You set a goal because it’s important.  Achieving it makes you more likely to succeed.  You want to achieve your goal. That’s where the ‘Methods’ step of your planning comes into play.

Actions Achieve Goals
Achieving any goal requires a series of coordinated and aligned actions that turn your goal into a reality. For example, a ‘Vision’ goal might be to earn your M.D. degree.  Your ‘Milestone’ goals might be to earn A’s in math, biology, physics and chemistry classes in college.  And, one of your ‘Structural’ goals might be to register, attend and complete a course in how to study effectively.

Structural Goals Address Roadblocks
Once you establish your long-range goals, you’ll see things that, if not addressed, will prevent your vision from becoming a reality.  Earning your M.D. degree requires not only the intellectual ability but your successful performance as a high school, university and medical school student.  In business, not having a supportive organization or not having people who can perform as you need and expect to attract and retain clients are ‘roadblocks’.  Those are what you set goals — and take actions — to address.  Why?  Because until you do, your ‘vision’ is at risk of not being realized.  Simple.

KEY POINT:
Goals help you align actions to remove roadblocks to your success