Top Goal Planning Mistakes

• ⏳ Failing to give yourself ENOUGH TIME.

• 🪣 Not KNOWING YOUR BUCKETS.

• 😵‍💫 Having TOO MANY Goals.

• ✅ Failing to have goals CONNECTED TO LEAD MEASURES.

ENOUGH TIME ⏳

Too many wait until New Years week to begin thinking of goals they want to accomplish in the next calendar year. Goal planning takes time, you need to spend time observing your own life and noting what you want to change.

Essentially, goals should be the bubbling over of time already spent thinking about what bugs you, what aspirations you have, and how you want to double down on your strengths.

I begin thinking about goals for the new year in September/October, complete with some space (4 or so hours) on two days back-to-back, to draw out those plans and be close to commitment. Having near complete commitment two months before the end of the year gives me time to glean resources, plan the pathway to accomplishment, or even spot a different goal that is more attractive.

KNOWING YOUR BUCKETS 🪣

There should be zones of life that you are prioritizing in order to make a difference. Good news is that most of these zones are universal. The last one is unique to you!

• Health - How are you becoming the healthiest version of yourself?

• Education - How are you becoming more educated through books, podcasts, videos, or formal education?

  • Both Health & Education are foundational - If you are not healthy physically or mentally, you aren’t getting much else done…

• Family / Home - How is your home becoming more restful, more hospitable to others, more prepared for the future, more efficient (not for efficiency sake, but for maximizing enjoyment and impact)?

• Work - How are you growing in your role and preparing for more responsibility?

  • Usually work goals are rolled up into performance reviews at your job, which are probably tackled elsewhere in the year.

• Mission - How are you becoming more of who you’ve been uniquely designed to be?

  • This is based on your strengths. What are some things that compel you?

  • You’re wanting to think about what pushes you to the next level in doing something that is beyond just reading a book (education) or gaining more muscle (health).

    • This Newsletter was my goal in the Mission Category! Help people by publishing a development newsletter twice a month.

Maybe you’ve never considered your MISSION before… That is also worth another entry in T+P, but to give you some immediate help…

Think about what inspires you to learn and grow, and what things you do that cause time to fly by (maybe you’ve refused to eat or go to the bathroom because you’ve been so absorbed in that one thing).

Spot those things and you’ll be close to discovering personal mission!

TOO MANY GOALS 😵‍💫

The sweet spot is 2-3, my friends!

Back in my MA Program we looked at a study that showed the inverse relationship between goal # and the success rate… I couldn’t find the exact study… but ChatGPT confirmed the stats nonetheless 😎

1-3 Goals = 90-100% Accomplish Rate
4-6 Goals = 50-70% Accomplish Rate
7-9 Goals = 25% Accomplish Rate
10+ = 0%

The more goals you have, the more they compete against one another for time and resources. Pick the best ones and save the others for when you gain space in the queue.

CONNECTED TO LEAD MEASURES ✅

Definition Time!

LAG MEASURE 🥅 = The main goal you want to achieve (The result LAGS behind what you are actually doing)

LEAD MEASURE ✅ = The things you DO in order to accomplish the goal (These items LEAD to the results that come afterwards)

Ex: Arrow hitting the bullseye is the LAG / Ability to aim the bow, breath, draw the string and stay on target is the LEAD.

Essentially you need to break down whatever goals by asking “How am I actually going to get there?”

No one slimmed down and built muscle because of the goal “Get Healthy.” They got results because they were aiming specifically for something like the following…

• Keep calories to deficit of X level.

• Go to the gym every TUE, WED, FRI.

• Only have dessert once a week.

🌟 TOP PICKS

Here are the Top 3 Books that have changed my life forever in goal planning and the techniques needed to accomplish those goals.

• ℹ️ These will all be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Atomic Habits
Leverage the power of habit in seemingly small ways, and get BIG results.
- BEST FOR: Those who struggle with goals and need traction to feel “unstuck.”

Getting Things Done
Learn how to tactically accomplish the goals that you set out to do.
- BEST FOR: Those who drown in the tasks they set out to do.

2 Second Lean
Learn the “natural law” surrounding continuous improvement.
- BEST FOR: Those who don’t realize how 2 second improvements change your life forever, and make you an efficiency machine!

I’ve probably made at least 5 or so 2 Second Lean adjustments WHILE writing this issue of T+P 😄

🎬 BEHIND THE SCENES

Crafting something to help with your goals…

In preparation for next issue of T+P, I’m working on a stylized item that I’ve been using for 3 years… an Achievement Journal!

It’s a place to jot down goals, accomplishments, and other fun celebrations throughout the year; including space to put stickers and other items you collect throughout the year and want to remember (I’ve stuck hospital ID tags from the birth of my daughters in my journal 😊). Check it out below!