Fear, Lack of Knowledge, and Laziness Are Just Excuses
The general consensus is that less than 5% of the population set goals. That number has inched up since a dozen years ago when it was said that only 3% of the population set goals.
If goal setting yields such great rewards, why don’t more people do it? Here are what I believe to be the top ten reasons most people don’t set goals:
1. They don’t understand the power of goal setting.
2. People who haven’t set and achieved goals have no idea what they can accomplish through goal setting. It’s that simple. It’s not that they’re afraid; it’s not that they don’t want success in their lives. They just don’t understand the power of goal setting.
3. They don’t know how.
4. Most people don’t have a clue how to go about setting and achieving goals. Goal setting may be the number one life skill for success, but it’s not a skill most of us are ever taught.
5. It takes time and effort. (It’s work.)
6. There are certainly lazy people out there who don’t want to earn their success. They want the reward without the effort. I can’t help them. Time is one of our most valuable resources, and one which most of us say we don’t have enough of. Goal setting takes both time and effort.
7. They fear failure.
8. If they don’t set goals, they can’t fail to achieve them.
9. They fear success.
10. Some of us are uncomfortable with the very notion of success and its potential side-effects.
My comments: Fear of failure and fear of success are biggies. They’re internal obstacles and people who have those fears need to do some work to overcome them. As for lazy people who don't want to put in the effort… until they change their mindset and start taking action, they'll never get what they want out of life. Lack of time is an excuse.
Some people don’t set goals because they’re afraid of success, failure and/or hard work, but most people don’t set goals simply because they don’t know how. If you want to be a goal setter, but don't know where to begin, contact me for a complimentary goal strategy session. Also, check out my goal setting manual.
