New Year New Goals

Goal Setting formula that helps you break the big picture into bite-size chunks.

I see you over there, big dreams, eye on the prize, knowing this is the year it will finally gel for you.

You are smart, capable, and motivated. A dreamer who knows your purpose on this planet is to make the world a better place.

It’s a new year. A new chance to begin. A time to let go of what no longer serves you and make room for new positive changes.

About half of all Americans set some sort of new year’s resolutions, yet only about 8% of us stick with them.

When I heard this statistic a couple of years ago I was shocked. Then as I started running retreats I discovered something very interesting.

Most people are extremely hesitant to write out their goals.

Why was this? I started to observe the lash-out from retreat participants. Participants who were at a goal-setting workshop that they paid to be at.

At each retreat there would be at least a couple of people very defiant about putting their goals on paper.

“If I write down my big goal for the year and don’t make it I’ll feel like a failure.” one participant told the group. Another, in an attempt to rally others, claimed that writing down goals was a masculine activity and women in tune with themselves should incorporate their dreams more organically.

As I always say, “you do you.” But I often wonder what they were expecting from a goal-setting workshop.

For three days and some deep digging through a variety of exercises, most retreat participants went home with clear goals. Goals that would be achieved through a series of bite-sized steps. Creating continuous movement towards their goal.

I am pleased to report that for the committed few, goals became reality.

But what about everyone else?

You’ve set goals, either in your head or written out, and have accomplished great things by staying connected to the vision.

• What was it that kept you going?
• How did you stay motivated?

Different things work for different people, and I think it’s important to take some time to self-reflect on best practices for you.

For most people being accountable to someone is the key.

I have the pleasure of helping many entrepreneurs and small business owners set and accomplish goals through my work as a copywriter.

I often see myself more as an accountability coach.

And that works both ways. The clients I connect with every week know they need to have accomplished the work for the week, keeping them connected to their goals. I too know what I need to accomplish for the week to help them stay connected to their goals.

It’s a win-win.

Being accountable is a huge factor.

You have probably heard of SMART goals before and I think it’s a great system of breaking down your thoughts, but I have never stuck to this model.

A few years ago I stumbled on a practice that I use to this day that I find to be the most helpful. I would love to credit the person/website I got it from but I have no idea as I found it on a dirty piece of paper from some forgotten time in my younger life.

It goes like this.

1. Write down your Vision / Goal
2. Break it down into three objectives
3. Create five action steps for each objective.

Let’s look deeper

Write down your Vision / Goal

• Simply get the vision/goal out of your head and onto paper. Go for it. Make it big!
• State why this is an important goal to you.
• Emotionally how will achieving this vision/goal make your life better?
• Put it all together by writing it in the present tense as though it is already a thing and state it with emotion.

Example:

I’m thrilled to work with leaders in the breathwork community. Bringing value and awareness to the lost art of intentional breathing through my writing and personal practice. Empowering others to look within for answers to their truth is a gift I get to share with the world.

Break it down into three Objectives

Each goal should have at least three to five objectives. This is where those SMART goals play a role.

• State the Specific actions you will take to achieve this goal
• This is your who, what, when, where, and why.
• How will you measure your success?
• Objectives should work as placemarks or milestones on your journey.
• What is your timeline for achieving this vision/goal
• This one trips people out the most! Just remember, you can’t hit a target you can’t see. Saying you want to lose 50 pounds in a year still feels like success if it takes you 13 months instead of 12.
• Define how you will celebrate your successes
• Rewarding yourself along the path keeps you motivated and moving
• Action-Oriented.
• Each objective should have clear action steps associated with them

It might be helpful to write out some simple words and statements first, then look at how they fall into objectives. Write them out in the present tense.

****Don’t let these details bog you down. The more clear the better, but don’t let it stop you from writing something out. Some of these might be better placed in the action steps. Keep going****

Example:

Objective 1

• I am actively reaching out to leaders in the breathwork community and sharing ways I can add value to their business.

Objective 2

• I have done my research on each of these leaders to identify how my work will help bring their business to the next level.

Objective 3

• I am making a living as a breath coach who supports other breath coaches and light-bringers through my work as a copywriter. They are both my clients and my friends.

Create five action steps for each objective

What little daily/weekly / monthly tasks will help you set your intentions to work?

Make these actionable steps realistic to you and your life. If you make the daily tasks too big the odds go up that you will not follow through.

Example:

Objective 1

• I am actively reaching out to leaders in the breathwork community and sharing ways I can add value to their business.

Five Steps

1. I have identified 20 leaders in the breathwork community I would love to work alongside with by the end of January
2. I am actively engaging with these leaders on social media by commenting on their posts throughout February.
3. I have studied their web presence and highlighted missed opportunities where my work could help. I observed this over January and February.
4. I have connected with each of these leaders individually via email by the end of March.
5. I am blessed to receive so much positive engagement that by April I have five new clients who I love to work with.

Do the same thing for all your objectives. I find it easier to write an objective followed by the steps before moving onto the next objective. Most important thing is to find what works for you.

By taking your time to work through each of these steps you will be well on your way to achieving your goal.

Don’t rush through it. It’s hard. It takes time and commitment, and it’s supposed to.

The more clearly you define your vision and identify the objectives and steps the less work you’ll have along the way because you’ve already set yourself up.

It’s okay if not every objective has five steps. Sometimes the objective is the step.

Keep your goals somewhere you can see them, review them, and read them. You will most likely revise at some point as life takes you on its own journey. Go with it.

The world lay before you like untouched snow, you get to decide where you leave a trail. Your thoughts play a huge role in the direction your life will move. By focusing on goals and how you’d like your life to look you steer your ship towards those things.

Focusing on what you don’t want has an equal if not worse effect.

It’s a new year. 2020 was a dumpster fire, so burn what no longer serves you and keep me posted on how your newly written out goals are working for you.

Remember accountability will move you along faster than toeing the line by yourself.

Let me know if you would like help setting goals. I am always happy to help others work through their own goals and help hold you accountable so you can turn your goals into reality.