Tag Archives | goals
road blocks

What are Your Obstacles and How to Overcome Them

By on October 12, 2010 in Personal Growth, Success
road blocks
Image by s myers via Flickr

This month we have been focusing on habits and how to successfully change them. A big part of the success strategy is knowing what your obstacles are and having a plan to conquer them. This same concept can apply to many other facets of business as well as in your home life.

Whether you want to stop procrastinating, quit smoking or drinking, start exercising, cultivate a daily writing practice or keep your home clean and de-cluttered, the process, preparation and strategy is the same.

Anticipate obstacles – Take a look back at past failures and try to understand what stopped you from achieving success. Look at personal as well as professional instances where you just couldn’t quite hit the mark. What got in the way?

Identify patterns – Do you have a certain pattern of behavior that keeps popping up and getting in the way of your goal? Do you self-sabotage, burn-out, give up or refuse to ask for help?

Recognize your triggers – Are their certain situations that trigger your current habit? Do you relapse into unproductive behavior around particular people? Do you find some surroundings to be more conducive to failure than others?

Plan ahead – Develop a strategy to overcome obstacles before they happen. The best way to assure success is to prepare ahead of time, rather than to try to come up with a solution when you are in the moment.

For example, if you are trying to quit smoking, don’t take breaks outside with your former smoking cohorts. If you are trying to stop procrastinating, set a timer and a reward. Trying to clear the clutter? Figure out how it got there in the first place. Sort the mail by the recycling bin or set aside 15 minutes each day to tackle one area. If you’re trying to lose weight, avoid buffets! Whatever the behavior you desire to change, enlist support, get a partner or mentor, or publically declare your intention. The extra accountability might be the push you need.

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Compass with inclinometer

Key Strategy – Review and Revise to Stay on Track

By on September 30, 2010 in Personal Growth, Success
Compass with inclinometer

Image via Wikipedia

If you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else. ~Lawrence J. Peter

We’re entering the home stretch of the calendar year and the fiscal year for most of us. This is a good time to review and revise how far you’ve come and how you’d like to finish up your year. Consider this a check-point of sorts. Where do you stand on each of your goals? What kind of progress have you made both personally and professionally? Are you on track to finish the year where you want to be or do you need to do some revision?

Let’s get real. You are not going to be able to make up a year’s worth of effort in one quarter. If you’ve been slacking or got sidetracked by life’s demands, accept it and move on. You can only do what you can do.  Let it go and focus instead on what you can do over the next three months to move forward in your life or work success. The most important part of that is updating your “map.”

You have to know where you’re going in order to figure out how to get there.

Where am I on this goal or project?

Can I realistically achieve the desired result in the allotted time?

Do I need to revise either the outcome or the timetable?

What concrete actions need to be taken over the next three months?

Where can I get some help?

Why am I doing this anyway?

Once you have answered the basic questions, you have a destination or goal in front of you. Now it’s time to flesh out your “map.” Decide what specific actions need to be taken or habits need to be cultivated. Now get going! You still have time, but you have to make it count.

Lucky for you, we are going to be talking about habits in October!

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Clarify Your Objectives

By on August 31, 2010 in Success

Many people confuse goals and objectives and in fact it’s true that the terms are often used interchangeably. I prefer to differentiate between the two for my own purposes and those I work with. Goals are usually more general in nature and less tangible. Objectives tend to be more specific and “vision-able.” I think I might have made that word up, but it suits my definition so I’m using creative license here. What I mean by that term, “vision-able” is that you can picture the objective in your mind – see it, hear it, taste it and feel it. I like to think of goals as “big picture” ideas.  Objectives are more nitty-gritty.

For example, I want to lose 20 pounds by January 1st is a decent goal. It meets all the S.M.A.R.T. requirements. But it’s sort of “flat.” I will lose 20 pounds so that I can fit into my size “whatever” pants, be healthy and run a 5k by January 1st is a better objective. You can almost see yourself wearing your smaller pants and feel the exhilaration of running that race. It is more “real” and therefore much more effective for our purposes. I am not knocking goals, but for today let’s focus on clarifying your objectives instead.

Let’s try another example. I intend to start my own business, replace my income and quit my job by June 1st. Okay.

What does the objective look like?

  • What type and form of business?
  • What is the real purpose or intention?
  • What is the specific amount of income needed?
  • What will your work schedule look like?
  • What will your work environment consist of? At home or in office?
  • Will you have employees?

