Are you crystal clear about what you’d like to accomplish over the next month, six months or 2 years? If your goals are specific, congratulations! You’re ahead of the game, and you’re likely to achieve them. If your goals are more general, perhaps even vague, you’re less likely to make meaningful progress.

When you’re specific, what you’re aiming for is clear. With a clear target, you’ll have an easier time thinking through the steps required to reach your goals. When you face a choice without a goal in mind, you’re missing important decision-making criteria. Specific goals help you prioritize how you invest your time and attention. They help you identify critical action items and determine to what you say yes or no.

Clear goals and targets are useful guides that help you make wise choices daily, weekly and monthly. They position you to make effective use of your time, talent, energy and network.