The key to setting challenging yet achievable goals is to identify what you realistically want to achieve and then set steps and performance benchmarks to help you get there. Here are practical ideas to help you do just that: 1. Clearly define your goals. Vague or general goals are more difficult to measure progress towards and achieve than specific, detailed ones. Make your objectives SMART. 2. Do your research. Before setting any goals, ensure you have a good understanding of your current situation and the opportunities and constraints that come with it. 3. Set measurable benchmarks. To track your progress, you need to have specific performance indicators that you can measure. 4. Make a plan. Once you determine what you want to achieve and understand your current situation well, you must develop a plan of action. It should include specific steps and deadlines for each task. 5. Be prepared to adjust. While having a plan is important, you must also be ready to make adjustments along the way.