Goals are essentials. In a football match, there are goal posts, through which a ball

must go. A football game without goals cannot in any way declare a winner. To succeed in

life you need to score goals; you need to hit the target. It is said every journey has

an end. Therefore a life without goals is like a journey without an end. Life takes on

meaning when you are able to set goals for yourself and charge after them relentlessly. 

What then is a goal? Goals are ends that steer deeds. Occasionally they are called

targets. A goal is an aim or purpose; the end of which a design tends or a person aims

to reach or attain. It is something you expect to accomplish. Something to be sought and

which provides guidance and direction. One definition of a goal is that it is a dream

with a deadline. Goals are the object of one’s effort. Elbert Hubbard once said, ‘Many

people fail in life, not for lack of ability or brains or even courage but simply

because they have never organized their energies around a goal. Without clear goals,

your effort or energies will not be organised at all around anything and usually that

becomes a recipe for failure. Goals will give you a sense of direction, commitment and

achievement. To reach our full potential, each one of us needs to set goals. These goals

will drive your actions and motivate you to press on regardless of obstacles. A Goal

will bring out a higher level of performance and discipline because an individual works

towards achieving that well cherished goal. To get the things you want in life you need

motivation, drive, and energy. When you make up your mind what you are going to make of

your life and then work hard toward that goal you never lose - somehow you win out.

Goals are indeed very important.

You see, like we have already referred to above, a goal targets your life and adds

meaning to your striving (motivates), and enables you look beyond your present

circumstances. The very thought of seeing yourself achieving the goal(s) puts you in a

position of discipline and enables you to persevere and not to GIVE UP. For indeed only

with the excitement of realising your goal will you be able to do your level best. A

goal or purpose will enable you go the right direction and rightfully rewards the

utilization of your effort, time and energy. A goal disciplines your life. Without

goals, you have no limit of direction and no basis for discipline. You can say, go or do

anything anytime anyhow. You are like someone who is on a journey without a destination

or like a bag which anyone can take to anywhere and carry anything into it. You have

neither basis for doing and no boundary to mark the end of your doing. Consider this, if

your goal is to lose 4kg of weight, you will do all you can and what it takes to lose

the weight. You won’t eat anything anytime anywhere and anyhow, but you will mind the

food you eat, the times you eat, and the places you eat from and you will regularly work

out (physical training). If your goal is to succeed as a student, you will give thought

to the people you associate with and you will work towards achieving that goal by doing

the necessary. It takes enthusiasm, commitment, belief in self, a willingness to work

hard, a willingness to go the extra mile; a willingness to do whatever has to be done in

order to get the job done and achieve your goal. That certainly entails discipline.

Another thing is that you’ve got to have desire.  You’ve got to want something. You’ve

got to crave something. You’ve got to long for something. You’ve got to have a burning

passion. But desire is only a thought. It’s of no value until you’ve turned your desire

into definite action. You must make the decision to go out and do something good. A

burning desire to be, and to do, is the starting point from which you take off with your

goal (dream with a deadline!)

Biblically, Good goals are not only acknowledged as highly significant but we are

encouraged to be zealous for them or rather to pursue them with vigour. Galatians 4:

8-Be zealous provided the goal (purpose) is good. A goal can be good or bad and still be

achievable. But you are encouraged to be zealous for good goals. In setting your goal

whether, short or long term, the following criteria is generally regarded as very

effective and indeed beneficial. If you set your goals following this criterion, be

assured of victory. Set your goals following what is commonly called the SMART criteria.

In other words ensure that your set goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable,

Realistic and Timely.