Goals and our dreams

“Goals are dreams with deadlines” --Diana Scharf

I left full-time employment in April 2018. As my own boss, with no assigned targets or KPI from a supervisor, started working on my dreams.

"The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths to it are not found but made, and the activity of making them changes both the maker and the destination. -John Schaar 

Easy said than done. Here is what I found useful: The four-list method.

Long-term vs. short-term goals 

The Four-List Method breaks my goals down into short term and long-term goals. 

1. The Daily “Things to Do” List - Write down everything that should be done in a day. All of the tasks including both professional and personal ones. This will serve as a reminder. Give any important tasks a star so it will stand out. If the task become unmanageable, it is best to move some to the weekly list or simply eliminate it. I enjoy checking off items as I complete them. 

2. The Weekly Calendar - This weekly calendar serves as a great balancing tool. I use it as a time budgeting guide. I put all the stuff that I want to do in the calendar, professional development, Japanese study, business development, recreation, meals, gardening and social time. For me, it is also important to keep this calendar manageable and flexible. At one of those weeks, when I simply put too much in, I notice my energy level drops. I felt overwhelmed which did not help with my productivity.

3. Monthly Goals - Put all key commitment and things I would like to accomplish in a monthly goal list, such as delivery dates, projects due, meetings, and other date-specific information on a monthly calendar. Always refer to this when working on the weekly and daily goals. It is also useful to review this together with the weekly and daily calendar, ideally the daily and weekly calendar should help contribute to the monthly goals or else the monthly goals cannot be achieved.

4. Long-term goal list - This would be yearly and beyond. What would I achieve in a year's time, in two years and in five and ten years? This is absolutely supported by the monthly goal list. When I put all of the list and calendar together, I know it is workable.

Questions to think about: 

? How much time do I spend on the main long-term goals? 

? How do I evaluate the long-term goals on a regular basis? How often do I do it?

? How do I protect my concentration when work on complex/important tasks? 

? How to I select my priorities – do they fully reflect my long-term goals? 

Five questions to ask about your goals 

1) Do I really want this goal? 

How does it serve my long-term purpose? It may sound nice, it may be something I should have or might enjoy, but do I really, deep in my soul, want it?

2) Is the goal actually just a means to some other goal? 

Is it what I want or just a way to impress people or a handy excuse to work on something that sounds wonderful while I avoid something I don’t want to do? 

3) Is this goal consistent with my morals and values? 

Too often there is a subtle, almost unnoticed conflict between our stated goals and our values. Working on something that is impressive or serving the most in need. Chase status, profit or create value and impact. How does it all fit together?

4) Is this goal consistent with my beliefs about myself and my abilities? 

This is a hard one. Start something new, learning and performing at relatively low competency levels is challenging. On the hand, how do I base my new skills on existing networks and contacts? How do I overcome the fear of being judged or the fear of failure? Knowing that the goals is in line with my belief and my abilities help me during those doubtful moments.

5) How, specifically, will I benefit from achieving my goal? 

Being clear and specific about the benefits that will come from finishing the goals is a powerful motivator. "I am an internationalist who has beliefs in the unique culture and strengths in people of all backgrounds. I work with clients who are interested in cross-cultural partnership and the benefits clients get from working with me are effective approaches in building an international career or business. Together we can shape a greater shared future for all. " This is something worth to invest my time, energy, soul and heart.

Last, by not least, it is hard work, therefore, it is important to make it fun and interesting.

I make a case to celebrate small wins. Share some of the smaller steps, to gain support and recognition from like-minded colleagues and friends.