013 at 10:33 AM
Donna K. Weaver said…
That's a great graphic. I'm all about goal setting and planning. I love planning things. It used to be events but now it's plots. lol
January 21, 2013 at 11:48 AM
Krista McLaughlin said…
Great graphic - writing down specific and reasonable goals is important. I always do my monthly goals and one for the overall year. It helps to make sure I am being productive. I don't have to achieve all of them, but I like to try. :)
January 21, 2013 at 12:13 PM
Peggy Eddleman said…
I love the part about Harvard's MBA program! Goals/resolutions are HUGELY important to me, whether they're made at New Years, some other time in the year, or just when I wake up in the morning.
January 21, 2013 at 3:53 PM
Rena said…
HOLY INFOGRAPH BATMAN!

I guess it's time to write me some goals.

I wonder how they did some of those stats, but that's incredible.
January 21, 2013 at 4:08 PM
Mark said…
Interesting numbers. I often set goals all the time, and I'd say more often than not I meet them...although time tables vary considerably:)
January 21, 2013 at 4:14 PM
Carrie-Anne said…
I think it's important to have goals, but I think that if a goal is that important to you, you won't need a special time of year to make it. It's not dependent upon a new year. January is the worst month at the gym, because all these people converge and take away parking spots, equipment, and floor space from those of us who are serious about getting fit all year, and from people who didn't need a new year to get serious about getting fit. And like clockwork, these people are almost all gone within a few months, only to amass all over again next January.
January 21, 2013 at 7:52 PM
Nicole said…
Wow, that's kind of sad that so many people feel they lack a goal. I, um, have many...possibly too many. ;)
January 21, 2013 at 8:37 PM
Tammy Theriault said…
i'm more of a goal girl for sure!! guess because i played soccer :D
January 22, 2013 at 1:16 AM
Kaylee Baldwin said…
I am a major goals person. I have to know where I'm heading and what I'm doing. My dad called me a few months ago in "Dad-mode" and told me to get a paper and pen, and write down where I want to be in five years, then in ten. What did I want to be doing career-wise, family-wise, spiritual-wise, debt-wise, temporal-wise. Then he told me to formulate a plan and make it happen. So I did, and I'm working on it, and it feels good. Great graphic.
January 22, 2013 at 9:50 AM
Optimistic Existentialist said…
I believe it's very beneficial to set goals. It gives you something tanglible to work towards.
January 22, 2013 at 11:33 AM
Melissa Sugar said…
Interesting reading. I admit, I did not set any specific goals or make any resolutions this year. I went back and forth and decided against it because I always feel like a failure when I don't follow through. I am giving it some more thought, now. I have a terrible time management problem. Whenever I start making list and creating goals, I seem to spend more time, researching the best phone apps, websites, software, calendars,and other gadgets, and then making the list or goals than I do on actually getting things done.

I need to figure out a time management/organizational system so that I can follow through with my resolutions or goals. I am also guilty of setting the standards far too high. You know, like: I will work out for one hour every day, write for two hours every day, blog every day, etc... Once I added up my hourly goals, I realized I was jam packing 28 hours into a 24 hour day.

Thanks for alerting me that my comment section is on the fritz AGAIN. Also, I really appreciate you recommending the name for me to contact about the San Fran Writer's Conference.
January 22, 2013 at 12:09 PM
Cynthia said…
I believe in goals because they keep me on my feet and help me to remember why I'm doing what I'm doing. I consider resolutions more as considerations, but I still try my best to adhere to them. I try to avoid saying that I'd "promise" to do something, because once I bring in the P word, I'll get so much more worked up when things don't go as smoothly as I'd planned. Thanks for posting this!
January 22, 2013 at 9:37 PM
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