What are Goals and do they need to be big?
“the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result” – thanks google. Job done? Not quite, this is a little too simplistic and doesn’t really give you a good insight into how you should try to set out these ambitions let alone how to achieve them. It also doesn’t give you a hint as to how ambitious you should be. This is actually difficult point to cover as there are many conflicting views so I will get to my advice and allow you to decide. Too small a goal and it will be easily accomplished, have a minimal effect on your life and, generally, not amount to too much. Too large a goal and it may seem impossible to even start so it will never be completed.
Identifying what you want
Difficult question at the best of times. “what do you want?” is second only to “who are you?” in terms of great question and both give you grippingly important and utterly irrelevant answers. Enough philosophising, find a goal to achieve. It could be anything from weight loss to starting a multinational business. It doesn’t matter, BUT be specific! I want to loose weight doesn’t cut it. I want to loose 10kg over the next 2 months makes sense. Vague goals are easy to step away from, specific ones allow you to focus on achieving them.
Is it measurable?
How will you define success? How will you define progress towards the end goal? Why is a glass lift more satisfying than a steel one? Because you can see the floors whizzing by and how far you have come.
Is my goal actionable.
Yes. Of course it is. You just need to understand the steps you have to take to achieve it. I would recommend starting at the end and working backwards. “I have achieved my goal by doing X, Y and, Z. Z needed me to do B and C. C requires A to happen. Make A Happen. Go from there. Keep going.
Is this something I actually want to do....really.
Yeah, I would like to be a super fit athlete with 4 PhD’s and superpowers too but in reality none of those things is what I actually really WANT and while I could work towards them they aren’t really what drives me. This increases the likelihood of me chinning them off in favour of a pint and a few hours in front of the TV. Like Mr Mordon ones asked “What do you really want”.
TI-MINGS IS NOT A CHINESE RESTERAUNT!!
I was berated by a Battery Sergeant Major with this line (among other more colourful ones) for being late. Set up deadlines and a timescale of how you will accomplish each task. STICK TO IT!
Evaluate what you have achieved
This helps you stay on target and allows to understand how useful and productive tasks are in achieving your goals. There is a warning here though. You don’t drive a car by looking in the rear view mirror. Be aware of the past but don’t let it decide your future.
“I fetched your damn ball, now where’s my biscuit...”
Rewards are important motivators. How you set them up is entirely up to you. Try not to have too many or too few as either of these extremes will de-motivate you.
One more thing...
WRITE THEM DOWN!! Not kidding. Writing this stuff down is so important not just for remembering but also motivating you. You could go read my blog on note taking...yeah...I know you won’t.
So, now that you have some idea on what to do what are your goals going to be? Let us know in the comments (I just said you should write them down!). If you have any more advice let us know too!
As my BSM would say to me “RIGHT, you’ve got your jobs, now fuck off out of my sight and get it done!” Good times...
Be polite
Be efficient
Have a plan to photograph everyone you meet.