How to Set Goals?
Welcome to the Year 2020. What is your new year resolution, goals, and/or strategy? I believe, it is now kind of a ritual that we start every year with some new resolutions, goals, and/or strategy. The irony is when we compare what we thought, write, and present at the start of the year is not accomplished at the end of the year. I would say reflect your 2019.
We got lots of advice and techniques to define our goals, and more importantly how to achieve them. But interestingly, research has shown that less than 25%stay committed to their resolutions after just 30 days, and only 8%achieve them.
This time, I am going to share, how I define my goals, and how I follow through them throughout the year.
For me, questions are more important than answers and I ask lots of questions. Here is the process of Goal setting in question format.
What is Your Theme?
I always start with a theme, rather than goals. A theme can be an opportunity, problem, and passion. My 2019 themes were Financial Freedom and a global brand, which I am now carrying forward towards 2020 too. It helped me to stay focused and motivated me to look for options. You may have more than one theme. I generally don’t go for more than two or three themes. My recommendation is to start with one and reflect the impact after the first quarter of the year.
What Are My Goals?
I write my goals for the year, which supports my theme(s). Importantly my goals are always separate for myself, my family, and my business. More importantly, I define some of them as non-negotiable and some as flexible. Goals should be specific, as the number of books to read, X amount in saving account, X number of holidays with family, number of family outings, X number of corporate events, and X number of certifications.
Those who are starting the goal writing process the first time, don’t worry about the number of goals, write as much as you want. Just follow two rules, separate them between yourself, family and job, and decide them as non-negotiable and flexible.
How to Set Goal Measures?
Believe me, goals writing is fun, but identifying the goal measure is not. This is the most daunting task, but if you want to achieve your goals, this is a must. You need to take some time to find out the goal measurement. My advice is to set minimum and maximum measures.
Like, if you want to read 12 books in 2020, reflect your last three to five years, and find the trend, how many books you typically read every year. This is your minimum, and then go for maximum, and be optimistic. For some of my goals, I use three measures minimum, maximum and Magic. 1 book per month is minimum, 1 book per week is maximum, and 1 book per day is magic.
How to Follow Through Goals?
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment”. Thanks to Jim Rohn for this invaluable gift. I repeat this at least 3 to 4 times a day. It is kind of my daily ritual. It always helped me when I am distracted.
The first thing you need is the determination towards goals. You can also rephrase it to accountability. The reason most people don’t achieve the goals is a lack of accountability towards goals.
What I do for my accountability is? Review my theme and goals minimum every week. I am used to maintaining a yearly diary or notebook. My first page of the diary is Simple Rules and some motivation quotes (which I will explain in another blog). Then Yearly Theme with goals.
I also set mobile phone reminders for some of my specific goals, which are time-sensitive and they keep irritating me till I complete them.
For shared goals like for my family and my business I engage others to support me, and set a target date to review with them, it is kinda social pressure, and it always helps.
You can also choose a mentor or coach who can guide you throughout the year, or on scheduled meetings.
Remember in the end it is your life, and to make a better future it is You, who can achieve it.
What If My Goals are Too Ambitious?
Having ambitious goals are good, I would say it is great. But now you need to work on your strengths and weakness. This is one of the most painful things which I learned after failing years after years.
All the fancy slogans help you to dream more and be more, but when it comes to doing, things started to drift. It is like capacity and capability, and you need to assess it and then act accordingly. Here your non-negotiable and flexible goals will come into play.
My recommendation is to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Check which strength you need to leave and which weakness you need to work on. This will help you to stay focus on your ambitious goal.
What If My Goal(s) Changed During the Year?
Goal changing, altering and resetting is a dynamic process. Priorities, market dynamics, and new opportunities always guide you. What you need to see is you are not compromising on your overall theme and you are progressing.
Finally, am I the 8% of the group who achieve all of their goals. The answer is Not 100%, but I am also not the one who never review their goals after 30 days. I am progressing day by day, and I believe whoever wants to bring change in his life and in the life of those whom he/she cares should work towards achieving their goals.