Goal Setting: Breakthrough Boot Camp Day 13

Goal setting seems to be "out-of style" lately, but I just don't agree. When it comes to goal setting, there are a few things that matter:

• You can set goals based on how you want to feel (which is the entire basis of Danielle LaPorte's The Desire Map)
• You can set goals, but don't feel like you failed if you don't meet them; instead, adjust
• You can even set quantifiable goals, as long as you use qualitative measures to reach those goals

I have a method of goal setting called Chunky Goals.

This is what Chunky Goals mean:

You can set high, seemingly-unattainable, quantifiable, almost uncontrollable goals IF you also plan out qualitative, attainable, controllable methods to reach your goals.

Why chunky? Because you'll tackle your goals in a series of chunks: chunks of time, and chunks of action.

The Chunky Goals plan starts with a rough outline for a long term business plan. Your business plan can be as thorough or as general as you like - all I ask is that you have a vague idea of what you want your business to be and where you want to be in your creative career in 3-5 years. ( examples? in 3-5 years you might hope to support your whole family; want your own TV show; want a brick and mortar store; expect to be working from home full-time; etc.)


Now, you can start setting your chunky goals. I think it's best to set your goals for no more than one year in the future - mostly because life can be so unpredictable at times that it's best to work on achieving your business plan year-by-year.

How to set Chunky Goals

Set a one-year goal - anything that is on-track with your business plan. I suggest setting no more than 3 per year.

Next, break that goal down into quarterly goals - these are the general actions you will take to reach your goal. These quarterly benchmarks are the foundation of your goal-setting plan.

Each week, you will be working towards meeting your quarterly goal. At the beginning of each week, list 3-5 things you could do to that week to reach your quarterly goal. These are small, totally attainable things that can be done by you.

example

Chunky Goals work because of all of the action it requires you to put in each week; so even if you do not reach your goal, think of how much you will have accomplished by the end of the year. This is why Bruce Lee's quote above is so important - it's not whether or not you actually meet the goal in the end: it's about all of the effort you put in in the mean time.

Overnight success is not common - at all. When someone becomes successful, it is usually after years of effort and repeated failure:

"In your life, you've probably had a setback or two. When you stumble, it's tempting the throw in the towel and accept defeat. There's always an attractive excuse waiting eagerly, hoping you'll take the easy way out. But the most successful people forge ahead. They realize that mistakes are simply data, providing new information to adjust your approach going forward." - Josh Linkner, The Dirty Little Secret of Overnight Success

So if you do not reach your yearly goals, use that as a chance to analyze what you can do differently next year, and start again. All of your hard work is like a snowball that you keep rolling, and it keeps getting bigger and bigger - your effort won't reset just because it's a new year and a new goal.

Homework

Set a few long-term goals for yourself, and map out the quarterly milestones required to achieve those goals. What can you do this week to get closer to those goals?

download worksheet 13: Chunky Goals

Print one worksheet for each yearly goal you are setting. You can put this sheet into an 8 x 10 picture frame and use the glass as a dry-erase board. Write your weekly action plan in the bottom segment of the worksheet. Cross off each activity as you accomplish it; erase, and write three new actions the next week.

credits: worksheet and quotes clip art by The Ink Nest (affiliate link)