Most people claim to understand the importance of goal setting in order to attain a better life, but in fact, approximately 80 percent of people never set goals for themselves. This is especially prevalent among people who are not involved in some sort of business or entrepreneurial endeavor that promotes goal setting.

大多数人声称他们知道设定目标在得到更好的生活中的重要性，但是事实上，接近80%的人从来不给自己的设定目标。这个在那些没有从事一定商业或者创业努力的人中尤其严重。

Even more surprising, of the 20 percent of the population that does set goals, roughly 70 percent fail to achieve the goals they have set for themselves. And when you take into consideration the fact that many of these goal-setting people strive for easily attainable, small goals, it’s a wonder that anyone accomplishes anything remarkable at all in business and in life.

让人更吃惊的是，在20%设定目标的人当中，大概70的人未能实现他们给自己设定的目标。而且，如果你再进行研究的话就会发现，许多设定目标的人他们努力的目标其实是易得而且很小的，因此，任何人能够在商业和生活中实现任何显著的目标简直就是一个奇迹。

When it comes to goals, there are two categories: “be” goals and “do” goals. In other words, who do you want to be or what do you want to achieve? Within each category, there are four areas of goals: wealth, health, relationships, and self-fulfillment. So any goal you set for yourself will fall into one of these areas. When a business professional sets a goal, it tends to be either a wealth goal or a relationship goal. However, achievement involves all four areas, and success means finding balance in the four areas. In order to live a successful life, you need both “being” and “doing” goals in each of the four areas.

提到目标，有两种：“Be”目标和“Do”目标。换句话说，就是你想成为什么或者你想要实现什么？在每一种分类中，有4个领域的目标：财富，健康，关系和自我实现。所以你为自己设定的任何目标都属于这些领域的一种。当一个专业商业人士设定一个目标的时候，它会倾向与财富目标或者关系目标。然而，实现这个目标却会牵扯到所有这4个领域，而且成功意味着在这4个领域中找到一个平衡。为了过上成功的生活，你需要在这4个领域中集“being”和“doing”于一体的目标。

But before you rush out and set goals at random, you need to know what traps to avoid. Following are the top ten reasons why people fail at achieving their goals. Avoid these roadblocks and goal attainment will be yours.

但是在你随意的匆忙设置目标之前，你需要知道避免那些陷阱。下面这些是排列前十的关于人们为什么不能够实现他们目标的原因。避免这些路障，你就能够达到目标。

Fear of success and/or failure:   Some people are afraid they will fail, or even worse, they may actually succeed. As such, they don’t even bother trying to attain a goal. Such people lack belief in themselves and in their potential. In their mind, if they fail, everyone will think negatively of them. And if they succeed, people will be envious and think negatively of them. So it becomes a lose-lose situation no matter how they look at it. But realize that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Believe in yourself and your abilities and others will, too.

害怕成功或者失败：有些人担心他们会失败，或者更糟糕的是，他们实际上可以成功。同样的，他们甚至懒得去尝试实现目标。这些人对自己和他们的潜能缺乏信心。在他们心里，如果失败了，所有人都会瞧不起他们。如果成功了，人们会嫉妒和贬低他们。所以，不管他们怎么看待这件事，它都是损失的结局。但是知道了这些，你就能够完成任何下定决心做的事情。相信自己，你的能力以及其他的力量。

Lack of understanding about the goal-setting process: Many people mistakenly believe that goal setting simply means putting a goal on paper, setting a date for completion, marking off checkpoints as they occur, and then starting all over again. Such a mentality hinders people from success, because a goal isn’t a one-time thing that you eventually scratch off a list. Setting a goal is really about changing yourself for the long-term. Goals aren’t short-term, quick-fix things; they are fixed and immovable destinations that show the world who you want to become or what you want to achieve.

对过程缺乏理解：一些人错误的认为，设定目标就是简简单单的把目标写在纸上，定一个期限，躲开障碍，然后重新开始。这个想法让人们远离成功，因为一个目标不是一次性的事情，能够让你从单子上弄下来。设定目标是一个改变你自己的长期过程。目标不是短期的，可以速成的事情；它们是固定的不可移动的目的地，展示一个你想成为什么或者你想取得什么的世界。

Lack of commitment to the goal: Even though people state they want to achieve a certain goal, in truth, they’re really not committed to it. Because of this lack of commitment, they don’t give the act of goal attainment their full effort. And as with anything in life, if you don’t give it your all, you receive mediocre results. Commitment is crucial for attaining any goal.

对目标缺乏承诺：即使人们声称他们想达到一定的目标，但事实上，他们并非正真的致力于这件事情。由于这种承诺的缺乏，他们不会全身心的为目标付出。生活中的其他事情也是如此，如果你不能够为之付出你的一切，就只会得到平平的结果。承诺对达到任何目标都是最关重要的。

Inactivity: After setting a goal, writing down dates, and setting checkpoints, some people stop. They never actually take that first step needed to progress toward their goal. But realize if you don’t get started, you can’t go anywhere. Without action, nothing happens. So if you’ve created a goal list and now wonder why none of your goals are transpiring, ask yourself what action steps you’ve taken to achieve your goals. If you haven’t taken any action, now is the time to start.

不采取积极的行动：设定一个目标，写下期限，设置一些关卡，然后很多人就不再做什么了。他们从来不会实际采取朝向目标必须的第一步。但是请记得，如果你不开始，那么什么也得不到。没有行动，什么也不会发生。所以，如果你已经列了一个目标单，还在奇怪为什么没有一个目标实现，问问你自己，为了实现目标你才去了什么行动。如果你从来没有才去过任何行动，现在正是时候行动起来吧！

Analysis paralysis: Many people let questions and doubts paralyze them. They believe they can’t start on a goal until they have all the answers to every “what if” scenario. However, no matter how long and hard you prepare, you will never have all the answers to the questions you ask. Additionally, most people make their decisions and/or answer their questions based on where they are right now, rather than on where they want to go or who they want to become. Always base your decisions and answer your questions with a view to the future, not a view to current situations. Your situation will change because of the decisions you make today and will dictate the success of your journey. So move forward toward your goal knowing that you’ll never have all the answers.

