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I know goal setting is something that is talked about all the time and you are probably sick of it. I know I often tune out to so much of the talk about goal setting, because it always sounds like some version of: “By declaring these goals, I will achieve them and be on the road to the perfect life.”
I believe in thinking about our priorities, creating plans, and brainstorming about the future. Thinking about the future and what we want in it helps put us in the right direction. After we set these goals and intentions, it is a bunch of work that actually gets us there.
The work that gets us to our goal is what I want to talk about. That work should actually be the the focus and the goal itself.
Recently I was telling Matt about some goals I had for my business. I was saying, “I hope this number of people participate in the next declutter challenge and I hope that number of people start using my planner this year,” then he stopped me.
He pointed out that I was falling into the age-old goal setting trap. I was trying to control things I can’t control. What I can and will control is the work I can do that gets me closer to the success I want.
My goals are now the things I can do: the work and tasks.
Here, you try it.
What do you want in your life? Now ask the better question … What is the work that will get you there? That’s it, that’s the goal.
I really appreciated Matt’s reminder to make my goals 100% achievable and I wanted to pass it on. I hope it helps you feel more optimistic too.
The picture I used for this post is when my 1st grader crushed his goals for the school fun run. What he wanted: to do at least 35 obstacles. His goal – just keep running and don’t stop. 77 obstacles later, I’d say his goal was on point. š
From my home to yours,
Mary
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This is such a helpful thought! You can think about where you want to be, but the goal should be the work that it takes to get there. Thanks.
Yes, exactly!
One of the most helpful statements I ever came across concerning goals suggested that we set our goals based on how we want to FEEL. That clarified a lot of things for me.
Love that. Thanks for sharing.
I hope you will still consider sharing tips on how to organize ones finances, savings, etc. I am sure it would help a lot of people even if it may be just common sense to you! I liked your blog about how you saved for your car that you paid out of pocket. That was fantastic and very practical!
Yes, it is still in the plan. It may not be for a few more months, though, but I’ve been planning on it.
Thank you for affirming what I used to tell my supervisor when I was the marketing manager for an assisted living center. She wanted to know how many new residents I would sign on in the coming month. All I could tell her was what contacts I would make, what advertising I would do and what events I would host in the month. I had no control over how many folks would pay attention to the ads, how many people would need our services that month or who would attend out events. I knew where our potential residents would see or hear our ads, what kinds of events they liked to attend and who their doctors were. I had faith that doing the right work would get residents to sign on.
It always worked to get us enough new residents to win the corporate contests, but she was never satisfied that I could not tell her what the exact numbers would be.
Yes, I get your point exactly! Plus, tracking the WORK you do to reach the goals is better anyway, because if you don’t get the numbers you want, you know exactly what to work on!