Setting a goal is easy. For me, it’s the most enjoyable part of any strategic planning process, whether it’s planning a special vacation or critical projects at work. Anticipation is high, and the vision of achieving something great is vivid in your mind.

Reality often sets in after the goal has been spoken into existence and the dust has settled. You’ve let the world know your wishes and intentions. Now your actions have to back up your words. This is the uphill slog.

To achieve a goal, make a change or reach a new level of success, you must be willing to invest in it. Otherwise, the words are hollow. That investment may be time, energy, resources, money or all of the above.

If you’re having trouble reaching a goal, here are some ideas to consider that have helped me work through my own roadblocks.

Time

How much time are you truly spending on your goal? Some problems can be solved by prioritizing and reallocating time toward your project.

I’ve had a goal to work on a series of paintings over the past couple of years. My mouth said one thing. My actions and habits said another. I had to get honest with myself and admit that I wasn’t prioritizing time for this goal.

I also addressed some issues that were holding me back. My studio space often functions as a makeshift garden-planning station as well. So, I cleared the clutter and brought out my painting supplies so they would be ready to go any time. I also bought a bright lamp so I can work at night if needed.

It’s also important to realize that ruminating on a goal is not the same as working on it. I often ruminate on ideas before pulling the trigger. Rumination can feel like work, but it’s not action. To be clear, brainstorming is critical, but there’s a point when fruitful brainstorming turns into pointless circular thought patterns. That’s what you want to avoid.

Question to Consider

• Are you devoting enough time to your goal? 
• Are you subconsciously avoiding the work? Are you procrastinating out of fear of failure or judgement?
• Are there any roadblocks you need to clear to devote more time to the goal?
• Are you spending too much time thinking instead of taking action?

Research

If you are already investing time and still not seeing results, the next step is to ask whether you need more understanding. Are you approaching the problem with enough knowledge? Have you done enough research?

Research can help us move from good intentions to informed action. It helps us make decisions based on insight rather than guesswork. In many situations, the combination of time plus research is enough to create movement.

This is often how I solve gardening problems. While I’m an enthusiastic gardener, there’s always something new to learn, and there’s plenty that I don’t know.

Another word of caution: research taken too far can be a form of procrastination. It’s critical to recognize the difference between actively absorbing knowledge and kicking the can.

Questions to Consider

• Do you have all the knowledge you need to move forward with your project? 
• If not, what reputable sources can you use to make more informed decisions?
• Have you done enough research to move on, or are you researching to procrastinate?

Expertise

What if you’re still not getting the results you want after devoting time and research to your project?

You can’t keep using the same tactics and expect a different outcome. Sometimes you must acknowledge that you’re unable to solve a problem by yourself. You may be missing experience, expertise or capacity on your team.

This is often the hardest step, because it can involve spending money and letting go of ego. It may mean admitting that you are not the best person to solve the problem. Sometimes radical responsibility looks like outsourcing, hiring an expert or building the right team with the right skills. The objective is not to prove that you can do everything yourself. The objective is to achieve the goal you set.

Questions to Consider

• Have you been stuck on your goal with no forward movement for quite a while?
• Do you have the right team — with the right expertise — assembled to achieve your goal?
• Are you avoiding bringing in backup because of ego?

A Multi-Use Framework

Looking back, I realize I’ve applied this framework to many different situations, from managing projects at work, to solving blossom-end rot on my tomatoes, to lifting heavier weights at the gym.

Are these questions comfortable to consider? No. It’s not fun to ask yourself tough questions and tell your ego to take a back seat.

But if a goal truly matters, invest in it. Invest your time. Invest in learning. Invest in disciplined action. If that doesn’t work, invest in the right people and expertise. Otherwise, it’s time to re-evaluate how badly you want to achieve that goal.

Reaching new heights requires commitment, strategy and asking yourself tough questions. It’s the ability to recognize the next step that will help you move forward.