deepstash
Beta
Goal Setting: A Scientific Guide to Setting and Achieving Goals
The Rudders and Oars Metaphor
- Your goals are like the rudder on a small rowboat. They set the direction and determine where you go.
- If you commit to one goal, then the rudder stays put and you continue moving forward.
- If you flip-flop between goals, then the rudder moves all around and it is easy to find yourself rowing in circles.
- If the rudder is your goal, then the oars are your process for achieving it. While the rudder determines your direction, it is the oars that determine your progress.
Example: If you’re a writer, your goal is to write a book. Your system is the writing schedule that you follow each week.
898 SAVES
This is a professional note extracted from an online article.
Read more efficiently
Save what inspires you
Remember anything
IDEA EXTRACTED FROM:
5
Key Ideas
Goal setting
Is the act of selecting a target or objective you wish to achieve.
Goal setting is not only about choosing the rewards you want to enjoy, but also the costs you are willing to pay to achieve your goals.
The Rudders and Oars Metaphor
- Your goals are like the rudder on a small rowboat. They set the direction and determine where you go.
- If you commit to one goal, then the rudder stays put and you continue moving forward.
- If you flip-flop between goals, then the rudder moves all around and it is easy to find yourself rowing in circles.
- If the rudder is your goal, then the oars are your process for achieving it. While the rudder determines your direction, it is the oars that determine your progress.
Example: If you’re a writer, your goal is to write a book. Your system is the writing schedule that you follow each week.
How to Set Goals You'll Actually Follow
- Ruthlessly Eliminate Your Goals. Consistently prune and trim down your goals. If you can muster the courage to prune away a few of your goals, then you create the space you need for the remaining goals to fully blossom.
- Stack Your Goals. Make a specific plan for when, where and how you will perform this."Networking: After I return from my lunch break, I will send one email to someone I want to meet."
- Set an Upper Bound. Don't focus on the minimum threshold. Instead of saying, “I want to make at least 10 sales calls today.” rather say, “I want to make at least 10 sales calls today, but not more than 20.”
Align Your Environment With Your Goals
- Use simplicity. When in doubt, eliminate options. It is more difficult to focus on reading a blog post when you have 10 tabs open in your browser.
- Use Visual Cues, like the Paper Clip Method or the Seinfeld Strategy, to create an environment that visually nudges your actions in the right direction.
- Opt-Out vs. Opt-In. For example, schedule your yoga session for next week while you are feeling motivated today. When your workout rolls around, you have to justify opting-out rather than motivating yourself to opt-in.
Measure Your Goals
Evidence of your progress towards a goal is one of the most motivating things you can experience.
The trick is to realize that counting, measuring, and tracking is not about the result. Measure to discover, to find out, to understand.
SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
7
Key Ideas
Not all goals are created equal:
- Merely fantasizing about your goal is de-motivating – it actually tricks the brain into thinking you already have achieved it.
- Goals that aren’t set up properly can end ...
Setting and Achieving Your Goals
- Step #1: Take Your Emotional Temperature, around the most important areas of your life.
- Step #2: The Neurology of Ownership: When we take ownership of something–an item, an idea or a goal–we are more committed to it.
- Step #3: Outcome + Process: Most people set an intention or an ideal outcome and try working toward it, but that gets you only halfway there. You have to pick an outcome and a process.
- Step #4: Identify Blockers: When we first set our goals we are super optimistic and filled with hope–and that’s great. One thing that happens, however, is we fail to identify possible blockers.
#1. Find Your Emotional Temperature
Rate these areas of your life on a scale from 1 to 5 and plot it on your Goal Wheel. (1 being extremely dissatisfied, 5 being extremely satisfied)
- Business: How do you feel about your work, career or business effectiveness and success?
- Friends: How is your social life? Your friendships and support system?
- Family: How are your personal relationships? Your partner or spouse?
- Personal Passions: Do you have personal passion projects, hobbies, or fun activities that fulfil you?
- Spiritual: You can interpret this one any way you like. It could be your faith, mental health, personal journeys or mindset.
- Health: Are you happy with your physical health and wellness?
4 more ideas
2
Key Ideas
Goal setting gives focus
Life is designed in such a way that we look long-term and live short-term. We dream for the future and live in the present.
Setting goals provides long-term vision in our lives.
Practical goal setting
- Evaluate and reflect. Regularly write down where you are right now, and if you are happy with your current level of satisfaction.
- Define your dreams and goals. What do you want? Schedule some quiet “dream time” and think about what really thrills you. Then prioritise those dreams.
- Make your goals S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-sensitive)
- Have accountability. Find someone to hold you accountable to your goals.
5
Key Ideas
Your resolve
The secret to effectively setting and achieving your goals is to have a large vision and an achievable plan.
The pursuit matters
The pursuit matters just as much as the goal.
Consider why you're pursuing your goal and how the journey to achieve it will help you grow as a person.
The right scope
People often give up on their resolutions because they set unattainable goals.
Try to set a goal that you can reasonably achieve within one year. If it is challenging to complete it in your set timeframe, you might become overwhelmed and give up. If the goal will take more than one year, try and set a benchmark for what you'd like to accomplish in a year.
2 more ideas