“Goal setting is about choosing a destination and then carving out a system—or path—for getting there. It is the act of selecting a target, deciding what process you’ll employ to reach that objective, and centering your focus.”
If you are like me, you set ambitious goals for yourself, only to see them fade away as the busy-ness of the day takes its toll. As per the quote from RISE, I seem to get the first part (choosing a destination), but carving out a path for getting there, is what trips me up. Here are five tips for achieving your goals through centering your focus and firming up your system for getting there.
Centering your Focus:
1. A goal is a desirable future event (often including a date). The acronym SMART is a way to ensure clarity. Below are some questions you can ask yourself:
Specific: What do I want to achieve? What daily, actionable steps will I take?
Measurable: What does that achievement look like? How will I know I’m successful? What could be my metrics?
Achievable: What resources will I need? What roadblocks can I expect? What sacrifices am I willing to make? How will I maintain discipline along the way?
Relevant: Why is this goal important to me? What is the benefit of achieving this goal? How does this goal fit with my larger life purpose?
Time-Bound: What is the timeframe? What are the milestones?
2. A little more on specific. Try creating a clear image of success in your mind. What will you be saying or doing when you reach the goal? How will your daily routine change? What other positive side benefits will emerge? A fun way to do this is to write a short story (or poem) about your journey to the goal, roadblocks and milestones along the way, and the feeling of success when you arrive.
Firming up your System:
3. Take a page from Daniel Pink’s book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. The book uncovers the secret role that timing plays in our work and daily lives. Pink reminds us to use beginnings, midpoints, and endings to maximize momentum on work projects or personal pursuits.
4. And take 2 pages from Wendy Wood and her book, Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes That Stick.
‘Habits are created in “the moment.” And we learn habitually when a moment brings us joy.’ Find the joy in the journey, not just the destination.
Try Habit Stacking: Habit Stacking is the premise that we can stack, or piggyback, a wanted behavior on top of one that we already have. It works by encouraging us to use existing cues to form new, desired habits.
5. Enlist an accountability partner. Ask someone to be your ‘goal nag’. Every time they see you, they will ask, “How is it going?” And look very disappointed if you haven’t been taking steps to pursue your goal. Add a little extra commitment, by being their accountability partner.