Successful bloggers use goals in a great variety of ways.
These fall into two broad categories, dealing with the work and helping ourselves.
1.
Dealing with the work The goal is the big picture - the lifestyle you want, what success means to you.
If you are not clear what this is it will be hard to know when you get there.
Goals also help by letting us know if we are progressing toward our ultimate goal.
If we keep not getting to our goals then some re-evaluation is called for.
This is what your sub-goals let you know.
Finally goals help you deal with the details.
Goals can act as a filtering mechanism - is this task important? When do I need to have it done by? 2.
Helping Ourselves Goals help us focus.
They help us choose among opportunities and filter out the trivial details.
This leads to: goals functioning as a challenge to motivate you.
A challenge can help you marshal your energy and get moving.
Seeing the finish line not only provides focus, it also can give energy.
Achieving our goals is also reassuring.
When we doubt if we will ever become successful, then having a series of goals that we have achieved in our past can be reassuring.
Finally, goals provide a signal for when we have done enough.
With blogging there is always more that can be done, a recipe for overwork and exhaustion.
If we have specific goals then we have a signal to take time off.
3.
What does this mean for you? Have a clear idea of the big picture and how you are going to get there.
What is your answer to: What is success? and, How do I plan to get there? Do you have a measure to provide focus and motivation? Weekly, monthly or even daily may not be too often.
What are your rewards for having achieved your goals? Your goals are your valuable ally on the road to success as a blogger - they help you get through the work and can help you stay healthy and sane as well.
Spending a few minutes clarifying your goals will almost certainly return the investment many times over.