Goal setting is essential to success in all spheres of life – be it personal or professional. Goal-Setting Quotes help us remain focused and motivated so we can realize our dreams. In this article we’ve assembled 35 inspirational goal-setting quotes from successful individuals from different fields along with effective goal-setting tips.
Goal Setting Is Key
Goal setting involves setting specific and measurable objectives you wish to attain. Without goals in place, it’s easy to lose focus and become disillusioned, leading to frustration and an apparent lack of progress. By setting clear and specific targets you set for yourself; setting them can help ensure:
- Staying Focused: Goals provide you with a tangible target to aim at and ensure you remain on track without distractions or unexpected hurdles.
- Staying Motivated: Knowing why and for what are powerful motivators when facing obstacles or setbacks.
- Measure Progress: By setting goals that can easily be tracked over time, setting clear goals enables you to measure progress more clearly over time and easily see just how far you’ve come and what further goals may lie ahead of you.
35 Inspirational Goal Setting Quotes
- “For an untroubled life tied solely to goals rather than people or things”, is what Albert Einstein advised in terms of living happily ever after – Albert Einstein
- “Goals are dreams with deadlines.” – Diana Scharf Hunt.
For most of us, the greater danger is not setting our aim too high and falling short; but instead setting too low an aim and reaching it.” – Michelangelo - “Success isn’t final and failure doesn’t equal failure: what counts is having the courage to keep going” – Winston Churchill
- Bo Jackson would advise: “Set high goals, and don’t stop until they are accomplished. Without action being taken towards our goals we may never realize them”; similarly Kathy Seligman stated “To hit home runs or catch fish you must first step up to bat or put your line out into water; failing this all your goals may never be reached unless effort is applied”.
- “Your only determinant in life is yourself” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Eleanor Roosevelt said it best: The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams! - “Success isn’t the key to happiness; happiness is.” Albert Schweitzer wrote this phrase and continued on by saying that an aim without an action plan is just wishful thinking.
- “Doubt is our greatest obstacle today; its removal will enable our dreams for tomorrow to become a reality” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
- “To become great, one does not need to start as great. Starting is key!” zic Ziglar. Never too old or late to set new goals or dream new dreams,” according to C.S Lewis and Mark Twain
- “To realize your dreams, the first step must be awakening from sleep” – J.M. Power
- “Success is determined not by what one achieves but by their capacity for facing opposition and persevering against overwhelming odds” – Orison Swett Marden
Michael Korda states, “One way of keeping momentum going is setting ever greater goals”. Napoleon Hill asserts, “Desire is the basis for achievement” and that Nelson Mandela said the greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but rising every time one stumbles.” - “To determine your future is to create it” – Abraham Lincoln; Jim Rohn taught that success comes not through seeking but from becoming yourself.
- “What distinguishes successful people from others is not strength, knowledge or wisdom but rather an unwillingness to change.” – Vince Lombardi. Goals allow you to control how change occurs for better or for worse.” Brian Tracy said this about goals. Lily Tomlin stated
- “The road to success is never finished”.
- “Missed shots equal 100% missed opportunities”- Wayne Gretzky
- “Life’s greatest achievement lies not in never falling, but in rising each time.” – Nelson Mandela.
Henry Ford wisely observed, stating “Your reputation cannot be built by telling others what your plans are”. - “To discover the boundaries of possibility is to push beyond them into what seems impossible”-Arthur C. Clarke
Tips to Help Achieve Successful Goal Setting
Now that these goal-setting quotes have inspired you, take some action towards fulfilling those aspirations by setting practical goals: Here are a few helpful hints for effective goal setting
Set Specific Goals: Set specific and measurable goals that help keep you focused and measure progress.