The truth behind sticking to your goals
Goals are hard AF to stick to!
They don't have to be though. Here's the system I created that allowed me to loose 20kgs, double my invested wealth, write Boredom Slayer, and get to 90-mins per work day learning.
The system (explainer video at end of thread) is based on two ideas: Failure is not final, and goals are a sum-of-the-parts endeavor.
The ideas is that each year I decide on one or two end-game Victory Conditions.
"The year is successful if I...."
Then I write a list of paths-to-victory. Small actions I can do, that if done often enough will lead me to my victory condition.
The reason this works is that doing one thing on repeat is boring & not always sustainable, but doing many tasks that keep us moving "toward" works.
Then, each morning I set a "new day resolution" with one of those paths-to-victory. Each morning I also rate the previous day with a ? for a win, or a ?? for a loss.
A loss is not a fail, it's just a decision to let myself off the hook for a day. Here's the formula:
Five ? in a week and the week get's a ??
Three ?? in a month and the month gets a ??
Eleven ?? in a year and the year is a ??.
The last three years have been ??and meeting the goal has been a by-product.
New day resolution streaks FTW!
Here's the deal, you have to cultivate a streak. The streak has value. It's something you won't want to let go of. It'll keep you on track.
Not 10 streaks, just one.
This is also the topic of the book/keynote I'm working on now :)
And to make all this easier... I've made you a video explaining it.
Two requests.
Start something today. Like now. Set a goal for today and score it tomorrow.
Share this when it starts working :)
Graphic & Digital Architect at The Word Architect
8 个月Richard Mulholland Where does one find the video? as mentioned in the article?
Global Account Director ? International Business Development Manager ‖ 10+ years of Technical Sales & SaaS Solution Engineering and Business Operations in the Technology Industry
3 年Super stuff Rich! I have one of those pesky health victory conditions for this year (you actually mentioned it)...let's put this to the test ??
Communications Specialist and Writer
3 年I remember hearing you chat about this years ago on the GC show. It resonated then and it resonates now. My challenge is that I have two pressing big goals for the year. I guess my list of NDR's can relate to both?
Creating spaces and happy places
3 年I love the idea of small goals and have immediately written in my journal the goal for today - albeit a late start but a start. Thank you for sharing
Our employee activation platform drives workplace transformation at scale by activating behavior change in teams. We deliver measurable change in 30 days or less.
3 年That is a stunning title and cover Richard Mulholland! Love the core idea and the synopsis. I get it intuitively, and I'm looking forward to reading it. Reminds me of Jerry Seinfeld's story of writing every day, which I think of often. All the best with it!