The One Goal You Need to Set to Save Your Sanity

Ugh.

I've been doom-scrolling LinkedIn (yes, this is a boring thing to do), and the motivational jargon is off the charts.

"Punch fear in the face this year!"

"If you are struggling, that means you are progressing"

"Burn the boats!"

By the way, burning the boats is super dumb.?

The phrase “burning your boats” dates from 1519, when a Spanish expedition led by Hernán Cortés landed in Mexico. Cortés knew his crew was exhausted after the long sea journey, but he had to motivate them to succeed in the new land. So he ordered the burning of the ships they arrived in to let them know retreat was no longer an option.

Sounds sexy. ?But I promise you, there are way more successful people who met their goals with incremental improvement versus the go-for-broke entrepreneurs.

With all that said, I love self-improvement. ?

I've read and listened to everything Zig Ziglar and Napoleon Hill have to offer.?

But at some point, the over-the-top rah rah stuff loses its steam.

Do this instead.

1. Start with One Goal: Focus on one goal at a time; whether it’s for the next 90 days or 12 months.
2. Tie It to Something Meaningful: Your goal needs an emotional or practical attachment. It can’t just be a number or a vanity metric.
3. Time and Money Are Linked: If your revenue goal doesn’t create time for what matters, it’s not the right goal.

And what goal should you set?

At this point, you probably have a houseful of goals, but I'm encouraging you to create a workweek goal.

The one thing entrepreneurs agree on is that they want their freedom.

Make time for freedom first, then work within that constraint.

Trust me on this.

• Set a Workweek Goal: Decide how many hours and which days you want to work. Be specific. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 12 p.m., for example.
• Visualize Free Time: Write down exactly what you’ll do with your free time. Will you travel, exercise, or spend more time with family? Break it down: Where will you travel? What activities will you do?
• Tie Goals to Revenue: If you need more revenue, attach it to what that extra money will do for you, whether it’s hiring help, taking a vacation, or freeing up evenings.
• Be Clear About Priorities: Don’t just say you want to “spend more time with family.” Write it down: Play ball with your son, cook dinner with your spouse, or go hiking.
• Break Down the Goal: Whether it’s increasing revenue or freeing up time, break the goal into small, manageable steps.

Goals tied to time and meaning lead to freedom and the ability to focus on what’s most important, like family, personal growth, and creating lasting impact.

p.s.

The Hernán Cortés expedition actually "scuttled" the boats instead of burning them??

p.p.s.

By the way, there's a podcast episode about setting your one goal!