One common theme in "growing up," or at least in becoming all you can be - without joining the U.S. Army, that is - is to learn how to achieve goals. If you are at a point in your life where you want to do that, to become a better version, an upgrade of you, then you will need a plan to do so. Here is one of the best ways to get you on the road to successfully achieving your goals, and it centers around one key problem.

That key problem is a lack of focus. Too often, a parade of opportunity seems to be driving for your attention, just off to stage left. You may start to follow a plan, even make progress...only to discover that you have found an even bigger, easier, faster-track plan that seems to promise threefold what your former plan could deliver.

You know the rest of the story, and it ends up in a long resume peppered with good intentions and running starts. The problem with running starts is that they are meaningless without a finish line in sight. Instead of succumbing to the death of a thousand cuts, here is one of the keys to learning how to achieve goals: get yourself a one-track mind.

The only way to beat status quo is to quit being status quo - get a plan together for a goal, whatever that goal is, and work it. See it through. It's a lot like bowling in that way - the "follow-through," as it's called. If you want your ball to hit that pocket between the king pin and either pin #2 or #3, the follow-through is important.

Tips on getting focused:

• Give Yourself A Reasonable Deadline
• Identify What Distracts You And Counter It
• Reward Little Successes

1. Give Yourself A Reasonable Deadline

Don't be either too easy or hard on yourself. Rome wasn't built in a day, your goals will need time to be reached. Set reasonable deadlines, and if they don't look like they're going to be met, either kick it in gear, hire help, or re-set your deadline based on your current status and review.

Without deadlines, goals are simply all talk. Tip: Break your big goals into smaller milestones along the way. This way you can mark your progress and feel a sense of accomplishment.

2. Identify What Distracts You And Counter It

For some, it's sporting events, BBQ's with friends, television or video games and other amusements. For others, it may be that impromptu visit from a friend or neighbor that results in an afternoon not accomplishing your goals.

It may be time to deny yourself and your friends this luxury for a while, as you set out to reach for your goals. Just make sure it's temporary - you don't want to reach your goals and wind up old, alone and done for, like Captain Hook.

3. Reward Little Successes

When you reach a milestone, be sure that you acknowledge the victory somehow. make sure that your "victory party" is do-able, enjoyable, and within reason. For instance, if your goal is to lose weight, your celebration shouldn't include eating a cheesecake. Just sayin'...

Get focused, that's the big key of how to achieve goals. Without focus, you're on a trip to the same place you started from, status quo. Get a little tough on yourself, and get moving. That's how it's done.