Part 2. Analyze Your Goals : MWABT

This edition of Magpie With a Bow Tie is the?second?in a series about goal-setting. I use this process when I work with clients needing help to achieve their goals. The process is broken into four basic steps: a) identify, b) analyze, c) adjust, & d) reset. This edition of Magpie With a Bow Tie focuses on the second step: analyze.

Refresh your memory by rereading part 1,?Identify Your Goals (aka New Year's Resolutions Suck!).

Analysis is the most demanding step in the process. Goals are easy to choose, but answering the deeper "why?" questions takes more self-awareness and vulnerability. If you are new to expressing vulnerability, extend yourself grace while digging into your inner self. The process takes time and patience. If you need support, let me know. I can help.

Step 2. Analyze

The second step requires you to answer tough questions about your chosen goal.

1. The Honest Why. Why did you honestly choose this particular goal?
2. Deepest Backstory. Can you go even deeper with your exploration? There is likely a more profound answer to the "honest why." [ed. Deep exploration is often undertaken with a professional psychologist or therapist. Tread lightly and go as deep as you are comfortable.]
3. Alignment.?Does your goal align with the "honest why" and "deepest backstory?" Is there a balance between the goal and the motivation? Don't be surprised to discover that some goals may yield a different outcome than you really want.

Examples

To illustrate the process, I have used three personal goals as examples.

Example Goal #1. Lose 30 Pounds

1. Honestly, I put this goal on my list because I want to fit into my 34x32 pants and not feel chubby.
2. At a deeper level, I know I have body image issues that have challenged me throughout my life. I am generally healthy but should treat my body better (e.g., eat better, exercise more, take vitamins, etc.).
3. My goal does not align with the "honest why" and "deepest backstory." Losing 30 pounds might help me fit into my pants better, but it won't necessarily help my body image issues or improve my health.

Example Goal #2. Read 50 Books

1. Honestly, I want to prove that I can read 50 books and improve upon my goal from last year.
2. At a deeper level, I equate book reading with intelligence. Or, to go even deeper, I think I have to read lots of "smart" books to show people just how smart I am. Fifty sounds more impressive than ten.
3. My goal aligns with the "honest why," but not the "deeper backstory." I could read 50 books, improving on last year's achievements, but I doubt my intelligence will improve.

Example Goal #3. Earn a Promotion

1. Honestly, I think I am searching for more responsibility and higher pay.
2. At a deeper level, I crave recognition for my accomplishments. I like knowing I made an impact, and I believe--right or wrong--that a promotion is the highest form of recognition.
3. My goal is aligned but imbalanced and overkill. A promotion may not scratch the itch of recognition as frequently as I would like. Am I pursuing frequency or magnitude?

If you are anything like me, working through the analysis for each goal is exhausting. I know when I am trying to shortcut the process, giving myself simple answers, so I force myself to explore deeper. If I am going to invest time, energy, and perhaps money into pursuing a goal, I need to trust I am chasing the right goal for the right reasons.

Step 3 & 4

The details from this step will be used in the third step: adjust. Stay tuned for future editions of Magpie With a Bow Tie, when we will modify and set more meaningful goals.

Sundry / Miscellaneous

• People I met for the first time or reconnected with this week: Kristen Wypasek, Susu Adriaens, Andy Fleener.
• This wrap-up was brought to you by?Four?by Blues Traveler.

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