How do I set career goals that are actually achievable?

Start by being specific rather than vague. Instead of "get promoted," define exactly what role you want, what skills it requires, and what timeline makes sense given your current position. Research people who've made similar moves to understand what actually got them there. Then break the goal into quarterly milestones so you can measure real progress and adjust early if something isn't working. Be honest about your constraints, time, finances, family obligations, because goals that ignore your actual life tend to fail. Tell someone you trust about your goal so there's accountability. The key difference between achievable and wishful goals is usually specificity and a realistic understanding of the gap between where you are now and where you want to be.