goal setting Archives - Strategy Sarah

Yesterday, we discussed the stages of a project and key questions and actions in each phase. Critical to the entire process is having a clear goal and then executing against that goal.
Ultimately, what’s the problem you are trying to solve?

Is the goal clear?

The stages of a project assume that the goal of the project is clear (or is clarified in the initial Plan the Project phase). A clearly defined goal and objective cascades down to every other piece of the project and the work.

What if the goal isn’t clear? Or it’s clear, but you’re not sure it’s the right goal?

One of the first large-scale projects I worked on many years ago was the rollout of a new software system. For many reasons, the project was doomed to failure before it ever got off the ground. But there was a leadership mandate that it must happen. By implementing a whole lot of project management techniques, we completed and rolled out the project. And after a few sincere attempts to make it work, it eventually faded into oblivion.

The goal was clear, but it was the wrong one.

It would have been more cost effective and ultimately more beneficial to the business if the project had been abandoned long before completion.

Is the #goal you’ve identified the right one?

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In my own life, I’ve found that “identify the goal” often isn’t nearly as clear as it’s made out to be.

I can easily take a goal, and break it down to identify objectives, strategies and tactics, but often find that I didn’t really care about the goal that much in the first place. Some of these goals I have pursued far longer than I should have, simply because I set the goal, and well, that means you have to complete it. 99.9% of the time, you don’t.

If you’re unsure of your goal, or if it becomes apparent that the goal shouldn’t be the goal any longer, don’t drag out the pain.

Fail fast.

Then identify a new goal, and start again.

Have you ever identified the wrong goal? How and when did you course correct?

For more reading on goal setting, check out On goal-setting and habit formation. And don’t forget to read the rest of the series, Project Management for Creatives.

As we’re rapidly moving through January, I’m realizing anew the distinction between between goals and habits. Do you distinguish between the two?

A new year, new goals

With the dawn of the new year, I sat down and contemplated my goals for the coming 12 months (more to come on that!). For the month of January, I pulled out a sub-set of goals to accomplish this month that will set me on the path to achieving my annual goals. I have also been working on being more consistent with setting weekly goals.

January’s goals include a financial goal (both earning and spending), social goals, reading goals, organization projects, and a few professional goals.

I love to cross off the goals, and get frustrated when I don’t complete all the goals I set for myself.

Goals vs Habits

Recently, I have realized that several of my goals each week are really the practicing of habits. There are several general things about my lifestyle and homemaking that I would like to change – habits that I would like to form. There are also several specific things that I want to accomplish – goals to achieve.

I can’t write make the bed every morning immediately after waking up on a goal list and realistically expect to cross it off each week. Maybe you have more discipline than I do, but I’m not going to hit that 100% of the time at this stage in life. However, even if I didn’t fully meet the goal, I have likely made significant progress. If I shift my mindset to forming the long-term habit of doing exercises twice a day, I am more likely to celebrate my forward progress rather than get discouraged for not fully meeting a goal.

Practically, this realization has led me to separate “habits I’m practicing” from “goals to accomplish” on my weekly, monthly and annual goal sheets. (Although, I can’t really call them just goal sheets any more, can I? What would you call them?)

Practicing habits

Typically, habits and goals are tied together. For example, practicing a habit of exercise will help me achieve a goal of losing weight.

It’s true that changing seasons of life (hello, small children, new jobs and moving!) can derail some habits. However, when I work tore-establish old habits, the previously held habits seem to fall back into place faster and easier than the habits that are brand new to me (I’m sure there’s a scientific study somewhere to back this up).

Getting back in the habit of getting up early in the morning, and showering first thing have fallen back into place fairly quickly. The habit of carving out a set amount of writing time daily has not.

For January, the three habits I am focusing on are:

Make the bed first thing every morning. This only takes a minute or so to do, but creates a whole new atmosphere in bedrooms. I am also working with my kids to “make” their beds every morning.
Focus on the positive. I have a terrible ability to see what’s left to be done and not see what has already been accomplished. I’m using a 5 Year One Sentence Journal to focus on the positive.
Read 10 minutes of non-fiction before I read fiction. I’ve always been a big reader, but my reading tends to be mostly fiction. One of my goals this year is to increase my ratio of non-fiction to fiction books read. One way I’m trying to do this is to make a habit of reading 10 minutes of a non-fiction book before I dive into fiction.

One of the most productive habits I developed way back in 2014 and have continued is to consistently use Evernote to store key information. I find Evernote Premium to be well worth the cost, and highly recommend checking it out. And, if you use this link, you can also get one-month of Evernote Premium for free. Work smarter not harder!

goal setting