When was the last time you asked yourself if you were happy with what you had achieved so far in your life? This seemingly simple question holds significant weight when it comes to effectively setting and achieving goals — both personal, educational, and career-related. 
Through self-assessment, many individuals find that they haven’t accomplished the things they had always planned to. In fact, 40 percent of adults across the nation say that they’re not where they want to be in life. With nearly half of the population questioning their goal setting and achievement abilities, it’s time to take a deeper look into what could be holding you back from finishing your degree, going back for another degree, or making a meaningful career shift.
In a recent survey conducted by Bellevue University, nearly 60 percent of the population couldn’t put a finger on exactly what was holding them back from achieving their goals. This survey consisted of 1,642 interviews fielded among national representative Americans of the total U.S. population aged 18 and older.
Here are the results:
Overall Findings
- Overall, nearly 40 percent of adults across the nation said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 31.8 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- More than 60 percent of the population can’t put a finger on exactly what’s holding them back from achieving their goals.
- One in three adults across the nation admit they don’t currently have–or don’t know if they have–the level of education and skills required to achieve their life goals
- Northeast – 36 percent of adults in the Northeast said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 31 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- Midwest – 43 percent of adults in the Northeast said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 35 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- South – 33 percent of adults in the Northeast said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 27 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- West – 41 percent of adults in the Northeast said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 35 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- No Degree – 47 percent of adults with no degree said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 39 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- Associates Degree – 34 percent of adults with an associates degree said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 27 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- Bachelor’s Degree – 33 percent of adults with no degree said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 27 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
Family Life Findings
- Married/Living As Married – 36 percent of married or living as married adults said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 30 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- Divorced/Separated – 52 percent of divorced or separated adults said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 45 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- Single/Never Married – 46 percent of single or never married adults said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 35 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- No Children – 37 percent of adults with no children said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 30 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- 1-3 Children – 40 percent of adults with one to three children said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 34 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- 4+ Children – 44 percent of adults with four or more children said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 35 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
Gender/Age Demographic Findings
- Men – 39 percent of men said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 32 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- Women – 38 percent of women said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 32 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- Age 18-24 – 42 percent of adults age 18 to 24 said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 30 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- Age 25-44 – 42 percent of adults age 25-44 said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 35 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- Age45-54 – 41 percent of adults age 45-54 said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 34 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- Age 55-64 – 32 percent of adults age 55-64 said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 28 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
- Age 65+ – 15 percent of adults 65 and older said they’re not where they want to be in life, with 12 percent saying they thought they would have achieved more by now.
It’s never too late to achieve the things you’ve always wanted.
What are you planning to do in 2013 to achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself?
