The One Reason Why Most People Fail to Achieve Their Goals

Are you part of the 92% of people who fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions or achieve their goals?

According to a study conducted by the University of Scranton, only 8% of people actually achieve their resolutions, leaving the vast majority feeling disappointed and frustrated.

Even though we are already four months into 2023, it’s not too late to make the most out of the year.

In fact, now is the perfect time to reflect on the common reasons why people fall short of achieving their goals and explore practical tips to set ourselves up for success in the remaining months.

To start, let’s dive deeper into the study that revealed the shocking statistic of only 8% of people achieving their resolutions. The study, conducted by the University of Scranton, analyzed the success rate of New Year’s resolutions over a period of several years. The researchers found that while many people set goals and intentions for the new year, the vast majority fail to follow through with them.

Lack of specificity: Often, people set vague goals without a clear plan of action. For example, “I want to get in shape” is a common resolution.

However, without specific goals and a clear plan to achieve them, it’s easy to become discouraged and give up.

Unrealistic expectations: People often set unrealistic goals that are difficult to achieve within a given time frame. For example, wanting to lose 60 pounds in a month is not only unrealistic, but also unhealthy.

Setting achievable goals with realistic time frames is key to success.

Lack of accountability: People often fail to hold themselves accountable for their goals. It’s important to have a support system or someone to hold you accountable for your progress. This could be a friend, family member, or even a coach.

Lack of motivation: People often fail to achieve their goals because they lack the motivation to keep going. It’s important to stay motivated and remind yourself of the reasons why you set your goals in the first place.

Fear of failure: It’s easy to get caught up in the “what ifs” and the fear of not succeeding. This fear can lead to inaction, as people may avoid taking risks or trying new things that could lead to success.

After looking at some of the reasons why 92% people fail, how can we set ourselves up for success?

Here are some tips that address these pain points:

Set SMART Goals — Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound goals can help guide us towards success.

Break Down Goals — Break down big goals into smaller, more manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Enlist Accountability Partners — Share your goals with a trusted friend, family member, or coach and hold each other accountable for progress.

Stay Motivated — Remind yourself of the “why” behind your goals and celebrate each small win along the way.

Embrace the failure — Failure is a natural part of the process. By embracing failure as a learning opportunity and pushing past our fears, we can increase our chances of achieving our goals and living more fulfilling lives.

By addressing these common pain points, we can increase our chances of achieving our goals and living more fulfilling lives.

Overall, lack of implementation can be a major reason why people fail to achieve their goals. Without taking action, goals are merely aspirations that will never come to fruition.

So, let’s make a conscious effort to create a framework that will help make our dreams a reality.

Who’s with me?

Divya Parekh helps entrepreneurs and business leaders develop a confident narrative about their experiences and expertise to drive impact in people’s lives.

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