Why You Keep Falling Short of Your Goals—and How to Finally Achieve Them

Picture this: it's December 31st, and as the clock strikes midnight, you make a solemn vow to transform your life. Fast forward to February, and you're staring at that untouched gym membership card, wondering where your motivation went. Sound familiar?

You're not alone. According to a study by the University of Scranton, a staggering 92% of people fail to achieve their New Year's resolutions. But what if I told you that the key to unlocking your potential isn't about trying harder, but about understanding the hidden obstacles that are holding you back?

In this article, we'll dive into the six most common reasons why goals often fall short, as well as five ways that you can overcome them to finally achieve the success you've been dreaming of. Whether you're aiming to lose weight, save money, or climb the career ladder, these insights could be the game-changer you've been looking for.

So, buckle up and get ready to discover why your goals might be slipping through your fingers – and more importantly, how to grab hold of them once and for all.

6 Reasons Why You Fail to Achieve Your Goals

The truth is, there are several reasons why goals often fall short.

Here are just a few:

1. You set a goal, but aren’t taking action towards it. Setting goals is just the beginning. Without consistent action, even the clearest goals remain out of reach. Execution is the bridge between setting a goal and achieving it.
2. You lost sight of your “why.” If the "why" behind your goal isn’t strong enough, it’s easy to lose motivation when things get tough. A powerful "why" gives you the drive to push through obstacles and do what needs to be done.
3. Your goal isn’t specific enough. Setting goals that are SMART – that is, Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely – is key here.
4. You don’t have the right circumstances possible to work towards your goal. Sternbergh and Weitzel, authors of Setting Your Development Goals: Start with Your Values, advise to examine goals in the larger context of “your career, self, family, community, and spirit.” That can include having cheerleaders to support you along the way – though that person can also be yourself, if you have the resources to work towards and achieve your goal solo!
5. Your goal isn’t actually aligned with your values. Sternbergh and Weitzel also suggest exporing whether your heart is aligned with your logical, goal-setting brain. “There’s little motivation for success if you don’t connect your goals to your values,” they write in Setting Your Development Goals.
6. What may work for someone else may not work for you. People are different in their “motivation to try new behaviors, a willingness to take risks, and a tendency to seek novel and intense experiences,” as psychologist Kenneth Nowack writes, noting that the differences have been observed in MRI studies of brain activity.

So, what can you do to increase the chances that you will achieve your goals? Let’s get into that next.

5 Steps to Achieve Your Goals

Step 1: Revisit Your "Why"

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how. – Friedrich Nietzsche

Take time to deeply understand the reason behind your goal. Ask yourself, "Why am I doing this?" The more compelling and personal your "why," and the more it relates to your values, the more driven you’ll be to achieve your goal.

Action: Write down your ultimate "why" and keep it somewhere visible as a constant reminder of your purpose.

Step 2: Start with Small Victories

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. – Lao Tzu

Break down your main goal into smaller, manageable sub-goals. Choose a small, achievable task to start with and make a promise to yourself to get it done no matter what. Make sure that you have the proper resources and supports to make incremental progress towards your goal for maximal chances of success.

Accomplishing these small tasks builds momentum and confidence, setting the stage for bigger wins.

Step 3: Make It a Habit with an Accountability System

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. – Aristotle

Choose a tool to track your goals—whether it’s a planner, a calendar, a to-do list, or an app. Commit to adding your tasks to this tool and promise yourself that whatever goes into it will be completed.

Consistency is key. Use this system daily to build a habit of execution and accountability.

Step 4: Find Accountability Partners

Accountability is the glue that ties commitment to the result. – Bob Proctor

Share your goals with a trusted friend, coach, or mentor who can encourage and support you. Set up regular check-ins to report your progress and hold yourself accountable.

Knowing someone else is invested in your success increases your commitment and helps you stay on track.

Step 5: Celebrate Small Wins

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. – Robert Collier

Recognize and celebrate your victories, no matter how small. These wins boost your self-respect and build the foundation for achieving bigger goals.

Each small success strengthens your belief in your ability to deliver on your promises to yourself, fueling further progress.

The Bottom Line

Dream big, start small, but most of all, start. – Simon Sinek

To achieve your goals, it's not enough to simply set them—you need to understand how your goals align with your values and whether you have the right supports and resources to achieve them. You also need a compelling "why" that fuels your drive and a disciplined approach to execution. 

Start by deeply understanding your purpose, break your goals into manageable steps, and build habits that ensure consistent progress. Surround yourself with accountability, celebrate every small victory, and remember that success is the sum of your efforts, day in and day out. With the right mindset and approach, you'll turn your aspirations into reality.

Qeap is a 13-week program with a week dedicated to goal-setting and 12 weeks of action. Get started today and achieve a year’s worth of progress towards your goals three months.