by: Giselle Timmerman and Taylor Chamberlin
There are three key components to setting and achieving individual goals: developing a vision (see our post on this topic here), establishing a plan, and committing to the journey. Last month, we shared how you can develop a clear vision; today, let’s tackle planning for success.
Planning
You know your goal and why it matters to you. Most people stop here, and that is why so many goals fall to the wayside (over half of Americans don’t make it to June on their New Years Resolutions[1]). Consider the reality of where you are today, and what actions or improvements are necessary to close the gap between where you are now and where you want to be. To focus your energy on activities that matter to successfully achieving your goal, ask yourself: What areas do I need to develop to realize this goal?
Think of the 3-4 activities that matter most to achieving your goal—the “how” to achieve your “what” (i.e. your goal)—as your “big rock” activities. Here is a quick clip from Franklin Covey explaining why we must prioritize the big rocks in our life to accomplish our goals. Write down your 3-4 activities in priority order, to translate your goal into real behaviors that get rid of any wiggle room.
For example, say I want to learn a new language. First, I would do some visioning and define the exact proficiency level I am aiming for, and then I would define the major activities needed to be successful, such as signing up for a class and finding a language partner. After you write down the major activities (big rocks) to achieve your goal, jot down any resources or tools related to those activities that you would need.
Stay tuned for part 3 of our goal-focused series, coming next month!
[1] Mona Cholabi, data journalist at FiveThirtyEight, on NPR, January 4, 2015