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An Exercise in Goal Setting

Setting goals and reflecting on your aspirations is a powerful exercise that can transform your life. I’m all about goal setting, not just because I like feeling a sense of achievement but because I find it critical to clarify what truly matters to me and I find empowerment in taking intentional steps toward making those aspirations a reality. In this blog post, I’ll explore my favorite approach to goal setting. It’s a structured method that can help you identify your most important goals, understand why they matter, and help you create a roadmap to achieve them.

Part 1: Identifying Your Goals.

The first step in this goal-setting exercise is to brainstorm and write down 10 goals that excite you. These can be big or small, long-term or short-term. The key is to focus on what brings you joy and fulfillment. Use the Goal-setting Mad-libs exercise provided to help you brainstorm and articulate your goals in a specific and inspiring way.

• Travel to _____ for _____ (days, weeks, months, years, etc.)

• Purchase and/or own _____

• Finish _____ (project) and achieve _____

• Make at least $_____ a year doing _____

• Discover/collect _____(amount) new _____(nouns) by _____(end of year, month, etc.)

• Make ______ new friends by _____ (end of year, month, etc.)

• Attend an _____ (event) by _____ (date)

• Accomplish ______  by  _____(date)

• Obtain/improve the skill of ______ by ______ (action or date)

• Reconnect with _____ (person, place, or action)

Part 2: Choosing Your Priority Goal

Once you have your list, choose one goal that stands out as the most meaningful to you. This goal should be the one that, if achieved, would bring you the most joy and fulfillment. Don't worry about feasibility at this stage; just focus on what truly matters to you.

Part 3: Reflecting on Your Goal

Now that you have your priority goal, take some time to reflect on why it's important to you. Consider how long it might take to achieve, what resources you'll need, and how it will impact your life and the lives of others. Answering these questions will help you clarify your motivation and create a plan for success.

• WHY is this important to me? This is arguably the most important question to ask. Be specific, clear, and descriptive. Circle back to this statement in times of doubt, fatigue, or when you’ve lost motivation. Remember that the answer to this question may change or evolve and that’s OK! 

• How long can I reasonably expect this goal to take? Days, months, years? There’s no right or wrong answer here, just try to be realistic, generous, and flexible.

• Do I currently have enough time to achieve this goal or do I need to work some things out in my life (ie, deprioritize something to make time?) If I already have the time, when am I going to work towards it? On the Weekends? After work? Once a month?

• How much money (or other resources) do I need to accomplish any aspect of this goal? Can I do it for free? Do I need to take out a loan or talk to a financial advisor? Can I gather everything I need in one place and within a certain timeframe?

• Is there anyone who can help me with this goal? Can I email them or schedule a meeting? What other resources/information are available that I might not be aware of?

• How will this goal impact others around me? Will it impact my friends, family, co-workers, community, or society at large? Will this impact be a positive one? Should I communicate with any of these people to tell them what I’m planning?

• What do I foresee as being the biggest challenge of this goal? Is there a particular step that I’m concerned about? How can I iron this out to make it feel clearer, more manageable, or less daunting? 

• Do I need to come up with a plan B or C for any phase of this goal? 

• What other tools or resources will help me with this goal? Do I need any more information?

• Is there anything else I need to know or do before I begin planning this goal?

Part 4: Creating a Plan of Action

With your goal clarified, it's time to break it down into smaller, manageable steps. This will make your goal feel more achievable and help you stay motivated.  We have a tip sheet and a video on how to chunk assignments. I highly recommended using a planner or digital tool like Notion or Trello to create a checklist of tasks and estimate how long each task will take. Begin with the first step and build momentum as you progress towards your goal. 

1. Write down each individual task you’ll need to do that will help you with your larger goal. You can do so, either in a digital/paper planner or by using apps like Notion or Trello.

2. It’s also helpful to estimate how long each task will take. Some may take a couple of hours, while others might take consistent effort over a few days or weeks. Again, it’s best to be realistic yet generous with your time. It can be a good idea to overestimate a little so that you give yourself ample time to prepare for the next step without feeling rushed.

3. Begin your first step when you can! This is the fun part because you’re finally getting started on fulfilling your larger goal with a concrete action. Completing the first step or two will really help you to gain a sense of momentum and motivation and you’ll be on your way to accomplishing your goal in no time. 

4. If, at any point in completing your checklist, you feel as though you’ve lost motivation, a sense of direction, or simply need to regroup- regroup! It’s ok to reassess your overarching goal and the smaller goals you wrote that lead up to it. Maybe you need to add some items to your to-do list. Or maybe you need to consult someone for advice or encouragement. Don’t forget to revisit your first question from part 3: WHY is this important to me? Revisiting this can help you regain a lost sense of purpose or motivation and help you get started or keep going!

Remember, goal setting is a dynamic process. It's okay to reassess and adjust your goals as you progress. The most important thing is to stay focused on what truly matters to you and take consistent action toward making your dreams a reality.