1.Write goals down. Clarity comes in writing goals down, and this is just as true for individual goals as for team goals.

2. State goals in the present tense. Our subconscious minds, which are exponentially more powerful than our conscious minds, like to solve problems. When you state your goals as if they have already occurred, you stimulate and challenge your subconscious mind to seek opportunities to reach the goal.

3. Visualize the purpose — personally and organizationally.Our minds can’t tell the difference between something real and something vividly imagined, which means that the more vivid, multi-sensory and real you can make the picture of how things will be when you have achieved the goal, the more powerfully drawn to it you will be.

4. Focus on the “Big Why.” The goal isn’t enough; you need to know why you want to achieve it. It is your why that will keep you motivated and moving forward.

5. Align goals with your values. If your goals aren’t aligned with your personal or organizational values, they are likely to be weak and unsuccessful. Chances are your goals will be aligned with your values, and as you set your goals make sure they are.

6. Find the Bigness Balance. Although you need to find a balance, generally speaking, when in doubt, go bigger.

7. Consider the timeline now. When you set the goal, start your planning process, including a rough timeline of the steps and when you need to reach them in order to achieve your desired outcome on time.

8. Think about barriers now. You won’t know all of the challenges you will face, but you probably know some of your barriers now. Write them down. If you have ideas for overcoming them, write them down too. By identifying some of the barriers, you expedite your planning and improve your chances for success.

9. Commit to an action plan. Now you must commit to completing the plan and implementing it. If you aren’t willing to do these two steps, how likely are you to achieve the goal?