The Best Goal Setting Strategy

To achieve your goals in school, career, health, or relationships, I recommend the 10 Goals and 7 Steps Method.

Set 10 specific goals and prioritize the most impactful one.
Use a 7-step process to achieve the selected goal, focusing on planning and daily action.
Repeat the process for other goals after achieving the first.

The 10 goals and 7 steps method is a goal-setting strategy where you first list 10 specific goals you want to achieve in areas like career, health, or relationships. Then, you pick the most important goal—the one with the biggest positive impact on your life—and use a 7-step process to achieve it. This process involves deciding what you want, writing it down, setting a deadline, making a plan, and taking daily action. Once you achieve that goal, you repeat the process with the next most important goal from your list.

The 7 Steps in Detail

Here’s how you apply the 7 steps to your chosen goal:

Decide Exactly What You Want: Be clear about what you want to achieve.
Write It Down: Write your goal in detail to make it tangible.
Set a Deadline: Choose a realistic deadline to create urgency.
Make a List: List all tasks and resources needed to achieve the goal.
Organize Your List Into a Plan: Prioritize tasks and create a step-by-step plan with sub-deadlines.
Take Action on Your Plan: Start working on the plan immediately.
Do Something Every Day: Commit to daily actions that move you closer to your goal.

Surprising Detail: Focus on One Goal at a Time

It’s surprising that, despite listing 10 goals, the method focuses on achieving one at a time, starting with the most impactful. This helps maintain focus and increases the likelihood of success.

Comprehensive Analysis of the 10 Goals and 7 Steps Method

The “10 goals and 7 steps method” is a structured approach to goal setting and achievement, drawing heavily on principles from personal development experts like Brian Tracy. This method combines the practice of setting multiple goals with a systematic 7-step process to ensure effective execution, particularly by prioritizing and focusing on the most impactful goal first. Below, we explore the method in detail, including its origins, steps, and practical application, supported by relevant research and examples.

Origins and Context

The method appears to be inspired by Brian Tracy’s teachings, a renowned authority in personal success and goal setting. Tracy, in his works such as “Seven Steps to Success”, outlines a 7-step formula for achieving goals, which aligns closely with the 7 steps described in this method. Additionally, Tracy and other sources, such as an article on personal development, suggest starting with a list of 10 goals and then selecting the most important one to focus on. This combination forms the basis of the “10 goals and 7 steps method,” though it is not explicitly named as such in standard literature, suggesting it may be a synthesis of common practices.

The method’s emphasis on writing down goals and taking daily action is supported by research indicating that only about 5% of people write down their goals. Yet, those who do are significantly more likely to achieve them. This statistic underscores the method’s effectiveness in turning aspirations into actionable plans.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

The method can be broken down into two main phases: setting the goals and applying the 7-step process. Below is a detailed explanation of each component, organized into tables for clarity.

Phase 1: Setting 10 Goals

First, you create a list of 10 specific goals.
These should be clear, measurable, and cover various life domains such as career, health, finances, relationships, and personal growth.

The process involves:

Step	Description
1	Identify goals in key areas (e.g., “Earn $50,000 per year,” “Lose 10 pounds”).
2	Write them down in the present tense to activate subconscious motivation, e.g., “I weigh 160 pounds.”
3	Ensure goals are specific and quantifiable, avoiding vague wishes like “be happier.”

This initial list serves as a comprehensive inventory, allowing you to see the breadth of your aspirations. For example, an article on goal setting recommends writing goals as if they have already been achieved, thereby enhancing psychological commitment.

Phase 2: Prioritizing and Applying the 7 Steps

Next, you prioritize the list by selecting the goal with the greatest positive impact on your life.
This is often determined by asking, “If I could only achieve one goal, which would make the biggest difference?”
Once selected, you apply the following 7 steps, detailed in the table below, based on Brian Tracy’s methodology :

Step Number	Step Description	Practical Example
1	Decide Exactly What You Want	Define “Lose 10 pounds” as “Lose 10 pounds by improving diet and exercise.”
2	Write It Down	Write, “I weigh 150 pounds and feel healthy by December 31, 2024.”
3	Set a Deadline	Set the deadline as December 31, 2024, for losing 10 pounds.
4	Make a List	List tasks like “Join a gym,” “Track daily calorie intake,” “Hire a nutritionist.”
5	Organize Your List Into a Plan	Prioritize tasks: Week 1 – Join gym, Week 2 – Meet nutritionist, etc.
6	Take Action on Your Plan	Start by joining the gym and scheduling the first workout.
7	Do Something Every Day	Daily actions include logging food intake and exercising for 30 minutes.

These steps ensure a structured approach, with each step building on the previous one to create a clear path to achievement.
The emphasis on daily action (Step 7) is particularly crucial, as it leverages consistency to build momentum, a principle supported by productivity experts like Tracy.

Practical Application and Surprising Insights

A surprising aspect of this method is its focus on achieving one goal at a time, despite starting with 10. This prioritization ensures that resources—time, energy, and focus—are not spread too thin, increasing the likelihood of success. For instance, an article on goal setting suggests that writing goals in the present tense and choosing the most important one immediately activates subconscious motivation, a counterintuitive but effective strategy.

After achieving the first goal, the process is repeated with the next most important goal from the list. This iterative approach ensures that all 10 goals are addressed over time, aligning with long-term personal development strategies.
For example, if your first goal is to “Earn $50,000 per year,” and you achieve it, you might next focus on “Improve public speaking skills” using the same 7 steps.

Challenges and Considerations

While the method is effective, it requires discipline, especially in Step 7 (daily action), which can be challenging for those with busy schedules. Additionally, setting realistic deadlines (Step 3) is critical to avoid discouragement. The method also assumes that goals are independent, but in reality, some goals may overlap (e.g., improving health might support career advancement), which could require adjusting the plan.

Supporting Evidence from Literature

The method’s components are well-documented in personal development literature.
For instance, Brian Tracy’s book “Eat That Frog!” emphasizes tackling the most important task daily, aligning with Step 7. Similarly, Zig Ziglar’s seven steps of goal setting include identifying obstacles and skills needed, which can be integrated into Step 4 (making a list).

Conclusion

The “10 goals and 7 steps method” is a practical and structured approach to goal achievement, combining the breadth of setting multiple goals with the depth of a systematic process. By prioritizing and focusing on one goal at a time, it maximizes effectiveness, leveraging daily action and clear planning to turn aspirations into realities.
This method, while not explicitly named in standard texts, is a synthesis of proven strategies from experts like Brian Tracy, making it a valuable tool for personal and professional growth.

Key Citations

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