Setting goals is one of the most common pieces of advice people hear when trying to grow their confidence, improve their life or achieve something meaningful. But here’s the problem: most people set goals that are too vague, too big or too disconnected from their current reality. When goals stay in the “dream” category, they rarely become achievements.
To make goals work for you, they need to be broken down into specific, achievable steps. These steps should be small enough to manage and clear enough to track. The process of setting and following through on action steps can be the difference between frustration and real momentum.
Confidence in your abilities to go after your goals can sometimes be difficult to find or keep.
It can sometimes take time to discover the confidence you have inside you. This can be especially true if you are trying something new.
I have a program that can help you to discover what is holding you back from achieving your goals as well as help you set an attainable goal related to where you are in your life and where you are trying to be.
This program also works with you to build up your confidence in being able to reach your goal.
You can find out more about this program at Confidology, a funny name but a serious program.
You can contact me to talk about this or any other aspect of confidence and success at michael@coachmichaelw.com
Visit the site and read through the program description.
If you are not ready to commit to a full program, I have a self-paced course on Udemy that may be of interest. You can find out about the course and register at Confidence and Motivation Development and Maintenance
Why Big Goals Alone Don’t Work
Saying, “I want to be successful” or “I want to lose weight” might sound inspiring, but they don’t give you a roadmap. Without clarity and structure, these goals fade fast. They’re not measurable, not trackable and certainly not actionable.
The more general a goal is, the more likely it is to fail. That’s not because the goal is bad, but because the plan is missing.
Let’s say your goal is to write a book. That’s a great long-term aim, but if that’s all you say to yourself — “write a book” — you’ll stay stuck at step zero. You need a method that helps you move, not just imagine.
Break Goals Into Chunks
The key to achieving big goals is breaking them into smaller, manageable pieces — action steps. Each action step becomes something you can do, measure and evaluate. These are not vague tasks. They’re clearly defined moves you can actually complete.
Instead of “write a book,” break it down like this:
- Outline the main idea and structure.
- Set a word count goal per day or week.
- Complete Chapter One by a specific date.
- Research publishing options in Month 3.
These are all measurable, clear and doable. They’re not about wishing — they’re about acting.
The Power of Action Steps
Action steps are more than just tasks — they’re commitments. Each one creates accountability. When you write them down, track them and review them regularly, you give yourself the structure to follow through. That builds confidence.
Use milestones to track progress. If your goal is to get fit, and one action is going to the gym three times a week, that becomes a concrete behaviour you can evaluate. Did you do it this week? Why or why not? What can you adjust?
Every completed step is a small win. Enough small wins become big success.
Writing Goals Down Makes Them Real
There’s a big difference between thinking about your goals and writing them down. Thoughts are slippery — they come and go. Written goals are solid. They give you something to return to, something to measure against and something to adjust when needed.
Use whatever system works best for you — paper planner, whiteboard app, or digital document. The key is consistency. You should see your goals and your current actions often. This keeps them present and top of mind.
Tip: Choose one system. Don’t try to manage both digital and physical tracking unless you’re disciplined about syncing them. Most people aren’t, and it ends up adding stress instead of clarity.
Be Realistic, Not Restrictive
Dreaming big is important — it gives you energy and purpose. But that doesn’t mean your steps have to be giant. Your goal might be big, but your daily effort doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The best action plans are ambitious but realistic.
A plan that stretches you is good. A plan that breaks you is not.
If your action steps feel too hard to stick with, revise them. Maybe your goal was to meditate 30 minutes daily, but you haven’t managed a full week. Cut it down to 10 minutes. Build the habit first, then grow it. The point is progress, not perfection.
Stumble? Evaluate and Adjust
No one follows a goal plan perfectly. Life happens. You’ll miss days. You’ll run into problems. That’s normal. The important thing is what you do after the stumble.
When you miss an action step, ask:
- Was this step too hard to complete?
- Did something external throw off my schedule?
- Was I not as motivated as I thought?
Then adjust. You might simplify the step, shift the schedule or break it down further. It’s not a failure — it’s feedback.
The ability to respond and adapt is a major part of building self-confidence. It means you’re in control of the process.
Roadblocks Are Part of the Process
Many people expect smooth sailing once they start following a goal plan. But obstacles are part of the journey. Every meaningful goal comes with challenges. That’s actually a good thing. Overcoming difficulties builds strength and belief in yourself.
When something gets hard, remind yourself: this is where growth happens. If it were easy, you wouldn’t even need a plan. Facing resistance is not a sign to quit — it’s a sign you’re moving into new territory.
Keep going. Adjust, learn and persist. Every time you push past a challenge, you reinforce the belief that you can handle more.
The Psychology of Smaller Steps
Small steps have a big psychological effect. They reduce overwhelm and increase your sense of control. When you know what you need to do today, and it’s achievable, you’re far more likely to do it.
This creates a confidence loop:
- You complete a small task.
- You feel capable.
- You’re more motivated to do the next task.
- Progress builds.
Compare that to vague or oversized goals, which tend to produce guilt, procrastination and stress. The smaller the step, the bigger the action you’re likely to take.
Build Momentum With Milestones
Set clear milestones — checkpoints along the path toward your big goal. These give you a sense of direction and measurable success. When you reach one, stop and acknowledge it. Celebrate it. Recognize the effort it took.
This isn’t about ego — it’s about fuel. Milestones keep you motivated. They let you know the work you’re doing is paying off.
Make It a System, Not a Sprint
Finally, don’t treat goal-setting as a one-time thing. It’s a system, not a sprint. You don’t just set goals, crush them and move on forever. Instead, you build the habit of managing goals — setting, breaking down, tracking, adjusting.
This system builds long-term confidence. You stop seeing setbacks as failures. You see them as signals to tweak the plan. That resilience is what makes some people keep going while others give up.
Bottom Line: Break It Down
Want to actually achieve your goals? Don’t just dream about them. Don’t just write them down and hope. Break them into real, specific action steps you can measure and track.
Keep it simple. Keep it doable. Keep it moving.
That’s how goals go from ideas to reality.
To talk about any aspect of success or working with a Life Coach to help you to achieve success, you can book a 30-minute call by clicking on the blue button below.
Don’t try to do all of this by yourself, ask and receive the guidance that can get you moving towards your own success.
Working together can help you overcome personal and professional barriers, ensuring you reach your highest potential.
Nothing happens until action is taken.
To your success.
Michael
P.S Don’t forget to visit Confidology to learn more about the program. If you are not ready to commit to a full program, I have a self-paced course on Udemy that may be of interest. You can find out about the course and register at Confidence and Motivation Development and Maintenance
P.P.S if you want to find out more about my programs just check out the site Confidence and Life Coaching
P.P.P.S. If you enjoy reading these articles on my blog, I have more books that have more of this type of information that you can find out more about at Books to Read. You can buy these ebooks at many on-line book stores. The links to the bookstores are at the link above.
P.P.P.P.S. I have posted a series of articles on the “Fear of Success” at Confidence and Life Coaching. You can also request a free PDF of all 4-articles by sending me an email message at michael@coachmichaelw.com
Photo by Ioana Trandafir on Unsplash
