Setting Goals
Setting goals is a fundamental aspect of self motivation and ultimately preservation. Setting reasonable and obtainable goals can help you get that promotion you’re after, get that phone number you’ve been desiring or simply get you out of bed and moving in the morning. A goal can be something small and simple like I’ll get up every morning at 8:00 am to something more sophisticated like setting the overall goal of your business, but at the core every goal is the same, a piece of motivation.
Before you do anything different with your daily routine, your life, significant other or making a purchase you should always consider what your goal is with that motion. This can really help you spend more time on what’s important and beneficial to you and less time on the superficial day to day issues we come across. For example, you want to quit your job and start a business of your own, consider what is the goal for your new business, what’s your goal for leaving your job? Is your goal to make a bunch of money, to make a difference in the world? Write that down on paper and read it every day, feel whether or not that goal resonates with you, do you constantly feel the same about that goal?
In the example above that goal would be your primary goal or overall goal. This type of goal can be hard to obtain immediately, but it’s the first step in organizing yourself and your life. Write this primary goal at the top of a sheet of paper, now think of a smaller goal that leads to that primary goal. Maybe that would be, writing a business plan or practicing an elevator speech, now write that goal under the primary and connect it with a line. Think of another goal that feeds into that primary goal, maybe it’s smaller like I need to spend 3 hours a night working on my new idea, now connect it to your primary goal. We’re creating a goal pyramid! Continue this process until you’ve exhausted yourself.
By the time you’re exhausted you’ve probably come up with some easily obtainable goals at the base of your pyramid, maybe something like waking up early every morning, going on a jog every day, calling your mom, whatever it may be it’s obtainable! Now right now obtain that goal (if the space you’re in is conducive). Once you’ve obtained that goal relish in the fact that you did it, feel free to blow that achievement way out of proportion, celebrate it! Even if the goal was to quit reading this, celebrate it! Now check it off your list, if it’s ongoing like jogging every day or waking up early every day then EVERY time you achieve that goal celebrate it, every day, every week, every month and every year.
Keep checking goals off of your pyramid, as the goals get larger and more daunting look down at the bottom of your goal pyramid at everything you’ve already done as motivation to push your limit and obtain that next goal. Celebrate every accomplishment as though it’s the first, regardless of how long it took you to accomplish it, regardless of whether you accomplished it the way you thought you would, regardless of what other people think of it!
It’s through this constant goal setting and goal accomplishments that you can keep motivated and obtain the goal you truly desire. Always refer to your goal pyramid when you’re in doubt of your decisions. Accomplish each goal one by one, don’t multi-task your goals, each is special and unique and must be accomplished as such. Finally, fully obtain and celebrate the accomplishment of completing your goal, every time, no excuses, no matter where you are or what time it is, shout at the world that you did it!
This was written to us by business owner and business coach, Christopher Lee of Christopher Lee Design.
