As an entrepreneur, you have big goals. Of course ya do! That's why you started a business.
Unfortunately, there's a big difference between having goals and reaching them. Whether your goal-setting style is deliberate or helter skelter, achieving your goals next year will involve a clear definition upfront and regularly reviewing and tracking them throughout the year.
We know what you’re thinking! "Hey, is there an app for all of this?" We’re glad you asked.
It turns out a few techies accomplished their goals and developed goal setting software, apps, and tools to help you achieve yours. Take a look at these 5 goal setting tools to increase your odds of setting and reaching your goals today.
Tips for Goal-Setting
To get the most out of a goal-setting app, you need to make sure you're creating the right goals. Here are a few tips:
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Be Realistic. Make sure you can actually reach your goals. If they're too lofty, you'll never reach them and wind up disappointed.
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Make Goals Based on Data. Ok, so your goals don't have to be based in stone cold data, but they shouldn't come out of nowhere.
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Ask for help. It helps to let others know what your goals are. They'll encourage you, hold you accountable, and support you as you go.
Top Goal Setting Software & App Options
1. Objectiveli
Objectiveli prides itself in helping users manage goals and objectives in real-time. Instead of managing a "things to do" list, Objectiveli’s three components (goals, objectives, and milestones) help you drive outcomes that matter most to you.
Unique Features: Sharing with team members, easy-to-use web-based program, ability to view goals in list, hierarchy or map formats, add files/attachments.
Price: Free
Mobile Support: Mobile web version
2. Lifetick
Lifetick integrates personal core values into goal setting. The founders of this goal setting software believe identifying your core values – the areas that define who you are – help you understand why a goal is important to you personally. After considering your core values, Lifetick helps you relate each of your goals to a core value and assign a priority level (high, medium, low).
Unique Features: Integrated calendar function, colorful and very usable interface, customizable status dashboard, charts and reporting.
Price: Free version, full version is $20 per year
Mobile Support: iOS, Android & Palm web app
3. GoalsOnTrack
GoalsOnTrack bills itself as a goals management and personal achievement software. Unlike most other apps in this list, GoalsOnTrack provides a very detailed form to help you set SMART goals; goals that are specific, manageable, attainable, relevant and time-bound.
Unique Features: Attach motivational images to each goal, sample goal templates with detailed and customizable action plans, data syncing with your favorite calendar tool, such as Outlook or Google Calendar and 3D charts.
Price: $68 per year, 60-day money back
Mobile Support: Supports all major smart phone platforms: iPhones, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Phone 7, etc.
4. 42Goals
42Goals is a simple goal setting software for tracking daily goals and logging daily activities. Instead of thinking, counting, and remembering what you did, 42Goals helps you spend all that time planning and working towards your goals.
Unique Features: Icons to customize tracking, templates for one-click goal setting, stopwatch/timer (premium version).
Price: Free or Premium version is $5 a month
Mobile Support: Mobile web version
5. StickK
StickK is backed by academic research (Yale) and is based on two well known principles of behavioral economics: 1. People don’t always do what they claim they want to do, and 2. Incentives get people to do things. By engaging users in creating "commitment contracts," StickK motivates users to achieve their goals.
Unique Features: Designate a referee to monitor progress and confirm achievements, optional stakes (money you’re willing to risk and where you want the money to go), should you fail, specify supporters to post encouraging messages in your Commitment journal.
Price: Free, unless add a stake to your commitment(s)
Mobile Support: Mobile web version
Other Goal-Setting Apps to Check Out
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Way of Life
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CheckMark Goals
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Mindbloom Life Game
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Goalscape
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Milestone Planner
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Joe's Goals
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Everest
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Sociidot
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Beeminder
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Habit Streak
How do you plan to reach your goals? What’s your secret goal-achieving weapon?