8 Ways to Create and Define Our Goals Using Imagination

IIn 1979, a study was done with graduating Harvard MBA students to determine whether they had written down their goals for the future and made plans to achieve them. The results showed that only 3% had written down their goals, 13% had goals but hadn’t written them down, and 84% had no specific goals.

In 1989, researchers discovered that the 13% who had goals earned twice as much as the 84% who didn’t. Even more impressive was the 3% who had written down their goals; they were making ten times more on average than the other 97% combined.

The main difference between those who reach their goals and those who don’t is that successful people have written their goals down. Writing down our goals helps us remember them and keeps us accountable for achieving them.

But what if we’re unsure about our goals? Goals are often tied to our values and what we really want in life. Fortunately, we can use our imagination to uncover the goals already inside us. Here are some tips for using our vision to discover and define our plans so we can write them down and work toward achieving them.

1. Start with a Notebook and Pen  

We’ll start with a blank notebook and a pen, as it’s a great way to kick off our goal-setting exercise. Choosing pen and paper over electronic devices can significantly affect how we connect with our goals. Writing things down by hand allows us to focus more; it often feels more personal and impactful. Plus, we can carry our notebooks wherever we go, making it easy to jot down our ideas or reminders as they come to us. We don’t have to worry about charging a device or losing an internet connection to stay organized anytime and anywhere.

A specific notebook dedicated to our goals each year can help us track our progress over time. It’s just like keeping a journal or diary—we can reflect on what we want to achieve and see how far we’ve come. Moleskine notebooks are a solid choice if we’re looking for a great notebook. They are sturdy and have a variety of sizes, including handy pocket versions, which are perfect for making daily to-do lists. I’ve personally used them for years, and I’ve found them to be incredibly effective for staying organized and motivated. Let’s embrace this simple but powerful method to keep our ambitions clear and accessible!

2. Free your imagination

As children, we let our imaginations run wild and free. We often had imaginary friends and built entire worlds fueled by our creativity, where we could be anything we wanted—kings, princesses, warriors, or even heroes like firefighters and doctors. Those moments were filled with joy and adventure, allowing us to escape into our fantasies. However, as we age, we often set aside those dreams to tackle our daily responsibilities. In doing so, we lost touch with that sense of wonder and creativity, and our imaginations fell into hibernation.

To reignite our imagination, we can step back and embrace the sense of play we had as children. We can dream without limits and visualize the ideal worlds we want to create. By tapping into our inner child, we can explore new possibilities and rediscover what it means to think creatively. Let’s challenge ourselves to break free from conventional thinking and start dreaming again. When we embrace our imagination, we can open up opportunities that inspire us to create and pursue our goals and passions.

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

– Albert Einstein

3. Identify your values and preferences

Let’s use our notebooks to delve into our ideals and preferences. By placing our dreams and intentions on paper, we can define our goals more clearly. On a blank page, we should write the heading, “My Ideal ______.” It’s best to choose a topic that we currently feel uncertain about. For instance, we might write “My Ideal House.” This exercise invites us to visualize our ideal home in vivid detail. We can start from the front lawn and approach the main door, imagining everything we see. What does the yard look like? Are there colorful flowers blooming? What materials are the fences made of? Focusing on these details engages our imaginations and sets the stage for a clearer vision of our ideal environment.

As we continue this visualization, we should imagine stepping through the door and exploring the different rooms inside the house. What is the layout like? Is there a cozy living room with comfortable furniture or a bright kitchen filled with natural light? As we write down our observations, we can capture the essence of our ideal space, which reveals our personal preferences and helps us clarify our aspirations. This exercise is a powerful tool for self-discovery, guiding us toward our goals and helping us understand what truly matters to us. By exploring these ideals, we can make more informed decisions about our future paths.

4. Use pictures and words

To enhance our clarity in setting goals, we can harness the power of both pictures and words. This imaginative approach allows us to dig deeper into our aspirations, especially when considering non-tangible elements like our ideal jobs or the qualities we seek in a partner. Visualizing our dreams can ignite our creativity and make our goals feel more tangible. If we’re not the best artists, we shouldn’t worry; plenty of resources are available. For instance, we can explore magazines, print images from the internet, or use sites like Pinterest, which is fantastic for gathering visual inspiration. Collecting these images helps us see our dreams more clearly and can spark motivation in our journey toward achieving them.