I intend to start a catering business for parties operating out of my home kitchen by June 1st. I will employ two part time employees and gross $200,000 annually.

Do you see the difference? This objective is much clearer and more “real” to me. This also makes it much more motivating and actionable.

Take a look at each one of your objectives and make sure it is so clear you can almost reach out and touch it!

This is part of an ongoing discussion on my rules to maximize productivity. To read more see Golden Rules of Productivity.

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Absolute Minimums are a Must to Improve Productivity

By on July 23, 2010 in Personal Growth, Success

If you consistently accomplish your absolute minimum in each of your critical core concentration areas each day you will make significant progress toward you goals over time.

Remember, slow and steady wins the race. You can always do more than the minimum and I hope you will, but even small amounts of advancement add up. Too often we get caught up in the mental trap of believing that if we can’t commit a substantial amount of time and energy then we might as well not bother to take action at all. That is a myth.

Take a look at what you have identified as your current critical areas of focus and determine what your absolute minimums are.

What is the least amount of time, effort or action you need to take to see progress?

Each person will have different answers and only you as an individual can reasonably define what they are. It is also helpful to note which focus area they address. To get you started, here is an example based on my current focus list, of the absolute minimums that I must do with consistency; both to achieve progress towards my goals and also to feel satisfied with my life and work:

  • Exercise a minimum of 20 minutes daily – physical health
  • Write one hour – career
  • Email my husband daily summary & encouragement – family
  • Work a minimum of 6 hours each day during the summer – career
  • Social media (10 Twitter posts and 1 Facebook post daily, update LinkedIn status weekly) – career
  • Connect with at least one child each day (one on one time, phone call or email/text communication) – family
  • Take 30 minutes of alone time (crucial to my sanity) – mental health
  • Check in with my Facebook community (especially group for spouses of deployed military members) – friends

Your list may be very different and it should be since your life situation is dissimilar to mine. This list will then become a structure for new habits you want to implement. The amount and complexity is up to you, but remember to keep it reasonable or you won’t be able to maintain your momentum.

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magnifying glass

Critical Core Concentrations

By on July 20, 2010 in Life Balance, Personal Growth, Success

You must concentrate your focus on the critical core components of your life in order to increase your overall effectiveness.

magnifying glassThis is a crucial strategy in your quest for improved productivity, efficiency and success. The first and arguably the most important step is to determine what your critical core concentrations are, or rather what you want them to be. Take a look at your goals or think about your long term plans in each area of your life. To give you a frame of reference; think about what you’d really like to accomplish or what’s important in the next three months. I recommend re-evaluating quarterly as plans and priorities change. Consider all the relevant areas of your life and work:

  • Self – mental, emotional & physical health – includes personal growth and creativity
  • Relationships – marriage, children, family, friends
  • Spirituality – in whatever definition that means to you
  • Community – local or global, contribution
  • Home – purchase and/or care
  • Career – job, business, education
  • Finances – income, investments, debt, retirement, etc.

To illustrate this, I am willing to share my personal and professional second quarter core list as an example:

Mental & physical health – Focus on increasing endurance and strength, eat to maximize energy and health, and take time alone every day to decompress.

Family – Focus on maintaining communications and reinforcing my relationship with my husband during military deployment and support and deepen the connection with my children.

Career – Focus on building my business, writing productivity and deployment books and building my reputation.

Finances – Focus on planning and conducting my savings and investment plans in a more disciplined fashion.

Friends – Focus on strengthening my network of support and companionship, both in-person and virtual.

Keep in mind that everyone’s list will be different and will vary depending on the life and work situation that you are currently in. My list will be different in 6 months and was certainly different last year. Also, many business owners create a separate list for their business as an entity in addition to their personal list.

Once you have this list save it, print it or write it on an index card, tape it to your desk, hang it on the wall, whatever you need to have a constant reminder. You will then use this list as the basis for setting goals, determining weekly and daily priorities and selecting which projects and activities make the cut.

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check review

Review Goals to Achieve Success

By on June 25, 2010 in Success

check reviewIt’s the half-way point already – I know it’s hard to believe. It’s a good time to take stock of your life and work intentions and achievements for the first half of the year.  Set aside some time over the next few days to review your goals, plans, intentions and resolutions (I hate that word, it’s so ominous) that you set at the beginning of the year. What? You didn’t set any? Well then, now is your chance to do it!

