We Suck at Setting Goals

There’s a good chance you made a New Year’s resolution this year, and there’s also a pretty good chance you’ve already broken it.

It’s no secret that setting goals for yourself is hard, especially when many of the goals you have may be out of your control.  But the things that ARE in your hands that are accomplish-able are still a challenge and the hard truth is that many people who make goals never achieve them.

Much worse than not achieving your goals, however, is failing to set any for yourself in the first place. No matter how big or how small your intended goal is, just setting one for yourself is important. Whether you intend to take a new acting class, score an agent, or simply become better at following up with industry you’ve met, setting your goal and being aware of it is much better than not knowing what you need to work on, or not caring.

For actors who set and achieve goals successfully, there are some important habits that make all the difference. For example, actors who take the time to write their goals down are much more likely to actually achieve them.

The following graphic takes a look at the state of goal setting—how many people set goals, how many people actually reach them, and what those goals might be.

Whether you’ve already broken your New Year’s resolution or you’ve never set a clear mission for yourself before, make it your first goal to take a look at the graphic below.