Whether you are starting a business, losing weight, or working toward a promotion, standard wisdom for achieving these is to set a SMART goal that’s Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timed. SMART goals can be effective for small goals, but for the big ones, it is important to have an emotional connection with and a plan of action to the goal to ensure success.

We also need the emotional connection to fuel the fire because internal factors are more important than rational ideas when it comes to long-term changes. Here are eight things that you can do to reach your goals.

1. Be sure that the goal is something you really want to accomplish.
2. Picture the end goal and how great it will feel to achieve it.
3. Realize that achieving the goal will take you out of your comfort zone.
4. Develop new skills that will help you achieve the goal.
5. Ask for help and get coaching and counseling.
6. Realize that failure isn’t fatal and that you will have setbacks.
7. Plan a celebration for reaching your goal and involve others in that celebration.
8. CELEBRATE! This is an important step as it will fuel you to set even more lofty goals in the future!

By creating an emotional attachment, your chances of success are multiplied. So…get ready, get set, and GO!!!!