With the surge of self-help books in recent years, you won’t have to look too far until you come across a book by an author that lists out the importance of setting goals. In fact, many of these that I’ve read offer great tips if you are just getting started with trying to “become your best self.” Even though I believe that phrase is vastly outdated and borderline cheesy, I will say setting goals marks the first actionable step one needs to make if they are trying to pursue a dream. However, very few actually go into the finer details of what you do after your write down those goals.
Many will suggest to set and list out long term and short term goals for each of the 5 main categories of life: spirituality, business, relationships, finances and overall health. What I’ve come to notice throughout several years of doing just this, it is very difficult if not impossible to focus on achieving this many goals from this many different categories. Something will always fall short and it never fails that you will eventually beat yourself up about it. So, I’ve chosen to personally not put myself into that type of position and I’ve noticed a great decrease in overall mental stress by trying to achieve so much at one time. Here are a few strategies on structuring your goals for 2020…
Frame - Family - Finance
This strategy was originally suggested by my personal business coach, Jason Phillips. We can achieve any goal within reason, just not all at the same time. Instead, focus on picking 1-3 big goals for yourself and achieve those first. I’ve noticed that focusing on anything more than 3 commitments (and even that is pushing it) I begin to physically and mentally burn out. As the latter two may be self-explanatory, the term “frame” can be used in regards to anything in regards to you and your overall physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Focus on what is most important to you right now and give that 100% of your drive and attention.
Yearly Goals - Quarterly Goals - Weekly Goals
If there is any strategy that has positively affected me the most, it would be not just setting my biggest goals but making a detailed plan on how I was going to achieve each of them, giving myself an achieve-by date and marking milestones that had to be accomplished along the way that would build up momentum towards achieving my biggest goals. We have to learn to work backwards if we want to succeed. Each week I will sit down and write out on my calendar activities that I need to complete that will help get me closer to my goal by the end of the year. If my biggest goal is to go on an international vacation, for my quarterly goals I might decide to set a certain amount of money I need to save, then as my weekly goals find activities that I can do as a way to get and save money-cut expenses, find odd jobs, sell household items, etc.
Mid-Year Evaluations
Being your own accountability partner can be tough since we all approach life with a particular bias. That is why hiring a coach or mentor is so beneficial. But, regardless if you do, setting mid-year evaluations is beneficial in overall growth by visibly showing ourselves how we are doing and if we need to step things up or not. All successful businesses set evaluations to make sure projects are maintaining pace towards their goal dates and we should be no different.
Many never pursue goals due to two big reasons: the fear of failure and an unwillingness to sacrifice immediate pleasures in the pursuit of long-term gain. With the right strategies though, your biggest goals can be obtainable, it will just take time. Is it easy, no, but is it worth it? Always!
"Coach Taz" aka Taylor Rodriguez is owner and head coach of Taz Fitness & Nutrition. He is a Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach located in Deltona, FL that coaches individuals online and in person. Taylor was a former partying pro wrestler turned fitness enthusiast after the economic downturn of 2008-2010. After losing almost 70 lbs, his new passion is to help struggling individuals find a new confidence within themselves to achieve any goal that they see possible. To begin coaching with Taylor or to request a free consultation, contact us today.
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