Why I'm Not Setting Goals This Year (But Hoping to Achieve 2x More)

This new year, I decided to try something new: I'm not setting a single official goal.

For most successful people, not setting goals may sound like a radical idea and, for a coach, a cardinal sin.

But I have my reasons. In 2019, I planned my goals out carefully and elaborately. After all, we all know that goals must be S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely). Yet I failed . I’m analytical so I decided to research everything I possibly could about goals. And what I found was that I am not alone: certain studies say that up to 80% fail at goal setting and most New Year’s Resolutions are abandoned altogether by February 1st. Goals are a lot like To-Do lists. If you have only a few and are not too ambitious, the traditional goal-setting system may work, but I'm not convinced it is the best way to plan for major dreams.

I’ll admit that it feels liberating to just let go and not stress over goal-setting this year. But I still have a plan, an improved plan over last year’s, I hope. Instead of goal setting, I'll be intent-action planning. The way this works is to be 100% focused on my calendar. Combine this with a mission statement and accountability, and I plan to have my most successful year to-date.

1/ Set Your Intentions

Just like a business has a corporate mission statement, I believe people should create personal mission statements for their lives. After all, you are the CEO of you. I wrote a North Star Mission Statement because, like the North Star, when I get off track, I just open my mission statement and let it guide me in the right direction.?

2/ Define your Why

In his book, Start With Wh y, Simon Sinek asks the right questions to uncover the reasons behind leaders’ success. To follow up on the popularity of this book, Simon wrote another amazing book called Find Your Why . You should be asking yourself why you want to improve your life, what your purpose is, and especially why you picked exactly one thing over many other options. The longer your ‘why’ list, the more likely you will stick with it and won't give up because there are too many good reasons for you not to quit.

3/ Schedule Your Actions

I'm using my North Star Mission Statement to align my life's work with my calendar. It means defining and scheduling the daily, weekly, and monthly actions that will contribute to my mission, designed to have the most impact. So I’m still working from the top down like goal-setting but starting one level higher (my life mission is higher than my annual goals) and drilling down further (scheduling time-based actions are more specific than a To-Do list).

“If a goal is worth having, it’s worth blocking out the time in your day-to-day life necessary to achieve it.”– Jill Koenig

“To go to the gym three times per week” is a goal. Blocking out 7-8:30 am in my calendar Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for exercise is scheduling. Add in the fact that most calendars allow you to set up reminders so you have no excuse not to stay on track.

"Goals are dreams with deadlines.”

– Diana Scharf

Some people use planners but I honestly want to keep it as simple as possible, so I’ll be using my Google calendar synced with both work and personal. However, there are some amazing planners out there, especially the ones designed by leadership coaches. One I particularly like is called Best Self Journal .

4/ Find Accountability Partners

Even someone with the most positive mindset and motivation will fail without accountability. This is why I started The 'A' Club. Every entrepreneur needs support.

“No two minds ever come together without a third invisible force, which may be likened to a ‘third mind.’ When a group of individual minds is coordinated and function in harmony, the increased energy created through that alliance becomes available to every individual in the group.”

- Napoleon Hill

You are whom you surround yourself with. Your close connections can make or break you. Relationships can take you to amazing heights or hold you back. Set up your 2020 success team .

“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.”

— Tennessee Williams

I hope everyone will define their intentions and their purpose in 2020 and take action. The best time is always now.

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