Planning 2012: Week 2 Big Goals
Big Goals!
I hope you enjoyed week 1 of 2012 planning. Did you determine your top 10 questions? Did you come up with a word or two for your theme for 2012? Week 1 is an important step in planning. It provides you with some focus for 2012 and will guide you in your goal setting.
This week we are working on your big goals for next year. What’s your general intention for the year? “A goal or objective is a desired result that is envisioned, planned and committed to achieve.” You need to have a clear awareness of what you want to accomplish (intention) and where you want to go for personal and professional development (goals). You then need the commitment to yourself to achieve it.
Like in the corporate world, we know what gets measured matters. So if you run your own business (same can be used in our personal lives) be clear on your goals, how you will know you’ve achieved them and keep track of your success along the way. Celebrate the successes along the way keeping in mind what you still need to do.
The most successful people at Weight Watchers are those that track their food intake/ Why? Because as you become aware of what you are eating, you change your behavior. Once you are aware, you can change it.
The Exercises
There are three exercises this week. Like always you can spend an hour or an afternoon working through each. I do suggest that you do all three even if a shorten version. The outcome from these exercises will be your intention and goals for the year ahead.
Let’s get started!
1. Intentions
It’s time to pull out that journal again. Set aside 10, 20 or 30 minutes and consider the following questions:
- If you could only accomplish one thing in 2012, what would you want it to be? Why?
- What would your life/business be like without it?
- What would your life/business be like with it
Was there something else? A toss up perhaps? Consider the same questions for each. Try to have one for your personal life and one for your business.
Generally what is your intention for the year? Think back to your word for the year. Does your word and your intention align?
Here’s an example:
Word: Health
For your intentions to come into form fully, you need commitment. Commitment is the energy that helps you see something through until completion.
2. Balance
We are not one-dimensional beings. Even if we are only focused on one goal, like health, we live multi-dimensional lives. We have relationships at work, home, friends. We have careers and hobbies. We try to stay fit both physically, mentally, and spiritually. We want to give back to our communities. And we want to enjoy ourselves, laugh and have fun.
Aspects that I use are physical health, mental well-being, and spiritual, relationships, environment, career, financial, and service. You can change as appropriate for you, your life, and your business. You can include lots of detail or minimal detail at this point. It is up to you and the amount of time you have allocated to the exercise. Using these aspects, consider how your intention is impacted in each area. After the exercise you may want to refine your intention.
My intention for 2012 is ________________________________________________________________.
One great way to get things rolling from here is to create a mind-map. For those that have never created a mindmap before, it is an easy method to get a visual representation of ideas based on how our brain functions. Our brains don’t link linearly they gather patterns – centrally and then outward from there. Think sunburst. Mind-mapping can also be a fun and easy way to generate lots of great ideas. http://youtu.be/MlabrWv25qQ
This is what you do. Grab a blank piece of paper or start with a new journal page. It’s helpful to use colour markers but not essential. In the centre of the page put a circle with your word or intention as the central theme and starting point. Then start to create branches off that with ideas of what you want to focus on from there you can add additional branches with ideas, actions, or themes. At the end you should have a visual map of what your overall goals will be. If you get stuck go back to the different elements and see if that helps start the process.
Don’t worry if you think you aren’t “creative” for something like this. Your brain actually functions better generating ideas this way. Try it out and see what comes up.
3. Big Goals
So at this point you have a word for the year. You have an intention (or major goal) and you have a mind map with ideas on where you want to focus your energy.
- How are you going to make your intention a reality? Through goals. Goals should stretch you out of your comfort zone but not so far you snap. Think of a rubber band it should be stretched out but not so far it snaps. Your goals should be the same.
Comfort — Stretch — Panic zones
I enjoy the work of Brian Johnson. He has a great 2 min video on how he creates goals for himself and his business that might be helpful. I have included a summary below. http://www.youtube.com/user/PhilosophersNotes#p/u/2/VxzMHXZRW3w
Let’s go back to the work from #2. For each aspect, and the ideas/elements from your mind map create goals. Now what are your goals? Try to be SMART about it – SMART goals are specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound. Just do your best and don’t worry so much about the specifics. But if you have a vision for what you want to happen this is the time to write it down.
b. What are the rituals/process you are going to create to support your intention and goals?
This is all about Consistency over Intensity. Do it everyday, every week, or every month – some regular schedule. It is more important that you are consistent in your practice than to go really hard at it for a short period of time and fizzle out. Think typical new year’s resolutions. Start with something manageable. Again you want to be successful here so don’t take on too much that you aren’t sure you can commit to on a regular, consistent basis.
As Brian mentions in the video: “If we work “diligently, patiently, persistenty, and playfully” we will be successful.” Be clear on your desired outcomes but don’t focus on the outcomes. Focus on your intention and process.
For instance, if your intention is to become your healthiest self. The process you will follow consistently should be to eat right, exercise, deal with any health issues, establish mental health, etc. Don’t worry as much about losing 15.5 lbs. If you follow the process consistently you may lose 18 lbs.
Review
Okay so you have your guiding word for 2012. You have set your intention (or 2) for the year. You have generated a great mindmap that visually shows your areas of focus. You have goals for each area of your life related to your intention. And you have committed to specific actions consistently for 2012 that will help you achieve your goals.
Wow! That’s a lot.
Next week we are going to focus more on Making it Happen. How do you go from this list to actually doing it.
Be sure to check in and leave a comment. I’d love to hear how it’s going for you. How are you finding things? If you don’t want to leave a comment, feel free to email me.
One final note: remember this should be fun. Take the time out, put on some fun music and give yourself the space to dream and plan.
Have a great time planning!
[...] 1: The Big Picture Week 2: Big Goals Week 3: Making it Happen Week 4: Finding the Time Week 5: Pulling it [...]
Testing the comment field out.
You have synthesized and condensed the works of zillions into a very cogent plan. Excellent guidelines. Thanks so much.
Cheers~