GOAL SETTING
GOALS:
WHY SHOULD YOU
EVEN BOTHER?
A
s we are now well entrenched
into the fourth quarter of
2018, it is time to look ahead
to 2019.
What does 2019 have in store
for us? We don’t have a crystal ball and
we don’t know all that will happen—both
good and not so good—but we can make
some choices to help us be in better control
of our lives.
For years, I have taken the time to write
down personal goals and business goals.
I find it beneficial to have both so that
life is somewhat balanced, but I do admit
business goals tend to take over.
Let’s start with the “why,” for without the
“why,” nothing really matters or matters as
much as it could.
Do you have a desire to grow a talent,
create a new talent, build a relationship, or
look for new relationships? All these are
important, but what matters most to you?
There are no right answers as everyone has
different aspirations and desires.
Each year I try to have 10 goals for business
30
and 10 goals for my personal life. For any of
these to be accomplished, the “why” must
be answered. I always ask myself the same
questions: What does my life look like at
the end of next year? What would make me
happy to see and feel in 12 months' time?
You can start there and work backwards to
now.
I use a chart with 10 goals down the left
side with the next column asking the
question “why.” Once I understand the
“why,” I can then plan out for the year. I
set a target for the first 90 days for each
of my goals. What step—whether large or
small—can I take toward achieving that
goal? Every 90 days, I review my progress
and plan my next moves. My goals are in
front of me all the time. I see them, I breath
them, and for the most part, they usually
come together. Sometimes how I expected
and other times not at all how I thought,
but they still happened in one form or
another.
Often while we are taking steps toward
our goals, we learn and grow and our goals
slightly change or they change completely.
We don’t have all the answers until we try
to move forward. Once we move, things
happen. I call these strategic by-products
of the original goal. You may even decide
on your way to a goal that it is not what you
want, so you change gears and focus on
more of what you want.
I will give you an example. I have for many
years wanted to take a Psychology course.
I felt it would help me understand human
behaviour and help me to be a better leader.
I did some due diligence and got some
advice and signed up for an evening course.
After the first night, I realized it was the
wrong course as it was too much science
and not enough human behaviour. I had
to take a few steps back and decide what
it was that I really wanted to accomplish. I
pulled out of that, and now I am back in
the due diligence stage to locate a course
more in line with my overall goal.
Jim Rohn says this about goals: “The
ultimate reason for setting goals is to
entice you to become the person it takes
to achieve them.” It’s not just the goal; it’s
what else comes out of the lessons learned
along the way.