停止在分析阶段：许多人被问题和怀疑打倒了。他们相信在没有为所有设想的“怎么办”的场景找到答案之前是绝对不可以开始一个目标的。然而，不管你准备的时间多么久，多么认真，你都不会得到自己提出的所有问题的所有答案。此外，大多数人做决定和回答他们的问题都是基于此时此刻他们的状态，而不是他们想要到哪里去，或者他们想成为什么。你应该把你的决定和答案都建立在未来的视野上，而不是目前的状态。你今天做的决定会使你后面的情况发生改变，而且对你的成功之路产生决定性的作用。所以，朝着自己的目标前进吧，即使你并没有的得到所有的答案。

Lack of a real destination: People often begin setting goals without a solid destination of who they want to become or what they ultimately want to achieve. But if you don’t have a destination in mind, then you’ll never know which road to take to get where you want to go. Your destination needs to be clear – something you can visualize and describe to others. Without such a clear view of what you want in life, you’ll be forever changing course and falling short of your potential.

没有一个真正的目的地：人们常常开始设定目标的时候，并没有一个坚定的关于他们想成为谁，或者到底想做什么的目的地。但是如果在心中你没有一个目的地，你就永远不知道应该走哪一条路可以到达你想去的地方。你的目的地必须要清楚 – 视觉化并且可以描述给他人听。没有一个如此清楚的关于你想要什么的图像，你会一直在改变自己的选择，实现不了你的潜力。

Failing to plan: While many people understand the formula of goal setting, they don’t have a plan for goal attainment that’s personalized to them and their experiences. In other words, they neglect the gifts they possess which can help them attain the goal, as well as the people they know who may be able to help them. We each bring so many unique talents and attributes to the table, and we know a multitude of people who can help us in some way. Be mindful of these advantages during your planning process and use the resources you have available to you.

没有计划：虽然很多人明白设定目标的程式，但是他们并没有制定一个实现目标的机会，这个机会是基于他们个人的个性和经历。换句话说，他们忽略自己独有的可以帮助他实现目标的礼物，以及那些可以帮助他们的人。我们每个人都拥有独一无二的天赋和特质，而且我们也知道许多人可以在一些地方帮助我们。在制定目标的过程中，请记得这些优势并且利用这些资源。

Having too many goals: Some people have too many goals and not enough focus. It’s like they’re standing in front of a dart board with three targets in mind. Hitting just one target is difficult enough; hitting three targets simultaneously with one dart is impossible. Therefore, determine the one goal you are focused on and move forward with that one goal only. Eliminate other goals that are secondary. This is not to say that you should never have more than one goal. Rather, you need to realize that you have only so much time and energy. Therefore, chose the goal that will give you the highest ROE (Return On Effort) and focus on that one goal first. Once complete, you can then focus on other goals in sequence.

有太多的目标：有些人有太多的目标而无法专注于一个。这就好像他们正站在靶子前面却又3个目标要投，只投中一个本来就很困难了，更别说用一个镖投中三个目标，这根本就是不可能的。因此，确定一个你可以专注的目标，然后朝着这一个目标前进吧！清除其他次要的目标。这并不是说你不能有多个目标。当然，你还需要知道你只有这么多的时间和精力。因此，选择那个可以给你做大回报的目标，首先专注在这一个目标上面。一旦完成，你就可以按顺序的专注于其他的目标。

Feeling unworthy of the end result: Some people really don’t believe they’re worthy of attaining the goal. As such, they self-sabotage themselves. Perhaps they suddenly walk away from the key contact who will help them with their goal, or they neglect to do a critical activity that will enable them to achieve their goal. People who feel unworthy usually lack self-confidence, and confidence is the keystone to goal attainment.

感觉不值得拥有最后的结果：一些人觉得自己不值得拥有那个目标。就这样，他们贬低自己。也许他们会突然从那个会帮助他们实现目标的关键人物身边走开，又或者忽略能够实现目标的最关键的行动。觉得不值得的人一般都缺乏自信，但是自信又恰恰是实现目标的关键。

Lack of motivation to change: Finally, many people are simply satisfied with what they have and where they are in life. As such, they don’t explore what else is available or what greater things they could achieve. Research tells us that there are only two motivating factors that cause people to change: Pain and pleasure. And even if someone is feeling pain in a situation, that pain may not be great enough, or he or she is simultaneously receiving ample pleasure, so the person doesn’t strive for more. Change and goal attainment only happen when you’re ready to break the status quo and truly want something better in life.

缺乏改变的动力：最后，许多人只是简单的满足于他们已经拥有的和他们现在的处境。就这样，他们不再去发现可以利用的或者其他更大的成就。研究表明，只有两个动力因素会让人们改变：痛苦和快乐。即使有的人在一定的情境中感觉痛苦，但是那种痛苦又没有达到极致，或者他同时也会的到足够的快乐，因此他就不再追求更多了。只有当你准备打破现状，并且探索，真正想得到更好的生活的时候，改变和实现目标才会发生。

Goal achievement doesn’t have to be an elusive target. You really can be whom you want and do what you want. By balancing your goals into the four categories mentioned and avoiding the mistakes that hinder people’s results, you can achieve any goal you set for yourself and reach new levels of personal and professional success.