Have you set your goals for the year?
I am less about New Years Resolutions and more about the old Covey principle of ‘beginning with the end in mind’.
Ask yourself this simple question…..
When you get to the end of this year what will success look like?
The beauty of a goal v a resolution is that there can be different ways to get to the end point. Perhaps after asking yourself that question you will realise there are some things you will need to resolve to do differently to get to the outcome.
A while ago I came up with some simple headings to capture my goals and tactics to get there for the year. 7 ‘f’s’. The areas are not mutually exclusive. A lot of the items that sit in each category will be Fun, and Faith runs through everything, but thinking through all of them keeps me balanced.
In a lot of ways the goal at the end of the year does not change a lot. The value is in thinking through what I am going to do differently to get there this year.
Faith - how do I grow in my faith and encourage those around me?
Family - how will I do a better job of loving my wife, kids and extended family?
Friends - how will I be a good mate?
Fitness - how will I stay healthy?
Future - how will I develop myself?
Fun - what fun should we have this year?
Funding - how will I provide for my family?
One of the things the experts tell us about goals is that if we write them down and share them with others then we are far more likely to achieve them.
Why write them down? It gives you…
Clarity and Focus: Writing down your goal forces you to clarify what you truly want. It transforms a vague idea into a concrete, well-defined target. This clarity helps you focus your energy and efforts effectively.
Commitment and Ownership: The act of putting pen to paper (or typing it out) is a powerful commitment to yourself. It signifies that you're serious about pursuing this goal.
Tangible Reminder: A written goal serves as a visual reminder that you can refer to regularly. This keeps your goal top-of-mind, motivating you to stay on track.
Breaking Down the Goal: Writing down your goal allows you to break it down into smaller, more manageable steps. This makes the overall goal seem less daunting and more achievable.
Why share them?
Accountability: When you share your goal with others, you create a sense of accountability. Knowing that others are aware of your intentions can motivate you to stay committed, even when faced with challenges.
Support System: Sharing your goal with supportive friends, family, or mentors can provide you with encouragement, guidance, and valuable feedback along the way.
Collaboration Opportunities: Sharing your goal can open doors to collaboration. Others might have resources, skills, or connections that can help you achieve your objective.
Inspiration to Others: Sharing your goal can inspire others to pursue their own dreams and aspirations.
A study by Dr. Gail Matthews at Dominican University found that participants who wrote down their goals were 42% more likely to achieve them compared to those who didn't. The study also highlighted the added benefit of sharing your goals with a supportive friend and sending them weekly progress reports, which further increased the likelihood of success.
Perhaps stick them up on a wall to where you and others can see them and be reminded of them. I have found my kids are amazing at keeping me accountable.
So…. here are mine.
Faith - grow in my faith and encourage those around me.
This year I want to find a project that we as a family can do together that supports those who can't support themselves (perhaps homeless or refugees). I have recently finished reading ‘Escape from Manus’. It is the story of a refugee who had the most horrific experience. We failed significantly as a country to look after the vulnerable.
Read my bible each day. I am habit stacking this year - Wordle streak (yes - feel free to mock me - not faith related) and bible streak.
Mentor someone
Family - love my wife, kids and extended family well.
Date night once a month (not something we have done a good job of prioritising)
25th Anniversary weekend away.
Complete kitchen renovation and all still like each other.
Bring my extended family together
Friends - be a good mate
Bring people together - host other families 12 times in the year
Create regular time to listen and talk to key mates (less breadth, more depth)
Fitness - stay healthy
Play one term of team sport
Exercise three times a week
Future - grow
Complete my Diploma in Executive & Leadership Coaching and gain ICF Accreditation
Fun - Enjoy life
Build something out of wood that I am really proud of
Plan a family holiday
Funding - Provide for my family
Achieve 25% growth for Bigtop Shades and KC Awnings (a couple of businesses I co-own)
Build two successful online courses
Help five client businesses exceed their growth targets
There are mine. What are yours going to be?
A few closing thoughts…
Be kind to yourself but don't give up. Set realistic goals and tactics to achieve them but don't beat yourself up if you fall short. Every day is the chance to start again.
Adjust. Life changes. Adjust as you go so that your goals stay real. You might expand some and contract others.
Prioritise the things that matter. Keep balanced. Good goals will often stretch us and will also at times add stress. Be willing to work hard to get to where you want to be but don't lose sight of what really matters.
