1. Be precise

"I want to be rich," is not a specific goal. You should decide how much money you exactly want to make. For instance, if you wish to lose weight, you should decide exactly how much you want to weigh.

2. Think big

Do not play it safe. A life that is played safe is not a life worth living. Remove all limits you have in your mind and think about what you truly want to achieve. We are our greatest enemy when it comes to goal setting. The voice in our head says, "that is way too outrageous," too quickly. Turn that voice off and always aim high with everything that you do.

3. Set a deadline

It is important to determine when exactly you want to achieve your goal. A goal is pointless if you will achieve it "someday". If you want to move to New York City one day, mark a day in your calendar. For example, June 1, 2018: move to NYC. 

Otherwise, your goal will float somewhere in the undetermined future. Chances are you will never accomplish a goal that has no deadline. In addition, looking at the date on your calendar motivates you to work toward your goal.

4. Decide what you will sacrifice

Achieving goals without sacrifice is a myth. You cannot lose weight and eat whatever you want, whenever you want. You have to make concessions. Think about things that you have to sacrifice. You do not have to give up everything to accomplish your goals. If you wish to lose weight, you can eat whatever you want on your 'cheat day'.
 Commit to what you want to sacrifice and mentally prepare for it. For instance, if you aspire to be a musician, chances are you have to travel to perform. Thus, mentally prepare for not seeing your family and friends all the time.

5. Write down your goal and action plan

Write down your goal in clear and short sentences. Your action plan does not have to be detailed when you are setting your goal. It needs to contain steps that you will take to achieve your goals. It can be as simple as, "read a book per week."