In one short year...
Ever stop to think of what exactly you’ve accomplished in a year? Do you take the time to compare your current situation with the well-laid plans you set out in January? Do you celebrate your achievements and make note of areas which need improvement? Follow this easy guide to get on track and stay on track.
It is known that success depends largely on discipline, and goal tracking is one aspect that can get away on people- especially those with busy schedules. Holding yourself accountable by reviewing your goals works in two ways: first, it will be immediately evident whether you have set quality, realistic goals for the year, and second, you will see which area of your life dominates your time and energy and which areas are being neglected.
When I began goal setting, I was a teenager. My mother had always talked about her “1 year, 3 year and 5 years goals”. To me that seemed like an eternity, and nearly possible to envision where I’d be or what I would be wrapped up in, but she insisted nonetheless that I make an attempt. I had just been accepted into University and decided that I would carve a path toward becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon and so, in very small chunks, I began reverse engineering my life. It makes no difference in the grand scheme of things that I did not achieve that specific goal. The point is that my Action Plan created a focus for my activity- I pushed myself to get certain grades, joined clubs and activities that would get me an edge for med school applications, and pursued activities that balanced my mind such as music.
Not a single unmet goal is wasted unless you choose not to learn from it or see value in the experiences along the way.
Although I am now in Oil and Gas Construction, I know my study habits, diverse network, and work/life balance strategies will serve me through the unique challenges I face each day. I urge you to make a habit of goal setting, it is highly rewarding and you’ll be surprised by what you learn about yourself.
Great, so you’re ready to take the plunge and jot down your goals. How do you ensure those targets are realistic and meaningful? This is where Goal Grouping comes into play. By segmenting your goals into different areas of your life, you can re-arrange your efforts to match your personal priorities. For example, I annually make goals in 4 key areas of my life:
Career
Wealth
Wellbeing
Family
Some years, I have been incredibly Career focused, other years I have focused on my Wellbeing. The groupings can be whatever you choose, but ensure you understand that you cannot tackle every element all at once if you want to be effective.
Within each Grouping, I will create goals WITH deadlines. The formation of a goal is only one half of the picture- you need to ask yourself, “When am I going to work on this? When will this goal be completed?”. I enjoy this part of it, because it’s like looking at the year ahead as if it was a blank roadmap and deciding how to navigate your way through the course. My energy levels are always renewed in January and April, and I’m more burdened by work in the months of February and October. Steering my activities to match my energy has been a real breakthrough in meeting goals which were largely accomplished during my “free time”. And most importantly, set a reminder in your calendar to match these deadlines- it’s all about accountability!
It’s review time. You’ve succeeded on your specific, measureable and suitably timed goal you set. Now what? Use this check-up to figure out next steps:
Did you succeed earlier than planned?
Did the success bring the level of satisfaction you had hoped for?
Are there new avenues which you’re interested in as a result of this success?
If you accomplished the goal ahead of schedule then you are either a rockstar or maybe you didn’t set the bar high enough. Is there more personal growth to be had by digging deeper? You’ll know when you gauge your level of satisfaction whether or not you are “sandbagging” or “low-balling” your goals. Remember, reach further, dig deeper. If you truly are satisfied, and know you achieved success due to an honest effort, then continue to look for a next step in this category. Fill that slot as you check off each completed goal. Enjoy the feeling of accomplishment and celebrate your efforts while using that fuel to add to your list.
There are many reasons to set goals, check your progress, and celebrate wins. Getting serious about reverse engineering your life will require intense introspection- something which our excessively stimulated society could certainly use more often! Be honest with yourself about what you want and when you’ll accomplish it. Discipline yourself to not only check in, but adjust as you go. The practise will become habit, and the vision will become crystal clear the more you do it. Remember, there are no limits.