In addition to visuals, we should not underestimate the importance of words. By choosing meaningful words such as “honesty,” “brave,” or “confident,” we can connect with the values that resonate with us. These words serve as guiding principles that can shape our ideal selves. We can create a dedicated section in our notebooks to compile pictures and these empowering words, making it easier to revisit our goals frequently. This practice keeps us motivated and helps refine our understanding of what we truly desire in life. Through this combination of imagery and language, we can clarify our goals and strengthen our resolve to pursue them wholeheartedly.

5. Create your story

Our ideal life begins with envisioning a detailed story about our perfect situation, specifically focusing on our work life. We can picture waking up in the morning feeling refreshed and excited for the day ahead. As we get ready, we can visualize our professional outfit, feeling confident in our appearance. We might imagine commuting to work in a stylish car or enjoying a peaceful train ride while listening to music or a podcast. Upon arriving at our dream workplace, we can see our office or desk filled with inspiring decor, perhaps even a plant that brings life to the space. Our ideal workday unfolds with engaging tasks we are passionate about, collaboration with motivating coworkers, and having a supportive boss who encourages our growth.

As we move through our day, we can visualize the rhythm of our work life. Picture us attending productive meetings where our ideas are valued and finishing projects that bring us satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. We might take breaks to recharge, enjoying lunch with colleagues who share our interests and values. We can feel a deep sense of fulfillment knowing we’ve contributed meaningfully to our team and have made progress toward our personal and professional goals. By crafting this story in the present tense, we gain more precise insights into our aspirations and the steps we might take to turn our ideal work life into a reality. Writing it down helps solidify our vision and is a daily reminder of what we truly desire.

6. Collect and write down your goals

We need to write and articulate our goals to achieve our dreams and aspirations. We can start this process by transforming our ideals and preferences into specific written goals. Using prompts such as “I want to be…” or “I want to have…”, we can fill in the blanks with our visions. Writing down our goals in a notebook serves as both a commitment and a roadmap, guiding us toward achieving what we desire. We must approach this task to create a balanced overview of our lives, ensuring that we include financial ambitions and health, personal development, and relationship goals..

As we compile our goals, it’s wise to aim for a well-rounded collection, ideally having at least three goals for the year but no more than ten. This way, we can maintain focus and devote time and energy to each goal, maximizing our chances of success. By reflecting on various aspects of our lives, we’re setting ourselves up for a fulfilling and comprehensive approach to personal growth, ultimately leading us to a more enriched and satisfying life.

7. Establish a timeline for achieving your goals

When we set our goals, it’s crucial to be specific. We can more easily pinpoint our goals by reflecting on our ideals and preferences. We should include all relevant details describing our goals, making them clear and actionable. In addition to being specific, we must establish a timeline for our goals. This deadline acts as a benchmark, allowing us to track our progress and make adjustments when necessary. We might consider setting the end of the year as a standard deadline, but we can also set shorter timeframes for achievable goals we can get done quickly.

For example, saying “I want to be fit” lacks the clarity we need, making it challenging to measure our progress. Instead, a goal like “I want to weigh 145 lbs and have less than 10% body fat by December 1, 2026” is much more specific and includes a clear deadline. By providing ourselves with both specificity and a timeline, we create a roadmap that guides us toward achieving our goals. This structured approach motivates us and helps ensure that we stay on track and can evaluate our success when the deadline arrives.

8. Creating a daily to-do list

Creating a daily to-do list is a powerful method for turning our goals into manageable tasks we can tackle daily. Once we’ve set our yearly objectives, we must break them down into smaller, actionable items. This way, we can convert our broader ambitions into daily to-do lists that outline specific steps we need to take. Whether we prefer jotting down our tasks in a notebook or using an electronic app, what matters is that we consistently reference our overarching plans to keep ourselves focused. Each day, we should include at least two to three items on our list that directly relate to our yearly goals. When we do this regularly, it ensures that we are making steady progress toward our aspirations.

By cultivating this daily practice, we create a roadmap that guides us toward achieving our dreams. It helps us stay organized and reinforces our commitment to achieving our goals. As we cross off completed tasks, we build momentum and motivate ourselves to keep going. We can also reflect on our achievements, celebrating the small wins. Sharing our experiences and strategies can be beneficial, too. We invite everyone to contribute their thoughts or tips on effective goal-setting.

Let’s support each other in this journey toward reaching our goals.