Do you routinely beat yourself up because you can’t stay motivated once you set a goal? Have you set SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound), and you still can’t stay on track?

Have people made you feel bad about this? Or even hinted that you may be flighty, flaky, or fickle?

Nothing could be further from the truth.

It’s them, not you.

Many people have difficulty sticking to goals because they don’t seem to have a wider relevance or broader application. They don’t help the world at large. Their personal and business goals seem selfish or small and not rooted in anything of significance.

If you struggle with keeping yourself inspired, think about how achieving your goals will help and serve others.

People and businesses become more committed to their goals if they positively impact other people’s lives.

Ask yourself how your success and your company’s success can positively contribute to the world.

How to Create Goals That Align with Your Values

First, think about what you value the most. What do you stand for? What is important to you? What are you passionate about?

Once you clarify these values, it will be easier to create goals that align with who you are as a person – and stick to them.

For example, let’s say you want to increase the number of coaching clients by the end of the year. Simply stating, “Boost coaching clients by 100%” is hardly inspiring.

But if you attach this goal to something important to you and create an action plan to achieve it, you are much more likely to be successful. “Boost coaching clients by 100%, helping people find direction and well-being in their lives after career burnout.”

Get Clear on Your Values

Work through these questions:

1. Brainstorm your values. List things that stir your emotions upset you or cause you to stand up. What would you change in the world if you could? List up to 10-15 values.

2. List your overall business goals.

3. Choose five values that are most important to you.

4. Figure out how those values are related to your overall business goals.

5. Re-imagine your business goals with these values incorporated into them.

Once you add value to your goals, list the action steps you’ll need to take to accomplish these goals day by day.

Goals + Value = Vision

Adding values to your goals contributes to your overall vision for the different areas of your life. A vision for your life keeps you motivated, focused, and on your path.

What Values are Hindering Your Goals?

On the flip side, we value many things that can impede goal-setting and achievement. These values are unconscious and, for the most part, hidden from us. They aren’t explicitly stated in our goals but influence us in many ways.

Do any of these feel familiar?

• I value approval.

• I value being perfect.

• I value crushing the competition.

• I value sacrifice and hard work.

• I value leisure.

It is hard to see these things operating in your life, let alone phasing them out. Or, you may see them and not recognize their negative influence. But it’s worth taking the time for self-examination and reflection to uncover whether or not these underlying values are helping or hindering your goals.

Annual Review of Your Goals and Vision

Over the years, our goals, values, and vision can evolve. Incorporating room for flexibility and growth into our value-based goals is important. That’s why it’s essential to set aside time to review them periodically.

Static goals do not promote growth. Just because you’ve dedicated time to developing goals doesn’t mean that they will remain the same until they are completed. Don’t be afraid to question them and shake things up.