The review process is in many ways the most critical step in achieving success towards any project or major undertaking. This is true in both the business arena and at home. You must determine where you are, to know where you need to go. You might want to review some of your goals with a partner such as household finances with a spouse, strategic business plans with key people in your company or work project with your team. Others are best looked at alone. The key strategy to remember is that you must be completely realistic, specific and honest for the process to work.

Look at each goal or project and check your progress:

  • What was the desired outcome?
  • What is the current status or progress that has been made?
  • What actions have I taken?
  • What worked? What didn’t?
  • Do I need to revise the goal for the second half of the year?
  • What steps need to be taken to achieve the result I want?

Pat yourself on the back or give yourself a reward for what you have already achieved.  Even small amounts of progress are important. Steady and consistent actions towards any goal or change are the most efficient way to achieve success.

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woman questions

What’s Your Motivation?

By on June 10, 2010 in Success

woman questionsWhy are you doing this? This job? This project? This task?

All the productivity tools and organizational systems in the world won’t help you if you don’t take action! But for most people to take meaningful action, which is different from “busy work” there needs to be some type of significant motivation. The really important step here is to know what that motivation is and to determine if it is sufficient and appropriate. Only you can know for sure what works for you, but there are usually patterns of successful and unsuccessful motivators.

Some examples:

I want to lose weight or get fit – this one is almost always on the list

  • Successful motivators – have more energy, be healthier, have less pain, and feel more confident
  • Unsuccessful motivators – to please your spouse or mate, to be happier (just doesn’t work,) to feel superior to others

Ace a project at work

  • Successful motivators – demonstrate proficiency in your job, advance your career, self-satisfaction
  • Unsuccessful motivators – make other members of the team look bad

Care for and beautify your home

  • Successful motivators – have comfortable and beautiful surroundings, take pride and responsibility in ownership, create an inviting atmosphere to entertain and live
  • Unsuccessful motivators – to be the envy of your neighbors, to impress friends or business associates, to prove how successful or wealthy you are

It is impossible to discuss all the ways motivation can and is used both in the workplace and at home, but the point is that it must be there  or maximum productivity and satisfaction cannot exist.

Take a look at the different aspects of your life and ask yourself, “What is my motivation?” The answer may surprise you…

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The Ten Commandments of Goal-Setting

By on June 7, 2010 in Personal Growth, Success

I thought this was a great post by Gary Ryan Blair “The GoalsGuy” on goal-setting in an interesting format. In the interest of efficiency I decided to re-post instead of “re-inventing the wheel.”

1. Thou Shall Be Decisive
Success is a choice. You must decide what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it. No one else can, will, or should do that for you.
2. Thou Shall Stay Focused
A close relative to being decisive, but your ability to sustain your focus from beginning to end determines the timing and condition of your outcomes.
3. Thou Shall Welcome Failure
The fundamental question is not whether you should accept failure. You have no choice but to expect it as a temporary condition on the path way of progress. Rather, the question is how to anticipate failure and redirect resources to grow from the experience.
4. Thou Shall Write Down Thy Goals
Your mind while blessed with permanent memory is cursed with lousy recall. People forget things. Avoid the temptation of being cute; Write down your goals.
5. Thou Shall Plan Thoroughly
Planning saves 10 to 1 in execution. Proper planning prevents poor performance.
6. Thou Shall Involve Others
Nobody goes through life alone. Establish your own “Personal Board of Directors”, people whose wisdom, knowledge and character you respect to help you achieve your goals.
7. Thou Shall Take Purposeful Action
Success is not a spectator sport – achievement demands action. You cannot expect to arrive at success without having made the trip.
8. Thou Shall Reward Thyself
Rewards work! Think of what you will give yourself as a result of your hard work, focus and persistence – you deserve it!
9. Thou Shall Inspect What Thy Expect
The Shelf life of all plans is limited. No plan holds up against opposition. Everything changes. Therefore inspect frequently and closely, it’s an insurance policy on your success.
10. Thou Shall Maintain Personal Integrity
Maintain your commitment to your commitment. Set your goals, promise yourself that you will achieve them. Eliminate wiggle room and excuses. That’s personal integrity!

