Cracking the Goals Code

As December unfolds, many of us take a moment to reflect on the year gone by and contemplate what we would like to achieve in the coming one. However, fast forward a few weeks, and you might find yourself in a conversation where someone's New Year resolutions have faded away. So, does it mean that setting goals is pointless?

This month's newsletter delves into why I believe we should not give up on having goals, but instead be more strategic about them. It is much more than ‘just a goal’. For a goal to be meaningful, two other conditions need to be met:

1. SMART: The Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, Time-bound framework gets thrown around a lot for a reason — it gives your goals a solid foundation.
2. Effective systems: As aptly stated by James Clear, 'You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.' To succeed, focus on creating the right habits and processes that lead to your desired results.

Relying on motivation alone will not take you far; what you need is consistency. This means understanding what needs to be done consistently to reach your destination. It demands time, patience, and honesty with yourself.

Consider the analogy of training for a marathon:

• If you have never exercised and live a hectic life, setting a goal to complete a marathon within one year might not be realistic. Re-frame your goal using the SMART framework. What might be a more appropriate time frame based on your current fitness levels and ability to train? What will be your key milestones along the way?
• Once you have defined an achievable goal, think about how you can adapt your routine to support it. What will your training frequency be, based on your time availability?
• Your environment plays a crucial role. If your work schedule is unpredictable, would planning training sessions in the morning reduce the risk of missing them? Can you prepare anything in advance (e.g. your training gear)? Can you build a support network?

So, I hope I have managed to persuade you not giving up on setting goals, nor on being ambitious about them! And if you feel you might need more support — either because you are not fully clear on what you truly want, or because you have been stuck for a while — then consider working with a coach.

Remember, if you've struggled to achieve a goal, it is not about lacking willpower, but rather not setting yourself up for success initially.

Happy goal-setting!

Valeria

References

Clear, J (2018) Atomic Habits: an easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones. New York: Avery, an imprint of Penguin Random House