5 Lessons learned from implementing a system to achieve goals and aspirations.
I have implemented a simple 3-step framework to achieve goals, shared last year in the blog post 3 simple steps to achieve your goals anytime. The framework helped me achieve two goals that were very important to me, and I failed in one goal due to inconsistent effort. [P.S Updated tracker downloadable link below]
Following are the five lessons learned in implementing the 3-step framework.
1) Keep the process simple, don’t complicate the process. Double down on faster execution and create a system that works for you.
2) Write down the “Why” of the goal. The “Why” part of the goal aids in maintaining high motivation levels , without which there is a probability of failure.
3) Write down the “Assumptions”, you had when you set the goal. Keeping record of the assumptions and factors will help to retrospect and course correct if required.
4) Set achievable and short-term goals for Children. The younger they are, the more short-term the goal should be. Children under the age of ten do best with the goals achievable in 30 days or less; any longer will likely cause them to lose interest.
5) Self-discipline is the key to consistent and faster execution. As you become older, having self-discipline becomes your responsibility, whereas as a child, it was your parents’ obligation. Believe it or not, as things get challenging, it becomes harder to follow through on your plan.
You need a robust system and process to do what you set out to achieve.
The word “process” may sound cliché and boring. Yet it helps you get beyond the most challenging obstacles in your way, and helps in realizing your objectives.
Hire a life coach or external person to act as your accountability partner if you need help with self-discipline.
I will try the following adjustments this year, considering the lessons learnt.
- Add a step “Reflect” into the 3-step framework.
Before I clarify the goals for the new year, retrospection of previous years’ goals will help me learn from my mistakes.
What worked? What did not?
What would you change?
How much of your plan have you followed through on?
Where did you slack? How can you improve on this?
What was in your control, and what was not?
So the 3-step framework becomes 4-step
Reflect, Clarify, Plan, Execute
2. Include the goals’ “Why” and “Assumptions” in the tracker
3. Use WhatsApp’s self-note-taking feature to send yourself the goals tracker. And add updates or notes to yourself every day in the morning or before you get to bed. You will have the chance to view your goals and inspire yourself to work toward them each time you use WhatsApp.
4. Schedule reminders in advance for the significant milestones of the goal, ideally on a daily basis. For instance, a check-in should be made for each of the 100 days, if your objective is to write 100 blog posts in 100 days.
Points #3 to serve as motivation and Point #4 to maintain discipline.
Here is the downloadable link to the updated tracker.
Thank you for reading this article — I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to comment, share it or let me know what you think about it.
