There is a saying that "talk is cheap." The truth is, talk is cheap, doing usually is the hardest part.

The same is applicable to goal setting as well. Many set goals, few people achieve their goals. There is a research that was conducted sometimes ago in the United States about goal setting. The findings State that 95 percent of people don't have their goals being written down.

And of the five percent that write their goals down, 95 percent of them actually have those goals met within the time they set for them. That simply tells you goals can be achieved if the right things are done to achieve them. So, in order to achieve one's goals, it all centers on these five major things: WRITE, START, STOP, MORE, LESS.

In other words THE GOAL MUST BE WRITTEN DOWN FIRST. Writing down one's goals is a biblical principle. Habakkuk 2:2-3 says:

"Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, It will not tarry."

After writing down the goals, then what is it that you must START doing, STOP doing, do MORE of or do LESS of? The unfortunate thing is that, a lot of people concentrate on their goals, rather than concentrate on the events and activities that would bring them closer to the achievement of that goal. And this is why and where a lot of people miss it.

If for example your goal is to grow up more spiritually in 2018, then what are the things that you must start doing. Stop doing, do more and do less?

START DOING
1. Read your bible at least 2 hours daily.
2. Pray for so and so number of times and hours daily.

STOP DOING
1. Procrastination
2. Paying attention to things that will hinder your spiritual growth

DO MORE
1. Meditation on the word of God
2. Attend meetings/gatherings that can aid your spiritual growth

DO LESS
1. Spend less time on activities that won't grow you
2. Do less of carnal things

Let us look at a biblical and practical example. Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:13-14 about what to do and what not to do while pursuing his goal.

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Some things are striking in the above passage. The man of God said "he forgets things that are behind and reach forward to things ahead." That tells you that in achieving new goals, you must forget about your past glories or failures. You must not allow them to distract you from the yet-to-be-achieved goals. Reaching forward tells you on the other hand, then you must focus on the activities that would ensure that the new goals are being realized.

Instead of focusing your whole attention on the goal itself, the smart thing to do is to focus on the activities that will bring the goal into reality. Luke 14:28-30 says: "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’"

'Sitting down first and finding out how' is the next thing after you must have set the GOALS. In conclusion, achieving your goal requires that you: WRITE it down, find out what you must START doing, STOP doing , do MORE or  do LESS of towards ensuring the goals are achieved. As you do this, you will simply be unstoppable come 2018.

Wishing you and yours a prosperous New Year!