Gary Ryan Blair is President of The GoalsGuy. He helps business owners, corporate executives and sales professionals manage their time, set their priorities, and stay focused so they can achieve their goals, grow their business, and be more successful. Gary can be reached for speaking, coaching and media requests at 877-462-5748 or by sending an email to Gary@GoalsGuy.com

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What Do You Look Forward to?

By on May 4, 2010 in Personal Growth

gardenDo you have something to look forward to?

Do you have inspiring goals and plans? A “want-to-do” or “like-to-do” list? When you are submerged in the daily drama of living; marriage, raising your children, working or building a business can you see beyond that? What comes after? There is more to life than what is happening today although I understand that many days it feels like just getting through the day is all you can handle. I know, I get it. I have felt that way too. But if you never look beyond today, then what incentive do you have?

I am not saying that you should not be happy or content wherever you are in life. Certainly be present in your daily life and enjoy the experiences you have, but also take time to look forward. There is nothing wrong with planning for the future or contemplating the path you need to take to achieve your goals. As long as you don’t become so obsessed with your future to the exclusion of your present, then it can be very healthy actually. People who don’t ever look to the future stop growing and invariably lose their zest for life.

Your “something to look forward to” may be a weekend trip next month or the vacation of a lifetime in 3 years. It may be that you’ve always wanted to have a certain career, live in a different place, build or buy your dream home. There are so many possibilities, so many experiences available.

What do you look forward to?

My list is almost endless: a weekend trip with my husband, a vacation to Hawaii, a visit to tour Italy, books that I want to read, the garden oasis that I envision in my backyard…..

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bullseye goal

Are Your Goals SMART?

By on April 14, 2010 in Success

bullseye goalSpecific: Goals must be very clear, not sort of vague ideas. We often set goals that are so generic, it’s nearly impossible to measure progress or successful achievement. You need to know what has to be done or what specifically the desired end result will be.

BAD EXAMPLE:

  • I want to lose weight – Well who doesn’t? What does that mean?

GOOD EXAMPLE:

  • I want to lose 20 pounds by September 1st. I will perform a half hour of cardio and half hour of strength training per day, 5 times a week.

Measurable: Goals need to be measurable. They should be well-defined, concrete goals and must be in qualitative or quantitative terms. If your goals are not measurable, you will never know whether you are making progress toward their successful completion. Choose some unit of measurement that will allow you to see exactly how far you have come and how far away from the completion of the goal you are.

BAD EXAMPLE:

  • I want to be rich.
  • I want to be successful.

GOOD EXAMPLE:

  • I want to gross 1 million dollars and have a team of 5 within 3 years.

Attainable: Goals need to be realistic and achievable. Time and again, success or failure depends on setting practical goals. The best goals require you to stretch a bit to achieve, but they aren’t out of reach. Don’t set yourself up for failure by setting goals that are too high. You should consider your skills and resources available to help you achieve your goal. Creating goals that are not attainable is very disheartening and will only serve to discourage you in life.

BAD EXAMPLE:

  • I want to become a millionaire in 3 months (don’t we all!)

GOOD EXAMPLE:

  • I want to make an extra $500 per month.
  • I want to increase my savings account by $10,000 in 3 years.

Relevant: Goals must be relevant to your purpose (or your company’s.)  Relevant goals ensure that you are directing your effort towards goals that are focused on your mission statement, business objective or overall strategic long-term plan in life. The goal also has to be relevant or consistent with your responsibilities, knowledge, skill set, and access.

BAD EXAMPLE:

  • I want to network more – Why? What does that get you? How?

GOOD EXAMPLE:

  • I want to build a charitable foundation that helps feed the homeless.

Time Sensitive: Goals need to have a time frame, milestones and a deadline. Having a set amount of time will give your goals structure. It also helps you monitor your progress. Not having time constraints attached to your goal triggers procrastination. Without an end date there is no sense of urgency, no impetus to take any action today. Without this component we are tempted to put the goal off for a later time and never get around to it; or it simply gets overshadowed by the day to day grind.

BAD EXAMPLE:

  • I want to write a book.
  • I want to start my own business.

GOOD EXAMPLE:

  • I want to write a book on financial planning and submit it to publishers 1 year from today.
  • I want to have a retirement account with at least $500,000 within 5 years from this date.

By spending some time towards making sure that your goals fit the SMART criteria, you will make your success much more likely.

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