There is a difference but both are necessary
Setting goals means nothing without having a plan in place. I have always been a plan-maker – constantly thinking about my future and how I can reach the goals that I have in place. It struck me in discussing matters of achievement with others that in order to reach our goals in life, we need to make plans as to how to get there. Everything is achievable if we really put our minds to it and actively make plans to work towards where we want to be.
Making goals is an extremely important part of life – especially when it comes to our education and career aspirations. Something I think many people are lacking is plan-setting skills – they assume that their goals will be reached magically, and are sorely mistaken and disillusioned when life doesn’t work out in their favour.
I want you all to think really clearly here – set goals for yourself that are achievable, but are not easily accomplished – challenge yourself a bit. Once you have your goal set out, think critically about what steps you can take to actually get there. What kind of groups should you reach out to? Where can you volunteer? How can you build a network for support? Will there be things you need to change in your life or switch in your schedule to allow you to work hard towards this goal? All of these things matter. They are, among other things, what will allow you to excel or cause you to get sidetracked.
Once you have answered questions of the like, it is time to make mini-goals and plans to help you reach the bigger goals. Take the time to re-evaluate your plans and your goals every couple of months, to make sure that you are staying on track. I know we all have busy schedules, and setting time aside may sound like a waste of time, but it will actually help you get where you want to be quicker than you thought!
If you take anything away from this article, please take this – goals are absolutely nothing without a plan. They are like empty words – they may help you stay focused, but without a plan, it will take you far longer to achieve what you want in life. The time to start planning is now – this is a positive leap into your future, and will help you with many things along the way.