One Goal at a Time
Goals. Resolutions. Plans. Dedications. Commitments.
It doesn’t matter what you call them, or how you phrase it. You look yourself in the eye, and proclaim “I’m going to ……..” (lose weight, quit smoking, make more phone calls, start a new marketing campaign, etc. etc.)
Often times we commit to completely overhauling ourselves. It’s as if we decide that as long as we’re making some good changes, we might as well go all the way.
“I’m going to quit smoking, start exercising, eat healthier (including eliminating drinking coffee), read more books, and call more FSBOs.”
The trouble is, this plan is destined for failure. Each of these goals is very achievable individually, but taken together it is simply too much. Each of these goals will require energy from many aspects of yourself - emotional, physical, attitude, habits, conversations, locations. Introducing just one new goal will be challenging enough!
| * Harvest Point * |
Your best chance of success comes from challenging yourself to one new goal at a time. You’re going to want to give it ALL of your attention.
- Determine the goal that means the most to you. It needs to be something you are absolutely passionate about.
- Elevate your goal to the point where it becomes the most important thing you’re working on.
- Make conscious decisions to achieve your goal. Everyday (often multiple times each day) you’ll have an opportunity to make a decision which moves you closer to, or further away from, your goal. These are the defining moments in your success. Peer pressure be damned - this is the new you!
- Track your success. At the end of each day, you can look yourself in the mirror and know you were successful.
- Reward yourself for milestones. (but not with an indulgence which moves you further away from your goal!)
- Repeat the process again tomorrow.
Other Thoughts
Many experts would add “Announce Your Goal” to my list above. The theory is that by telling others what you are trying to do, you’ll have added incentive to succeed. Personally, I’ve always found the opposite to be true. Whenever I announce my goals, I tend to talk more about them than actually doing them. My biggest successes have come from making quiet progress, day after day, on my own. (of course, after awhile my friends figure out what I’ve been doing, but by then I’m already on my way to success.)
If you can psych yourself up for you goals enough, you may find yourself knocking out multiple goals at the same time - unintended consequences. For example, if you become passionate about exercising, you may find yourself quitting smoking and eating healthier, more because they help you exercise better than because you really wanted to.
Once you have your primary goal “in the bag”, you can move on to the next goal on your list.
Posted: October 8th, 2008 under Goals.