The Rose Code : My Wattpad Blog

Big Dreams Begin with Tiny Goals

Just like a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, a big dream begins with tiny goals. To determine the tiny goals you'll need to achieve your dream, follow these six simple steps.

What is your dream?

1. Write it down.

Pen your dream on paper or type it on a screen. A dream written down becomes a goal.

          My dream is to become a bestselling author.

2. Start small.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Divide you dream into tiny manageable goals and determine how much time you have each day, every day, to work on your goal. You'll have more success if you choose a time amount that you can do every day until it becomes a habit.

Smaller is better because if life gets too busy, you may not work on your goal that day, and maybe, forget the next. Then you're out of the habit, and you'll take longer to achieve your goal.

           If I want to become a bestselling author, I need to accomplish quite a few goals to achieve that dream. The first goal is to actually write a book, but even that goal isn't small enough. I have to divide it into a tiny daily goal.

           Since my teen fiction novels are about 50,000 words, if I divide 50,000 words by 365 days a year, I get 137 words a day.

           I should have at least 15 minutes to write every day, even on Mondays, when I work a twelve-hour shift. So, my tiny goal is to write 137 words in 15 minutes every day. If I write more or work longer, that's okay. I'll reach my goal sooner.

3. Be Smart. Use the SMART guidelines for goals.

S= Specific           Exactly what goal do you want to achieve?

M= Measurable   How will you determine if you've completed your goal?

A= Achievable     Do you have the skills to complete your goal?

R= Relevant          Why do you want to complete your goal?

T= Timely              When will you work on your goal? When will you complete your goal?

Is my tiny goal SMART?

Specific? -        Yes. My goal is to write a book.

Measurable? - Yes. I plan to write 137 words a day.

Achievable? -  Yes. I have already written one book.

Relevant? -      Yes. I need to write a book to become a bestselling author.

Timely? -          Yes. I will work on this goal for 15 minutes every day.

                             If I write 137 words every day, I will finish my book in one year.

4. Make a plan.

Make a plan on how you will accomplish your goal, and then, write it down. A dream without a plan is just a wish. A dream with a written plan is an achievable goal.

          I will write for 15 minutes every day, 137 words a day, to complete my novel Only Time Would Tell.

5. Get support.

Surround yourself with people who have the same dream, so you can get the support and accountability you need.

          I'm sharing my goal with my local writer's group and with my writing friends on Wattpad. They will support my goal and make sure I'm working on it. I should have a chapter to present to my writing group every two weeks.

6. Stay motivated.

Get excited about your dream! Think about why you're doing what you're doing. Imagine what you will feel like when your goal is complete. Reward yourself when you reach a milestone. Do whatever it takes to stay on task and achieve your goal.

          When I finished writing the first draft of my first novel, it felt fabulous to scratch that item off my bucket list.

          While writing, I rewarded myself with candy bars and ice cream when I reached a milestone, like five thousand words. When I was halfway, I treated myself to an entire dinner out. I don't remember how I celebrated finishing the novel, but achieving my goal was a reward in itself. I can't wait to hold the actual book in my hand someday!

          Use these six simple steps and start determining the tiny goals that will make your big dreams come true.

What is your big dream? How will you divide it into tiny goals? Please let me know in the comments.